Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-06-29
OCEAN MERED|TH'S FOURTH
BY ADA MELVILLE SHAW.


~ CEAN MEREDITH had always
II u lived in a large city. She was a
~ patriotic lassie, and every year on
the Fourth of July she used to decorate
the house with flags, play Yankee Doc
die" 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 ceieaJra-
tons of the day.
This year Ocean was away from the
city, in 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 50 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"
''It 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?"
Il 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 Merediths' 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
off 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
floating 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 a sound of fife and drum. Then
Ocean found her way tearfully to her
busy mothers side.
grandfathers had been soldiers, and their
they'd celebrate?'
Il think they would, Ocean, dear"
Mother, may 1 celebrate?"
Oceans bmother always let her little
girl do anything that was right, so she
said YES" and thought no more about
it. In half an hour there stood before
her a little soldier lassie, with a cap
perched on her curls and a drum slung
over her shoulders. 'I'm going to cele-
brate, mother; just can't stand it!'
'All right, sweetheart. Have as good
time as you can. Perhaps We can have
little picnic in the woods this after
noon"
The people of the town heard the
sound of a drum, and peered out 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" was
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. what
are you doing, little one?'
Ocean saluted gravely. I'm celebrat-
ing. Don't you know about the Fourth
here? Ny grandfather was soldier
My brother is one, too. l was watching
for the procession, but it didn't come"
$50 you thought you'd celebrate?
Well, l vow! See here, wife,
Ocean waited while a woman IL d
sunbonnet came out. Then the man went
into the house and came back with An
old fife and a tattered flag.
II reckon your grandfather and me
were comrades, little one. Suppose we
20 see your mother a bit. Then We'll
celebrate some more"
Oceans heart beat high as she walked
BY the old soldiers side back to her
mothers gate.
IF you will let us have your little girl
for q wkhile, ma'am, We'll take care Of
her. Actually we've forgotten how to be
patriotic in this town. There isn't flag
In town besides yours. It's a shame"
The next thing Ocean knew she was