Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-02
Biddy's Glorious Fourth.
BY s, WALTERS.

Biddy was born on the Either soide. as
she told everybody that was curious
enough to ask her. Though foreign by
birth, in feeling and actions she was thor
oughIy American. She had spent one
Fourth of July in this country and had
observed with intense interest the enthu-
siasm all boys and girls showed In the
day AT the same time she resolved that
when the Fourth next came around her
celebration would be as lively as any
bodys. And so it turned out.
Now, it might be said of Biddy that there
had been a serious double mistake In her
life. Instead of an Irish girl she should
have been boy, and an American. But
American she was bound to become any,
way, and no boy living could have entered
more heartily into the celebration than
this same Bddy OHare. in her straw hat
with wide dropping brim, and her green
frock.
There was just one peculiar thing in Bid
dys makeup, and that, to call 1t by Its
gentlest name, was tendency to preVari-
cate. Indeed, prevaricate will hardly do
for she often made up whole stories With
out even a foundation of truth. 1t was
Biddy's weakness. Her parents fondly
hoped that she would outgrow it-she was
only eight-but as things were now, almost
all she said had to be carefully considered
as coming from Biddy.
In the town where Biddy lived there was
a public celebration. and this young Irish
American made her plans to attend. She
did not think it worth while to ask per
mission. When the afternoon came she
found it easy enough to get herself lost in
the crowd and to follow the rest of the
patriotic citizens out to the fair grounds.
This. she felt, made her fully an Ameri-
can. The flags waved for her as much as
for anybody. And there was not sight
that escaped her. Wherever there was
something extra to see Biddy would crowd
in between the older persons, or she would
OF Il t1a or he ndpr
When she wanted pink lemonade or pea
nuts she invited some man to buy them
for her. She clapped when the band
played; she even climbed to the band stand.
where she could stand beside the man with
the bass cornet.
So fascinating 1t all was that she did not
notice when the sun went down and the
torches and Japanese lanterns began to
glow. She stayed right on into the even
ing for the fireworks. 1t was late when
her father found her. high up in the grand
stand OF course there had been fright
when her absence was noticed, and so
happy were the parents at finding her that
they actually forgot to punish her for rum
ing away.
Many days passed before Biddy was
through telling the wonders of her celebra-
ton. Everything she described became.
under her artistic touch. three times as
wonderful as 1t really had been. Biddy
gave her imagination full play. The climax
came when she told of going up in a paper
balloon at night. She declared there were
seats all around on the inside, that 1t was
light as day. in there, and that the man
who sent the balloons up wanted other
children to go. too. but that she was the
only one who dared do It, And that" she
explained. lis why they called me the hero
of the celebration. And when l came
down, on the very spot from which
started the band played a new piece called
Brave Biddy O'Hare' And"
Just at this point her father interrupted
her to say very sternly that she need con-
tnue the narrative no further. There was
look in his face that Biddy had never
seen before, and her story of the Fourth
stopped right where 1t was.