Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-06
THEY CELEBRATED.
How Grandpa and Grandma Attended
the Great Time in Town.
And ROW the Younger Folks Were
Brought to Their Senses.


the Pitchers. Gentle grandmother
Hiram took quiet pride in the fact; she
| nked TO tell people how plainly Hiram
| Gouio near teams rumble over the old
ofaWpfidge, mile away-it didn't
| seem 10 matter mite which way the
| Wlhd was. Dear land, Hiram's ears?-
| "hy' much as ever you could mention
any sounds that Hiram's ears couldn't
near! they We're regular Pitcher ears,
only more so.
| Cfurch bells, family sweet on Sum
| DAY mornings-ali the singing little
INSECT voices of summer time-the
creak of the old blue pump down.
meadow, where Johnnie watercd the
cattle-the soft purr of the last little
| Altchef's Observation-Disclosures Hiram S
ears were good for them all.
! Grandfather Hiram was splitting
wood today, stopped over painfully,
with rheumatism lines creasing his
brown old face. 1t was late. hot June,
and hardly breath stirred the
people" leaves beside him. Round
| the corner of the barn the children
were talking, and Grandfather Hiram
was listening, between ax-b1oWs.
''Elephunts, Johnnie Pitcher? What
you talllin' about 'Tisn't go!n to be- a,
circus"
| "Wel, maybe not elephunts," con-
| ceded Johnnie, grudgingly, but ev Fry
| thing else. It's goin' to be 4 reE'lar
bouncer of a parade; yes, sir.''
Grandfather Hirams AK DESCENDED
| heavily, chopping off some of Johnne's
word. 1t was little Clemmy's shrill
exclamation of establishment that came
next.
"A mile long, Johnnie Pitchar!"
maybe two miles-maybe ihree-I
| don't know" Johnnies voice was
calmly generous. "All 1 know is, it's
goin to be the biggest parade avcr was
in the country-c-o-u-n-t- yes, sir.
An I'm a-goin'.'
"An' me, too-me, johnnie? Why
don't you say me?" Little Clemmys
voice ran up the chromatic scale in its
intense eagerncss. Round the corner
of the old red barn Grandfather Hiram
listened for the answer, almost as
she did. His hot. stream ng old face
took on alertness and interest
"We're all a-goin'," announced John
mic calmly, as though it htld been blue
berrying up in the back pacture.
Johnnie! Do YOU knp Wv it for GER
tain sure" shrieked little Clemmy in
ecstasy. "All of us-tNery single?
G0in'|'
Grandfather Hiram .!at down sud-
denly on the choppih g block. His
strength seemed to aye deserted him.
1t was the Fourth o. July celebration
over to the Centcr-thAt was what they
were all going to. A.ll-every single.
Then mother was going and hc--he
and mother! And there was to be a
great parade and bands of music-of
course bands of music-and flags way
ing everywhere. And. they We're all
''a-gOin' every single-hc and moth
or. When had he and mother gone
anywhere before?
Grandfather Hira m laughed to him
self in his gentle, childish way. 1t was
beautiful pr0spe ct. He could almost
hear the bands of music now "a little
flutter of excitement thrilled through
his old veins, and redeemed the soft
brown of his wrinkled checks Still
the chi!dren's voices ran on in his ears.
Johnnie was eX15atiating with the calm
experience of one who has ocen there
upon the splenlOrs ahead-lttle Glenn
my's shrill EXPLANATIONS of wonder
filled in all thefgaps. Statutes of guns
lannon's, YES, SIR speeches, races, fire
Works-marvels or marvel, they piled
up splendidly.
My" cjaculated Grandfather Hi
ram, on the chOpping block. He got
to his feet painfully, and stopped away
across the white-hot space of sun
shine toward the house. He was going
to tell mother
Other voices drifted out of the sit
ting-room windows toward the wood
pile, but Grandfather Hiram was no
longer there to hear.
Dear, yes, We're all going-aIl hut
the baby, of course" 1t was the voice
of Johns wife, firm and distinct. The
voice that answered was slender and
small, as if worn thin with use.
Well, you're fortunate to have some
one to leave the baby with. I wish to
mercy I had-Chubby, I mean. I'd
rather stay at home than take Club
by to a Fourth o July"
Il don't know as | wonder" laughed
| the firm voice. Amt he regular
| little steam engine?"
''Puff-puff-puff from morning till
night" sighed Chubbys mother. "He
never runs down till O'Clock at night
when I get him tucked into bed. Why,
MS Pitcher your babe in arms can't
be any more trouble than that boy,'
II know-still you ought not 20 be
| kept home from the celebration lust on
account of him. Why don't YOU bring
him over here and let Grandma Hiram
see to him? She could as well as not
the baby sleeps most of the time.
There, that's just what you do, Mrs.
Dow! I'm glad I thought Of it,"
But I didn't know but what
Horatio's wife might bring"
| "Sunie?-she's going to. It's the ONLY
way Horatios wife can go, Sunie's be-
ing lame, so. But don't see whv that
would make any difference about YOUR
| Chubby-they'd be company for each
| other. Grandpa Hiram will he here
you know. Grandpa's very handy with
babies for one so old-or so Young. 7
don't know which you'd call Craudpa,'
The caller had risen to her feet with
a new look of enthusiasm and life in