Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-02
The Sharp Boys Keep Fourth of July.
BY SAM PUMPKINS.

When Aunt Lizzie caught Luke flying
from the hay NOW to the barn floor she
and Uncle Henry agreed that they could
endure their nephews no longer. Word
must be sent to their parents in the city
asking them to come and take the young
sters home.
OF course both Uncle Henry and Aunt
Lizzie were very busy, Is always the
case on a farm in summer. So the letter
was put Off and the fond parents of Mark
and Luke supposed the boys were revealing
in outdoor life on the farm. Instead they
were sad prisoners in the little bed room
off the garnet.
On the I'd Of July there came an express
box and letter for Masters Mark and
Luke Sharp The box contained eight
packs of frecrackers, lot Of torpedoes
| and enough pinwheels. skyrockets. Roman
| candles and other interesting things to
keep two patriotic boys busy all day and
| part of the night. Aunt Lizzie shut her
| lips tight, hid the box away and went
| about her work. The Sharp boys YEARLY
passed the hours in their jail, with as little
complaint as though they had been life
prisoners, with no hope Of pardon.
When the box came. and Aunt Lizzie saw
what was in 1t. she quickly closed it. tossing
the letter back into 1t unread.
There Is no use talking she said to
| herself. II cannot and will not tolerate such
mischief and stupidity, They must go
home.
1t was 10 o'clock Fourth of July morning
before she ever thought of the letter again
Then she went and read 1t:
MY Darling Boys: 1 sure you are
| having a most delightful time with dear
Aunt Lizzie and Cousin Leonard and all.
It is lonesome here without you. but when
[ think of the small chances you would have
of play, and the little, stuffy room you
would have to sleep In this hot weather,
am glad you can enjoy the wide. open coun-
try and the fresh air. Papa sends you a
| fine box Of fireworks and hopes you will
have a most glorious Fourth. We both send
our best love to our dear boys, and also to
! Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Henry.
Your affectionate MAMMA"
| Aunt Lizzie hardly knew whether to feel
provoked or sorry. She thought the bows
| did not deserve the good opinion their
mother had of them, but at the same time
| she remembered that they were only boys.
| Her pity for them won.
When dinner was ready Mark and Luke
were invited down, and. after a lecture by
| Aunt Lizzie, they received their letter and
| the box. Their joy was more than they
could contain. They shouted and danced
and were eager to commence firing at once
Aunt Lizzie required them first to promise
that they would not go outside of the
orchard. and that they would be very care
full. She also promised to ask Cousin Leon
ard to help them with the pinwheels. rock
cts and candles in the evening.
Mark and Luke were In high glee. They
ma de short work of the first pack of crack
ers. throwing them In the air, or leaving
them at a distance before they exploded.
Before the second pack was gone they be-
came bold enough to let them go of right
in their hands.
There was a large wagon out in the
orchard. the kind that is used for hauling
grain. 1t had sides as high as Luke's head.
He could hardly climb into It. But the boys
thought this would make a good fort, from
which they could fire their artillery at an
imaginary enemy. With much difficulty
Mark got Luke and the whole supply Of
6roUnrtS NJ this Ua
nifcent place to play fort. Through hole
in the tailboard they could either peep out
at the enemy or point the exploding fire.
crackers It was good place. too. for the
torpedoes. They banged like pistols on the
hard floor
In a moment of bravery Mark put the end
of firecracker between his front teeth,
lighted 1t. and putting 1t out of the hole.
let It explode. Fortunately, he was not
hurt. It made him hilarious Luke wanted
to try IT next. but Mark had better plan.
He said:
Put it in your ear. Lukey. and it will
sound like cannon"
Mark helped him set 1t and light 1t. Luke
was completely deafened by the report and
for a time both boys thought their Fourth
of July fun was over. But Luke was not as
much hurt as he might have been. and
when MARX proposed to set OF one Of the
roman candles through the hole In the tail
board the fun again began. Next Luke set
OF a roman candle through the hole.
Then Mark proposed lighting one of the
of powder and smoke was turned squarely
on Luke. and as Luke screamed Mark
threw the wheel to the floor. Let loose. II
started lively chase around the wagon
box. 1t made the Sharp boys hop. 1t found
the rest Of the pinwheels, the frecrackers,
roman candles and rockets. In less time
than 1t takes to tell 1t they were all doing
their very best to celebrate the Fourth.
The pun balls came out of the candles
faster than Luke and Mark could dodge
them. The rockets went as far as they
could and then kicked back kissing,
glowing stream Of Fourth Of July. The un-
used frecrackers kicked gaily. The pin
wheels ran hurdle races.
Mark and Luke? Well, they rubbed their
legs and their hands and their faces: they
jumped and h0wled: there were sparks all
over tham. and their screams were terrific
to hear In his terror Luke could not have
climbed over the high sides OF the wagon.
Mark never thought of It.
Cousin Leonard heard the cries and the
very unusual firing. and ran to the rescue.
It required his Hvefiest efforts to yank
them out of their fort and extinguish the
sparks In their clothing. The youngsters