The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1901-01-12
sS5 g.; 80 SE5 60 G;3 IS

4 ' Mimms said. glowcring ut
her niece Marina. THAT goose plum
jelly has got to he made today Be
sides, it'll he no place for you"
"Cousn John is going" Marina pro
tested. Mrs. Mimms shifted MEN can
80 anywhere" she said. Especially
when they're in politics. l wish To pa
thence John wasn't He's always put
ting up somebody to run for something.
Why, he'll spend enough on this very
congress election to build Il church and
hide a multitude of faults"
!. Marina smiled covertly. She was used
TO her aunt's way of mixing Scripture,
Mrs. Mimms thought herself very pi-
Gus. Other people said she was only
very i'll tempered and dominecring,
passing on to her dependents what she
received from her son John. He play
ed at being Il lawyer and spent most
of his time in the county town, coming
home to his mother about once or twice
a fortnight.
81 think YOU ought to let me go" Ma
rina persisted. I'm 10 and have never
heard or read the Declaration of indie
pendcncc"--
III that's Jour excuse. YOU %ian't
have it any longer. Mrs. MimoS said,
unlocking tall black desk and draw
ing from 1t something folded in yellow
ed paper. She flung it ut Marina. say
ing: Now read your fill. My grand
father paid $50 to help print that back
in ISL, when Lafayette was here ANA
peopl" turned fools, same as they do
now. Patience knows l wish had the
money, even without INTEREST,"
Inside the yoIioWCd paper Marina
found breadth Of what had been
white SILK. Ihe Declaration was print
ed on it under golden caption within
border Of red. white and blue. The
type was 50 bold the sheet had the Iii
mansions OF a SNAIL nag. Marina read
the opening paragraph with sparkling
eyes. Then she reiolded the sheet,
dropped 1t III the bottom Of Il clean
splint basket and ran away To the plum
trees.
They grew upon the very edge Of the
orchard, where it bordcrcd the big
road. Their 1littcry, dark green leaves
stirred in the lightcst airs and let bro
ken sunbeams filter on to the long
grass beneath. Ripe plums, deep red
with rich amethystine bloom, lay plen
tifully in the grass. The ripcSt had
burst in falling. Rayaging bees and
yellow jackets hummcd and buzZed
above them.
Marina was glad of the hedgcrow
shelter She did not mind picking
rho orchard al
pleasantcr than the house Still she did
not care to have everybody see her at
work upon Il holiday. She had set her
heart upon going to the barbecue. Half
the county would be there partly
through patriotic pride in the day, but
more through interest in critical CON
dltlon OF local politics. 1t was Just
three weeks TO the convention which
would name Il candidate for congress
so Tar it was perfectly even thing
between the two aSprantS for that
honor. II ON" or the other got the
Wayne county delegates. he would Get
likewise the nomination, which was
equivalent 10 an election.
PArIsanS OF both had got UP the
Fourth OF July barbecue, 50 there had
Deen heaps Of line work in the efforts
to set one ahead of the other. At last
1t had been settled that young Dancy,
Mr.. John MimmS' man, who had fine
tenor voice, should lead the Eicc club
In singing Hail. Columbia. aud that
his opponent. Leslie Page, should read
TO the assembled SOVcrriSnS the Docla-
ration of Independence.
Marina knew both Of them and hat
ed young Hancy for Il conceitcd fiat
terer She had not seen Leslie Page
since she came, orphaned, to live with
her aunt. But he had been often in
hef lathef $ mousse ana, though he was
years her elder mad always shown her
the courtesy due little princess. 1t
was the nope Oh seeing nm again
WHICH hau maze her so 1af pray" her
aunt SHe lelt lhal II would lie enough
10 look UP III hllh, herSell unseen, ana