The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-07-02
THE SILK FLAG
A Fourth Of July Episode.



= T seemed strange to Mrs. Lowry that
she should consider, under any cir
q cumstances. the possibility of selling
her beloved flag. But as she recalled her
walk with her young grandson on that
first evening after his return from the
university, the boys greeting an old
neighbor at every vine-sheltered porch,
Mrs. Patterson's insinuation in regard
to her rather shabby appearance kept
recurring again and again to Mrs Low
ry's mind. Would not the boy, perhaps,
have a similar impression? Youth has so
little patience with shabbiness in its eld-
ers, and SO little comprehension of senti-
ment.
She knew that her managing neighbor
would never hesitate to make the sacri-
fee when the exigencies of the situation
seemed to make the purchase of new
gown a necessity. And she remembered,
with uneasiness, that Fred had spoken
of Mrs. Patterson as being most prac-
tical woman, and the words seemed to
Lcr to have the ring of boyish approval.
She wondered if her grandson would not
think her a doting old woman to refuse
the committees generous offer for the
flag. With the money realized by her ac-
ceptance of that offer, not only could she
replace her well-worn gown, but she
could have the cottage painted, and
also in other ways make their little home
more agreeable to Fred's young eyes.
In the light of frank neighborly crifi-
cism, she knew she would stand convict
ed of great piece of sentimental fool
ishness" in not accepting the offer, just
as, In that effulgent searchlight, she al
ready stood guilty through not having
pressed her claims for a widows PEN
ago, she had made the application.
Though small. the addition of that quar-
terly pay to their modest income would
have enabled Fred to spend at least
portion of his vacations at home. As it
was, the last three summers had seen
Fred engaged in the most uncongenial
and tiresome of enplOyments. She did
not want him to take agab that hard
trip through the lumber country, where
school houses were far apart, and where
the country school directors were not at
all likely to see the necessity for replac-
ing their well-worn desks with the new
ones that Fred was trying to sell. Yes,
IL she could make up her mind to part
with the flag-and no one but herself
knew how dearly she loved that old flag
she could avoid the labor of that prob
ably fruitless journey.
Such thoughts as these were present
to the old lady's mind one evening, as
she stood in her old-fashioned garden,
with its wealth of hollyhocks, sunflowers,
verbenas and flowers of bygone day.
Her boy, her Fred, was rolling the now
er over the little patch of well-kept lawn.
Looking up from her garden she discoy-
cred her nearest neighbor. Mrs. Patter
son, completely engrossed in the domes-
tic task of shelling peas, and she stroll
ed slowly over to join her. AS she turn
ed the corner of her neighbor's brick
cottage, she could hear the sound of the
hard peas striking on the bottom of
pan, as musical to her ears as an April
shower on their iron roof.
"Oh, Mrs. Patterson" she said, seat
ing herself Oh the lower steps of the
porch, you're at your Fourth o July
peas, 1 see. I'll do mine in the morning
Plenty O time, before the exercises
ii like to be little ahead of time.
always" the other responded. smiling
as she looked up from her
homely labor. Our committee will have
its hands full tomorrow. We take
charge of the lunch. BY the way. the
other members have asked me to renew
our offer for your beautiful silk flag
st seems like sacrilege to even handle
that flag" Mrs. Lowry answered, her
Toice perceptibly saddened. Il never
lake it from the boz except TO place it
n a new one, when the old ones worn
,ut. I've taken such good care of it"
"And We'll take just as good" Mrs.
Patterson interposed with businesslike |
llacrity. She scoopcd out the contents