The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-03

nearly killed calf before noon,
This is too tame
ooh, we don't think so at ALL" the
pinwheels cried in chorus. 1--WE
haven't the faintest desire to burst
like the firecrackers Ugh! Think OF
our beautiful variegated dress uni
forms, all made of the finest paper, af-
ter an explosion!''
We'll" growled the toy pistol, you
may think of your clothes all you
please, but when the night comes they
will order you out. You are the troops
that will have to be nailed to your
posts. And there you must stay
whirling and twirling till you burst.
There is really no way out of il,
rs that my old friend Sergeant
Toy Pistol speaking?" asked crack
ed voice from the bottom of the box.
IF so, perhaps he will condescend to
talk bit on this glorious anniversary
with superannuated comrade, Ser
geant- Major Cannon.
Cannon! Cannon! My dear old
terminate" cried the toy pistol.
why, | thought that you were dead
and gone long ago. The last l saw
of you, you were flying high UP in the
air after being loaded to the nuzzle
with powder and nails
That was, indeed, fierce engage
ment,' said Sergeant Major Cannon.
drawing himself UP proudly and leer-
| ing at the lowerpots, who were look
ing at him with admiration. 1T is
there that | got the rent in my side
which has forced me to retire. | be-
lieve that | have been called out with
| these night reserves to act as a ham
mer to drive the nails for the pin
wheels
"Have you heard what my duties
are to be?" asked the toy pistol.
my poor friend" replied the can
non regretfully, you are prisoner
You were tried by court-martial and
found guilty of having caused so
many disasters that it was decided TO
keep you out of action hereafter"
Instead of looking ashamed at these
words, the toy pistol swelled up with
vanity and stared so boldly at the
pinwheels that they blushed.
"Ah," said he, 81 have certainly
done my share of fighting in my time.
| The very first time | went off | took
the tip of the finger off General Small
boy, and he Immediately exchanged
me with all the honors of war for a
whole regiment of hrecrackers. I'M
| der my new commander | was charg-
! ed to the muzzle, and every time
was fired | made so terrific noise
that we extracted ransom from a
maiden aunt whose nerves were not
good"
do you remember the day you and
l fought a duel?" asked Sergeant
| Major Cannon with chuckle that
made the paper creep on the flower
pots.
DO II" responded the toy pistol
laughing hoarse, blood-t thirsty
laugh. 81 shot hole into the dining
room window and nearly killed old
Uncle Moniman, and he revoked his
will, and left all his wealth to an asy-
lum for teaching deaf Indians tc
make neckties."
'And I, comrade," said the cannon
hurled a pebble with such unparal'
leled precision and force that it went
clean across the field and frightened
the deacon's horse so that it upset the
cart and stepped around in the crate:
of guaranteed fresh-laid eggs till there
wasn't single one left"
| "Ah, yes!' said the toy pistol
What rascals we were i'll our palm.
daysl 1t is hard to believe now"
"But we had Our suferings, too,
said the cannon. Il cannot descrlb
the pain that shot through me whel
. l got my wound. There lay anon,