The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-07-04

49,
nasa freckled-faced ~barefooted school
boy in Elwood. Kan. He's a division
superintendent on the Illinois Central
railroad now. and he writes his name
"M. II. Emmett. Supt.," but in those
DAYS he was known at the village
school as Mickey Emmett. OF course
Michael Robert Emmett would have
been more distingue and deferential.
but in those days he didn't go in much
for STYLE. and with the memory of his
dead fathers fine Irish brogue yet
ringing in his ears, Mickey" sounded
all right.
Mic4sey's widowed mother kept
COWS" Nobody called her little estab-
lishment a dairy" except herself, but
she managed TO exc out a decent liv-
ing for herself and Mickey, and she
was proud OF her ambition to give him
an education and prouder Of the fact
that he always was first at his studies.
But when the glorious Fourth Of s72
drew near, Mickey made an eloquent
plea for some fireworks. He wanted
10 show his patriotism. He had an am
bition to make as much noise as the
0lNtT DONN. duN hIN Htait t1'i'N 60
the suggestion that twas n waste OF
money The widow promised him a
Gag.
"Oi1l civ yez n two-bit flag" said
she. IAN take ycz over 4 the picnic at
Lake Contrary. They's t be a bal
loon ASCENSION and free foir wurruks.
and II win cost us both only four-bits."
Mickey preferred TO make bedlam in
his own ward. but the widow was bent
on the picnic. and the boy agreed TO go.
1t was the balloon hat fascinated
the lad. He was no sooner on the pic
mic grounds than he sought out the
c~ord-netted bag Of yellow. with its
wicker basket. its anchor and It's gap
inr mouth. When the great charcoal
fire was kindled and the pipe inserted
into the big balloon Mickey was the
busiest lad in the neighborhood. His
good mother watched him and eau
toned him n hundred times. but he
lowered about the balloon like a bee
al an alfalfa blossom.
Finally. the aeronaut, Prof. Winbal'
came forth with a bath robe flowing
gracefully from his shoulders. Hi
epangled tights cleaned in the ho'
sunlight. and he superintendent the in
fation Of his balloon with the careless
confidence Of n master. Mickey re
doubled his efforts to help so great
man. lie helped TO lift the sand bag
into the car. and as the yellow bulb
like n monstrous orange, bobbed up
ward in It's efforts TO be free. the it'll
Trs.L 49,. x.c- haufla hfpnCa1f with de
light. lie hoped into the basket
dozen times. The professor smile
beamingly upon him and asked:
"Will yon 60 up with me, Httl
man?"
Mickey glanced at his mother. VIII
shook her head fercely, and then h
lodged away again into the crowd.
Fifty stout arms were now holdin
the guy ropes which confined the ba
loon. The day was perfect. Not
breath of wind disturbed the air. tn
smoke from the little steamer in tn
lake curled straight upward in
widening cone of gray. The trees wei
notionless. No cloud specked the BIZ
sky, the water lay fiat and shining lin
a mirror in the sun.
Now. my friends" Numbered Pro
Winball. casting aside his robe M
standing forth resplendent In the su'
light. when ] shout; Let so!' W
must all loose holds upon the ropes"
The volunteer assistants choruse'
MI right" Then there was q wa
while the professor looked after son
carrier pigeons that were to accol
pany him in the accent. Somebo,
shouted: LET go!" The restraint
ropes were dropped with one accor
and the balloon. tenantless and like
ralless planet rose howard from I
ground