The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-06-29
Home Made TorpedOes.

~ sister, Marlannlna, was ndl-pdst ".
IL was Fourth of July, and all the other
boys had frecrackers, but Johnny had
none.
But though there were no hrecrackers,
there were six packages of torpedoes that
Uncle Joey had bought for him and Mari
annina At first Johnny said he would
take llt one package; torpedoes were
only for girls, anyhow. Like a martyr
he singled out the smallest bag, and
put five into his sisters pinafore. Sadly
the two went out into tho back Yard.
well take turns out o. mine first,
Ninny," said he. First l frow. den
you.
"P'r'aps, after all, we'd better keep
the bags all sep'rate," Johnny went on
to say. II take half the bags, and you
take half"
But even with this careful manage
ment the torpedoes were soon gone.
Suddenly Mariannina had an idea. She
picked up the torn cover of one of the
exploded torpedoes. it was common
white tissue paper. She examined its
contents. The torpedoes seemed to be
made of sand and salt and things.
Johnny" chried she, 'supposing we
make some torpedoes.'
II don't believe dey'll torpedo" an
swered Johnny, gloomily.
1--WE can't tell TIL we try" said Ninny.
"I've got plenty of tissue paper that
came in the box with my beautiful wax
doll"
"Oh. yes" said Johnny; shut what's
de stuffing made OFF,
'Wnat should you think it was" ask
ed Ninny.
Looks like sand and gravel" replied
Johnny "But sand hasn't got any fire.
bang to it. cause I've froved it ever so
many times"
perhaps red pepper NoGld help" sug-
gested Ninny. Anyway, Pm going to
get some"
You'd better get bofe kinds of pep
per-" cried Johnny, as Mariannina ran
into the house.
Ninny soon returned with spice box,
scissors and tissue paper.
Ninny cut and Johnny mixed. Both
children began to sneeze.
Surprising it went off wiv a bang
while I was mixing it." said prudent
John Hancock. He turned his head and
mixed at long range.
First Wen twist up two, just to try"
said Ninny.
But just as they had finished the two,
q curly head appeared above the high
fence. TIE head belonged to Angelina
Thurston; the children knew very well
that she was standing on the rain bar
rel.
"What you doin'?" she called.
ooh. just making torpedoes," answered
Johnny.
"Ci'-gi' me oneY'
81 couldn't exactly give 'em away
responded Johnny.
'Pooh" said Angelina. 81 don't be-
lieve they're any good, anyhow
''Don't let's fire off any till she's gone,'
whispered Mirannnina, "'cause if any
thing should happen that they wouldn't
be good, she'd laugh at us. Let's make
more"
Soon there was a fine large pile oil
beautifully formed torpedoes, looking fol-
all the world like those you buy in the
store.
s.Now, them said Mariannina, her
cheeks red with excitement, Tets try
'em. You try first"
She held her breath, and had her fin
gers ready to stop her ears johnny
Strengthened himself, took aim and furi
ously hurled one of the largest torpedoes
against the stone. Alas and alasl Il
fell as noiselessly as a snowflake.
ct doesn't torpedo" said Johnny
plaintively.
He tried another, and another. with
the same result. Those plump and beau
tiful torpedoes, half filling the little cart
were-failuresi
Mariannina wept But the dinner
bell rang and they went in.
Now all this time Uncle Joey, bidder
behind the library blinds, had beer
chuckling quietly to himself. Still smil
ing, Uncle Joey opened the door of tn,
library closet On the top shelf wer,
two packages of torpedoes, intended a
q pleasant surprise. Uncle Joey slippet
out into the yard and put them in pac
of the torpedoes the children had made
After dinner the children went agail
into the shady yard. The little car
with its little load of torpedoes was stil
there. John Hancock picked up a tor
pedo, sighed, and let it fall. Bang! I
his immense surprise that torpedo was
SUGGEST He tried another, and another
Oh, joy
Then appeared Angelina on the raj
barrel.
''See our torpedoes?" cried Johnny
sSmell 'em? Hear emp And he thre'
three together.
II say, will you give me a cent
WORTH asked Angelina.
She tossed down a cent, while Johnny
standing on a soap box, gave her FIVE toI
pedoes.
Then Isabel and Anabel, the Bolto
twins. sauntered into the yard. The
had a cent between them; and seem
AngeIina's purchase, they, too. wished
buy. Johnny sold them cents wortl
sMade 'em ourselves" he said airil.
"How did you do Il" asked the twin
In awe.
aoh. it's easy" answered john.
~Just take sa id and salt and red peppt
and black pepper. and twist 'em up
paper. could do it wiv my eyes shut
Johnny, intent upon proving to Il
twins the ease with which torpedo'
could be made, mixed more "stumng!
Nariannina cut two covers; ana tnel
wers now two brand-n1m homemade to