The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-07-01

W lived in large city. She was
~ patriotic lassie and every year on
the Fourth of July she used to decorate
the house with flags, play Yankee Doo-
de and all manner of patriotic tunes
on the old piano, and then, dressed IN
patriotic colors, with flag in her hat,
one pinned to her dress and one in her
hand 20 to some of the several celebra-
tons Of the day.
This year Ocean was away from the
city, in a little town where it was quiet
er at noon that it used to be at midnight
In her city home Ocean rather liked it..
She thought that when the procession
went by on the Fourth Of July she could
see the whole of it, and not be crowded
by so many hurrying people.
As Ocean became acquainted with the
boys and girls in the little town she ask
ed them what they did on the Fourth;
but they were shy Of the city girl, and
she could not find out much about it.
The day before the holiday Ocean was
very busy all day.
What are you up to, lassie?" asked
her mother.
I'm getting all ready for tomorrow,
mother"
at will not be the same here, dear.
that it was at home"
But we're Americans, aren't we,
mother? They'll celebrate, won't they?"
suppose they will, child"
Oceans home was on the principal
street Of the sleepy little town. When
the people woke up on the morning of
the Fourth, what should they see but
flags waving from the four front windows
of the Meredths' little cottage, the posts
of the porch twined with bunting, and
the red, white and blue wound about the
trunks of the trees just within the pal
ing fence. Before the morning dew was
of the grass, there on the porch was
Ocean herself. a sweet little vision in
white, with red and blue ribbons in her
hair and around her waist, and wee flags
coating from either shoulder. Some pass
Ing children stared at her and at the
house. She ran out to the gate several
times, and peered eagerly up and down
the street. There was not flag In sight,
nor sound of fife and drum. Then
Ocean found her way tearfully to her
busy mothers side.
Don't you think, mother, IL their
grandfathers had been soldiers, and their
brothers had belonged to the Volunteers,
they'd celebrate?
l think they would, Ocean, dear"
Mother, may l celebrateY'
Oceans bmother always let her little
girl do anything that was right, 80 she
said Yes" and thought no more about
It, In half an hour there stood before
her little soldier lassie. with a can
perched on her curls and a drum slung
over her shoulders. ''Im going to cele-
brate. mother: just can't stand it,
All right. sweetheart. Have as good
time as you can. Perhaps we can have
a little picnic in the woods this after.
noon"
The people Of the town heard tho
sound or drum, and peered ont their
doors. There, marching all alone through
the dusty street, beating her drum as her
brother had taught her, and singing
Rally Round the Flag, Boys" wa. =
little girl in white.
For gracious sake" cried Tom Peter
son. an old member of the Grand Army
coming out Of his house to see. "Whst
are you doing. little one?"
ocean saluted gravely. I'm celehrat.
Ing. Don't you know about the Fourtb
here! My grandfather was a soldier
NY brother is one, too. was watcbino
Tor the procession, but it didn't come "
so you thought you'd celebrate?
Well, vow! See here, wifew
Ocean waited while a woman In 4
sunbonnet came out. Then the man went
Into the house and came back with an
old ME and a tattsrsd flag.
reckon your grandfather and m.
were comrades. little one. Suppose Va
60 see your mother a bit. Then v.,ll
celebrate some more.'
Oceans heart beat high a. she vailed
by tho old soldiers side back to hsr
mothers gate.
II you win let Us have your little sirl
for wkhile, ma'am, wen take care ~
her. Actually we've forgotten how to be
patriotic in this town. There isn't 4 aas
In Town besides yours. It's Q shame"
The next thing Ocean knew shs va