Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-06-28

thetically comic to the belated traveller
who discovered it while enjoying the soli-
tude of the garden.
''Poor little chaps" he laughed, "their
mothers needn't have feared for their
eyes and their fingers, after all. Con-
found Mrs. Reynolds, it's just as they
say. She's never sick on Sunday, when
little boys don't mind not shooting off
cannons.'
81 guess George will have to come to
the rescue after all If he isn't the father
of his country But what the dickens
can we do that won't make a noise? l
guess I'd better consult Miss Hattie"
and the belated traveller left the blotted
paper on the table, where he had carried
it to examine its contents by aid of the
solitary lamp burning in the farm house.
The small head peeping out of the
farm house window at an early hour the
following morning raised a shout that
awakened instantly the three remaining
occupants of the tiny dormitory.
"Hurrah for George Washington! What
did tell you fellows? There's the an
swer, by jingo!' and Jack pounded the
floor rapturously with his bare feet.
There was rush from three small beds
and scamper to the window A square
white patch conspicuously sealed with
scarlet wax adorned the cherry tree in
place of the larger sheet the boys had
left futtering in the moonlight
Lets hurry up, kids, and see who'll
get dressed the first" and Ned's order
was instantly obeyed. Ten minutes later
four heads bent eagerly over the old
fashioned writing.
My Dear Boys: 1 was just going to
chop away at your cherry tree and, in
fact, had given it single whack, which
hadn't amounted to much, as the blade is
rather rusty, when discovered your let
ter tackled to the bark, and l said to my
self: George, you must not touch this
cherry tree with your little hatchet, for,
| behold, it has turned over a new leaf.
| So | laid aside my rusty steel and un-
tackled the tack which bound it to the
bark and, behold, your misery lay un.
| folded.
I've had my own siege with women
boys, for the father of his country EN-
braces all classes, but I've learned my
lesson that the widow must ever go hel
own way. So we'll allow the doctor tt
manage Mrs. Reynolds and you and will
have our Fourth of July in the wood,
along the edge of the river.
Leave the cannon behind and the fire
crackers and rockets, for We'll celebrat,
in spite of them, as you'll see how if yo,
arrive at the minute of IL by the sun,
''To Ned, Sam, Will and Jack,
"From the Father of His Country,
&c. Washington
"Do you think he really means it?'
asked Jack, breathlessly.
Course he does," replied. Ned, indis
nantly. gasping with nervous astonish
ment. Didn't you know the father O
his country couldn't tell lie?''
Four frightened lads sitting on faIlel
tree at the edge Of. the river jumped hur
riedly to their feet and bowed nervousl
to the stately parsonage descending tn
bank dressed in the buff and blue uni
form, with his white hair tied in queue
"Good morning, boys" said strangel
familiar voice, you're true to the mir
ute, 1 see. I'm afraid I'm a little lat
myself, however. I was delayed trife
} hoping to induce Martha to come wit
me-" and the father of his country pee,
ed through the trees as if to see if sh
J had changed her mind.
, tsMartha is my wife, you know th
J figure continued smilingly. "Marth
i Washington, the mother of her country
She knows you all very we'll"
The four lads looked at each other i
amazement. Ned cleared his throat yer
hard and gazed at his boots, but at
nudge from Jack whispered weakly:
docs she know our names, father o
. | your country?"