Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-07-02
IN UNEXPECTED CELEBRATION
By Candice A. Bramble.

0ACK and Nellie Foster and their
oil three young neighbors. the Blakes.
" were holding a consultation beneath
the great elm tree which stood just upon
the line between the two dooryards.
II tell you, | call it a shame that we
can't go in to the city, as we always have
before.' said Jack Foster, discomfort
cdly.
well. you know we can't, so what's
the use of scoldng all the time about it.
Jacky' replied his sister Nellie.
"Of course father isn't to blame for
being sick, and | suppose your father is
almost rs sorry as we that his business
calls him away just now" said Gladys
Blake in her gentle voice.
But on the Fourth of July" inter
rupted her brother Tom, impetuously.
Its too bad for anything. 1t wouldn't
be quite so mean if we had a few fire
works to let off at night; but here we
are, almost dead broke, with hardly
enough money between us to buy de-
cent supply of tirecrackers, let alone any
thing else"
"Well, never mind" answered Jack.
good naturally. "Frecrackers will make
dreadful lot of noise if they're prop
erly handled and what fun to be had
from noise is bound to be ours next
Thursday. Eth. Tom.' and he gave his
friend Il poke which tumbled him over
upon his back in the grass, where he
chuckcd delighted You bet it is, Old
chap
"Oh. but we've forgotten all about poor
old Mr.. Norris.' cried Gladys. remorse-
fully. We can't 90 to shooting of crack
ers and making a whole lot of noise. be
Eunw IL will burt his hand
and make him ever SO much worse. We
can't, indeed"
"Well. | like that" shouted Tom, as
he glarcd wrathfully at the big brick
house just across the way. What is
Fourth of July for if people are not to
make any noise? and, besides, what do
we care if we do hurt his old head? Pm
sure he was never so careful about hurt
Ing our feelings"
Yes" chimed in Nellie. "bes dread
full mean, cross patchy old thing, Gladys
you know yourself he is--nnd | don't
care if his head does ache a little. and
l don't think You ought to. either, as
many times he has set his horrd dog on
our cats, and you know he never will
let us step inside his yard, even to look
for ball or anything"
Yes" chimed in little 3-year old Rob
bic. gravely. AN he said if | peeked
through the fence any more to see the
peacocks he'd turn out an spank me; an
l don't like him. too"
"Oh, Robbie.' returned Gladys, with
reproachful look. IFS shame for
you to say so. Only just think. poor Mr..
Norris hasn't any little boys and girls
to be good to him, or any one to love
him. and he's old and lame and sick,
we would be if we had half his troubles
to fret us"
We'll. them Miss" Tom said, his tone
little less wrathful than before. for he,
MS we'll as little Robbie, had been i'm
pressed by his sisters remonstrance, "if
we're not to fire off crackers. and are to
80 walking around on our tiptoes all day
long, SOS not to make any noise, per-
haps you'll tell us what we can do next
Thursday. if it wouldn't trouble you too
much"
Eyes. I will" returned Gladys bright
ly quite unrutfed by Toms sarcasm,
"let's take our dinner and go over on
the island and stay all day long. Then
We'll be so far away that our noise
won't trouble Mr.. Norris, and I'm sure
We'll have lots more fun than we could
at home"
The children all realized the truth of
this statement but Tom felt that he
must not yield the point too ehsily, and
so objected But how do you know
mother will let us go?'
oh nonsense, Toni cut in Jack,
briskly. "Of course she will. and what's
more, Gladys is right. and You know it,
so don't raise any more objections"
So it was settled. and from that mo.
ment preparations for a very delightful
day upon the island went steadily on. The
boys erected a fort and Notifications for