The Republican journal., 1903-07-02
Marjory's S First Celebration.
A Fourth of July That Was Very Different
From Expectation
A. L. Sykes in July St. Nicholas.

A Fourth of July That Was Very Different
From Expectation.
TA.L. Sykes in July St. Nicholas.
Are you going to buy torpedoes for
me, Uncle Alec?" asked Robby.
"Yes," said Uncle Alec.
ooh, goody, And pinwheels, and
rockets, and fiery serpents, and Roman
candes?:" asked Robby, spinning
around his uncle as though he were a
pinwheel himself.
'.Yes,' laughed Uncle Alec.
"And little pistols and caps
~ es."
And teenty-tonty tirecrackers, and
middle sized ones, and great big cannon
ones??' asked Robby.
Uncle Alec opened his lips to say yes
again but sorrowful little voice said
ooh. Uncle Alec, Robby is a perfectly
f'rocious boy. | wish you wouldn't t
buy such dreadful things.
''Pooh," said Robby, and he put his
hands in the pockets of his knlcker-
bockers and stood very straight; for he
was seven, and brave, and Marlory, was
only five, and didn't like Fourth OF Ju-
ly at all.
Il won't let EN- hurt you. | can keep
care of you, Marjory" he said; And
you can hold my punk Here he
brought out dilapidated piece from
the recesses of his trousers pockets,
he handed to Marjory as a sort of earn
est of bigger and better things to be
expected in JTncle's package.
''Yes: but don't like to hear them,'
said Marjory, and though she was the
dearest little girl in the whole world,
she looked almost ready to cry. But
when the time for buying the things
came, Marjory was quite ready to go,
and when her uncle came home with his
arms full of bundles, Marjory said to
her mama:
"Mama. Robby's bundles are full of
awful things, and mine are full of nice
things, and we are going to put them
on the shelf and not look at them until
Fourth of July
On the day before the Fourth the
postman brought letter to Robby.
"Hurrah"' he shouted, after he had
heard it read "Grandma wants me to
stay with her all the Fourth of July,
and | can make as much noise as l
want. Mama, may | go?''
Mama was glad to say yes, for Robby
was never tired of shooting, and Mar
iory never seemed to get used to the
noise, and cried so much that the day
was always hard one for their mother.
When the happy morning came, Rob
by was up before light, packing his
treasures for the journey: and when
Uncle Alec took him to the train all
the passengers smiled when they saw
such small American with such a
large box, going somewhere to cele-
brate his independence,
Its very sad without Robby,'
moaned Marjory at lunch time.
'Yes," said her mother, ''but not
nearly so sad as it is with him. |
haven't heard you cry once to-day: and
when nap time is over you know that
you are to begin to celebrate"
How Marjory's eyes danced when she
woke from her nap and was dressed in
her very prettiest dress! She went to
the next house and invited all the little
girls to come and see her Fourth of
July and they came. She ran and
Uncle Alec came to help her.
Off came the papers-and what do
you think she found?
Robby had taken her bundles and left
his and there on the floor lay strings
and strings Of tiny red firecrackers,
and middle-SiZed ones, and great, great
cannon ones.
Marjory hid her face in her mamma S
lap and cried and cried.
I'm crying some for me" she sobbed,
'but most for Robby. l just believe
he'll die"
"Well, put on your hat, pussykins,
and We'll catch the 3 O'Clock train and
make him happy again. said Uncle
Alec, who, in his long black duster,
had Just come in from a trial drive of a
new horse he was thinking of purchas-
ing: and then Marjory was happy in
deed.
"Oh, you DEAR dear Uncle Alecv'
cried Marjory, holding out her hands
and running up to him. Mamma prom
ised to send word to the girls explain
ing everything"
They were soon walking down the
village street toward grandma's house.
They found grandma and grandpa, and
John the man, and Kate the maid, all
searching for a lost Robby.
''He ran to open his bundles in the
kitchen, and we haven't seen him since,
| though we've called and called" said
/ grandma.
''He is under the bed, think" said
Marjory. "He goes there SO people
won't see him cry" And upstairs they
all ran. Marjory looked, and there, far
under grandma's bed, lay sad, little,
curled-up bundle that was Robby. No
body laughed when he crawled out. red
and tear-stained, with his arms full of
Marjory's packages, and he wiped his
eyes very hard when no one was look
ing, and was soon as merry as the 9TH
| ers.
Ladies first" said Uncle Alec, as
they went out on the lawn; and Robby
laughed with the rest at the day fire
works as the queer cats and pigs and
funny mandarins went floating up and
away. They pulled the crackers, and
every one had gay cap to wear, and
the very incest of candy came from the
boxes that looked just like firecrackers.
Then came Robby's turn. How the
torpedoes and the pistols snapped, and
the firecrackers roared, and the great,
great ones doomed like cannons! Mar
jory sat on Uncle Alec's knee, and
never cried at all, but laughed and
bhouted, Wasn't that fine one, Rob-
sy?" And nobody but Uncle Alec