Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-07-02

July 4, 1872. he
VAS afreckled-faced barcfoote ed school
boy In Elwood, Kan. He's a division
superintendent on the Illinois Central
railroad now, and he writes his name
M. X. Emmett, Supt.," but in those
Gays he was known at the village
school as Mickey Emmett OF course
Michael Robert Emmett would have
been moEe 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 vet
ringing in his ears, mickey" sounded
all right
Mickey's widowed mother kent
cows" Nobody called her little estab-
hshment dairy" except herself. but
she managed to exc out n decent liv.
ing for herself and Mickey, and She
was proud Of her ambition to rive him
an education and prouder of the fact
that he always was first at his studies.
But when the glorious Fourth of 1872
drew near Mickey made an eloouent
plea for some fireworks He wanted
10 show his patriotism. He had an am
bition TO make as much noise as the
other boys. and his heart rebelled at
the suggestion that twas n waste of
money" The widow promised him n
flag
"Oi'll Civ yez a two-bit flag" said
she, AN take yez over t the picnic at
-LaKe Contrary. They's T. be bal
loon ASCENSION and free foir wurruks.
and it will cost rs both only four-bits."
Mickey preferred to make bedIam in
i - ~
on the picnic, and the boy agreed TO go.
1t was the balloon that fascinated
the lad He was no sooner on the pic
mic grounds than he sought out the
cOrd-netted bag Of yellow. with its
wicker basket its anchor and its gan
ing 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 a hundred times. but he
lowered about the balloon like bee
at an alfalfa blossom.
Finally, the aerOnaut. Prof. WinbalI.
came forth with n bath robe flowing
gracefully from his shoulders. His
spangled tights cleaned in the hot
sunlight and he superintendent the in
fation Of his balloon with the careless
confidence Of n master Mickey re-
doubled his efforts TO help 50 great
man lie helped 10 Hft the sand bags
into the car. and ms the yellow buIb
like q monstrous orange. bobbed up
ward in its efforts 20 be free. the little
Irish boy was beside himself with de-
light ne hoped into the basket
dozen times Tie professor smiled
bcamingly upon him and asked.
WI You 60 up with me. little
man?"
e. Mickey glanced AZ his mother who
shook her head ferceIy. and then he
lodged away again into the crowd.
Fifty stout arms were now holding
the guy ropes which confined the bal
loon The day was perfect. Not
breath N wind disturbed the air. The
smoke from the little steamer in the
lake curled straight upward in
widening cone Of gray. The trees were
motionless. No cloud specked the blue
sky. the water lay fat and shining like
a mirror in the sun.
"Now, my friends" Numbered Prof.
Winball. casting aside his robe and
standing forth resplendent in the sum
light. when ! shout: let pov Won
must all loose holds upon the ropes"
The volunteer assistants choruscd.
All right Then there was n wait
while the professor looked after some
carrier pigeons that were TO accom-
pany hin. in the ascent. Somebody
shouted: Let go." The restraining
rores were dropped with one accord.
end the balloon, tenantless and like
rayless planet, rose upward from The
ground