Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-06-26
THE SILK FLAG
Fourth of July Episode. g

- 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
rvs 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 a new
gown a necessity. And she remembered,
with uneasiness, that Fred had spoken
of Mrs. Patterson as being a most prac-
tical woman, and the words seemed to
her to have the ring Of beyish approval.
She wondered if her grandson would not
think her 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 criti-
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
sion. Sometimes she wished that, years
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 employments. She did
not want him to take again 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,
if she could make up her mind to part
with the f1ag-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 it's wealth of hollyhocks, sunhowers.
gerbenas and flowers of a 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 discov-
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
aard peas striking on the bottom of a
ban, as musical to her ears as an April
shower on their iron roof.
"Oh, Mrs. Patterson" she said, seat
ing herself on the lower steps of the
porch, you're at your Fourth O. July
peas. L see I'll do mine in the morning.
Plenty O. time, before the exercises"
81 like to be little ahead of time,
always" the other responded, smiling
amiably, as she looked up from heI
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"
SIT seems like sacrilege to even handle
that fag," Mrs. Lowry answered, hel
voice perceptibly saddened. 81 never
take it from the box except to place i
in a new one when the old ones wor1
out I've taken such good care of it
"And we'll take just as good" Mrs
Patterson interposed with businesslik
alacrity. She scooped out the content
of large fat pea-pod with great vigo
as she continued: It'll never be takel
out but for the Fourth of July and fo
visits of the President, if one ever come
to this sleepy little town. / don't thinl
YOU ought to let good chance like thi
go by, Mrs. Lowry"
'I do need the money" the other said
There was no emphasis in her tone, an
her eyes were dreamy; though to Mrs
Patterson they seemed to fasten them
selves on the latter's crisp lawn founce
that peeped from beneath the stii
straightness of an ample white apron.
"Ill tell you what l know from Ion
experience said Mrs. Patterson, mois
ening her lips self-complacently. Il
paws to dress; and more so at our tim
of life than any other. l tell you, Mrs.
Lowry, you with that young grandson Q
yours around-I hope you won't thin
I'm meddlin'-but 1 tell you, you reall
do need a new dress for visitin' an
A church, and such things. Ii l had a mic
boy like Fred around my house don
know but what / think it'd pay me t