Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-02
THE UNWILLING OF JOSIE
BY ARTHUR MORGAN LANGwoRTHY.

when the last section had been put In its
place and the mass resolved itself into the
noble forms of horse and rider her Won
der and amazernent grew intense, for she
saw that the rider was Daddy.
IT was Just as he looked on the day when
they had taken that glorious ride together
and being a very sensitive little mite
Josie felt quite hurt to. find herself left
out, for had not she been part of 1T all?
So that was why the family couldn't UNI
derstand the reason she looked so grieved
when the statue was mentioned, as she
had not told any one about her fancied
slight She did great deal of hard think
ing however, for one of her years, and
finally hit upon a grand idea, so brilliant
that even a grown up might well be
proud of it.
This she kept all to herself.
How slowly the days passed. But finally
the great day did arrtve-a fine one, and
then Fourth of July, too. The shed had
been torn down and the outlines Of the
bronze horse and its rider could be seen
under the draperies Of the great battle
flags which Weiled IT from the gaze OF the
assembled thousands crowded into the
SQUARE Here and there the golden bronze
shone through great rents in the banners.
catching the rays Of the MONDAY sun, and
its glitter would attract the crowds at
tention to the wounds Of the flags, and
=
they were made; how this one happened
in the charge up San Juan Hill and that
one at Guantanamo, and then their In
dividual histories were each recounted by
a self-appointed speaker to the cheering
people.
Mamma. sitting in the great stand oppo-
site, was very much worried. Just before
they had started from home Josie had
been missed There was not enough time
he 81
was sent scurrying around the neighbor-
hood after her, and as the time for the
unwilling ceremony rapidly approached
she felt sorry to think that her own little
daughter might not be present at the
proudest moment of her fathers life She
tried to listen to the speeches, and the
time passed until it lacked but five min
utes of the hour set for the unwilling.
Then she caught sight OF Nina all alone.
forcing her way through the crowd. and
the whole day seemed spoiled, for OF all
things she had wished to have Josie there.
And now the perverse little tot had will
fully hidden herself away. So 1t seemed
to cross and disappoint mamma, who
waited without her.
Soon the drapery began to tremble and
the starry folds gradually dropped away,
accompanied by the booming of the sa-
luting cannon, and the hurrahs of the
people, as the horsemans magnificent
head and shoulders came in sight!
But something else is glistening, too! A
roar that browns out the whole artillery
battery goes up from the multitude as an
other head and shoulder comes in viewi
A very little head with halo OF shining
curls. And the flag drops entirely away.
showing Josie perched UP in front of
bronze Daddy, on the statue horse, wav-
ing a tiny flag with all her might.
That was where she had hidden. She
managed to get a workman to smuggle her
up under the flags, and there she had pa
tiently waited all through the long
speeches.
And as she was tenderly lifted down into
mammals arms she said in a tired. but
happy voice: f"I didn't think It was fair
to leave me out when was in it, too!''