The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-12
MARJORY's FIRST CELEBRATION.
A Fourth Of July That Was Very Diff
ferent from Expectation.

A L. Sykes. in July st. Nicholas.
Are you going to buy torpedoes for me,
Uncle Alec?' asked Robby.
Yes" said Uncle Alec.
cts. and fiery serpents, and Roman can
dles?" asked Robby, spinning around his
uncle as though he were a pinwheel him
self.
Yes" laughed Uncle Alec.
And little pistols and caps?"
Yes"
middle-sized ones. and great big cannon
ones?" asked Robby.
Uncle Alec opened his lips to say yes
again. but a sorrowful little voice said:
frocious boy. 1 wish you wouldn't buy
such dreadful things"
"Pooh!" said Robby, and he put his
hands In the pockets of his knickerbockers
and brave, and MarJory was only five, and
didn't like Fourth of July at all.
al Won6 let EN- hurt YOU 1 can keep
can hold my punk" Here he brought out
a dilapidated piece from the recesses OF
mis- trousers pocket, a remnant from the
last Fourth, which he handed to Marjory
as a sort of earnest of bigger and better
things to be expected in Uncle Alec's
package
Yes; but 1 don't like to hear them
said Marjory, and though she was the dear
est little girl in the whole world, she looked
almost ready to cry. But when the time
for buying the things came Marjory was
came home with his arms full of bundles
Marjory said to mamma:
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 the Fourth Of
July"
On the day before the Fourth the post
man brought a letter TO Robby.
"Hurrahi" he shouted, after he had heard
1t read. Grandma wants me to stay with
her all the Fourth of July, and / can make
as much noise as I want. Mama, may
1 go?"
Mama was glad to say yes, for Robby
was never tired of shooting, and Marjory
never seemed to get used to the noise,
and cried so much that the day was always
a hard one for their mother.
When the happy morning came Robby
was up before light, packing his treasures
him to the train all the passengers smiled
when they saw such a small American
with such a large box going somewhere TO
celebrate his independence.
Its very sad without Robby." moaned
Marjory at lunch time.
YES" said her mother ''but not nearly
so sad as 1t is with him. / haven't heard
you cry once to-day; and when nan 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 I'm her
very prettiest dress. She vent 20 the next
house and invited all the little girls TO
come and see her Fourth CT July" ana
they came. She ran and took the pacx-
ages from the shelf, and Uncle Alec came
to help her.
on came the papers-and what do you
think she found?
Robby had taken her bundles and ieft
his. and there on the floor lay strings and
strings of tiny red irecrackers, and mid
dle-sized ones. and great. great cannon
ones.
Marjory hid her face in her mama's Ian
and cried and cried.
I'm crying some for me-" she sobbed.
but most for Robby. I just believe he'll
die!''
well. put on your hat, bussykins. and
We'll catch the 3 o'clock train and make
him happy again." said Uncle Alec. who.
In his long black buster, had just come I'm
from a trial drive of a new horse he was
thinking OF purchasing: and then Marjory
was happy indeed.
"Oh, you dear. dear Uncle Aleci" cried
Mar1ory, holding out her hands and run
ming UP TO him. Mama promised TO
send word to the girls explaining every
thing"
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
"He is under the bed. 1 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 a Sad. little. curled-up
bundle that was Robby. Nobody laughed
| when he crawled out. red and tear-stained.
' with his arms full OF Mar1ory's packages,