The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-07-01
OCEAN MEREDITH'S FOURTH
~ ana MHLvILtz sHAw.
. CEAN MEREDITH had alwaya

sSS$eSeeeteee&7
--~~~~~~~-~-~~.~~1
/ ~ CEAN MEREDITH had AWAY,
Ill lived in a large city. She was 4
patriotic lasaie. and every year OF
the Fourth Of July she used to decorat.
the house with Aaga, play Yankee Doc
die" and all manner of patriotic tune,
on the old piano. and then. Creased ia
patriotic eolorS, With 4 dag IN her hat
one pinned to her dress and one in her
hand, 90 70 some Of the several eelshra.
tons u the day.
| This year Ocean was away from the
| city, In little town where Il vas quiet.
er at noon that Il used 60 be at midnight
In her city home Ocean rather liked il.
She thought that when ths pFocsssiog,
went By on the Fourth Of July she could
see the whole u Il, and not bs crowded
By 50 many hurryiag people.
A. Ocean became acquainted With the
boys and girls In the littis town she ask.
Ell them what they did on the Fourth
but they wsre shy Of the city girl. and
she could not hnd ont much about Il.
The day before the holiday Ocean was
very busy all day.
What are you up to. lassisY' asked
her mother.
I'm getting all ready Tor tomorrow.
mother
ut VIII no, be the same here. dear.
that i was at home"
But we're Americans. arsu't We
mothsrf They'll celebrate. woat they r
! suppose they will. child"
oceans home was on the principal
street Of the sleepy little town. When
the people woke up on the morning q
the Fourth, what should thsy see bal
haEs waving from the four front windows
OF the Msrediths' little cottage, the posts
OF the porch twined with bunting. and
the rel, white and blus wotad about the
trunks of the trees just within the pal
ing fence. Before the morning dew was
on the grass, there on the porch WA
Ocean herself. a sweet little vision In
white, with red and blue ribbons In her
hair and around her waist. and wee aar,
coating from either shoulder. some pass-
ing children stared at her aud A. the
house. She ran out 10 the gate several
times. and peered eagerly up and down
the street There was not a dag In Sigh.
nor sound Of hfs and drum. Then
ocean found her way tearfaIly to her
busy mothers side.
Don't you think, mother, II their
grandfathers hsd been soldiers. and their
brothers had belonged to the Volunteers.
they'd celebrater'
Il think they would. Ocean. dear
Mother. may / eslebratsT'
Oceans bmother always let her lit,1s
EiFi do anything that vas right. 90 shs
iaid Yes" and thought 90 more about
T. In half an hour there stood before
her little soldier lazsia. with a rap
Derehed on hss curIs aud a drum alunr /
'ver her shoulders. I'm going 10 rsle- |
'rate. mother; Just can't stand itr'
AN right, sweetheart. Have AZ good
! time as you can. Perhnpa we can have
little picnic in the woods this after
lOon."
The people Of the town heard the
ound Of a drum, and peersd out their
loors, There, marching all alone through
he dusty street. beating her drum hs her
'rotheT had taught her. and singing
Rally Round the Flag. Boys" was :
little girl in white.
For gracious sake cried Tom Peter.
on, an old member Of the Grand Army.
0ming out Of his house to see. what
re you doing, little oneY'
Ocean saluted gravely. I'm ceIsbrut.
nR. Don't you know about the Fourth
ere7 Ny grandfather was a soldier
ty brother il one. too. was watching
or the procession. but It didn't come.
80 you thought you'd celebrnte7
Veil, vow! See here, wlfsr'
Ocean waited while a woman In A
unbonnet came out Then the man went
lto the house and came back with an
III hfe and a tattsred flag.
Il reckon your grandfather and me
'ere comrades. little one. Suppose we
o see your mother a Bit. Then ven
CELEBRATE some more"
Oceans heart beat high AZ she walked
, the old soldiers side back TO hsr
iother's gate.
''If you viii let us have your little girl I
,r a wkhile, ma'am. we'll take care Of
or. Actually we've forgotten how TO be ,
atriotic In this town. There Isn't a Gag
town besides yours It's shame" I
The nszt thing Ocean knew abe was