Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-22

uou wait 10 De queen, slle Sdiu.
II want to be one of the girls. The
Little Chronicle. 81
CROSSING THE DELAWARE.
Snow, snow" shouted Ralph Ben
ton, dancing Jig in front of the din
ingrocm window. And today is
Washington's birthday and we'll have
all day to play"
"The road looks like big white
river, it's so smooth and level" said
Jennie. you can try your new sled
on it, Ralph"
Breakfast over, the children ran out,
Ralph dragging his sled after him.
Many other CHI ldren were out. too.
They all had their sleds. Some of the
boys were throwing snowballs at one
another.
Lets have SNOWFALL BATTLE" said
Charley Jones.
"All right" shouted Bertha White,
packing handful of snow into a
round. white ball. you boys be on
one side and we girls will be on the
other"
ooh, know something better"
said Jennie. Lets play Washington
crossing the Delaware. Our teacher
told us about it in school yesterday"
Some of the boys didn't know the
story, SO Jennie told them how the
brave leader of the American soldiers
in the Revolution had crossed the
Delaware River one Christmas night
in a binding snowstorm. marched
nine miles to Trenton. defeated the
British and had taken 1000 prisoners.
But we don't have to be dieated
if we're the British, do we?" said
Charley.
mo we'll divide up even," said Jen-
ME. Ralph and Harold may come
with us and that will make ten on a
side. Trenton will be across the field
behind the trees, and you must make
believe that you didn't know we were
coming"
"All right" shouted the boys, and
away they ran to build fort; all ex-
cept Frank. Edward, Harry and John,
who stayed behind to see the army
Off
Now form in line" said Jennie.
Ralph, you go first with your sled"
mo, want Harold to ride, and
will push him." said Ralph.
The army was soon ready to start.
with Harold in the lead, and Minnie
Jones bringing up the rear on her
sled. AS the army Moved off, the
boys fired volley Of snowballs and
they ran away to help build the fort
Well stop here" said Jennie. as
soon as the boys were out of sight.
"and make lot of snowballs. Then
instead of crossing our road-river be-
low the barn, as the boys think we
will, We'll turn around and go above
the barn and attack them from the
other side"
The snowballs were soon made, and
the army retraced its steps. They
crossed the road, and then started for
the woods.
Meanwhile the boys of the British
camp were busy building their snow
fort, and making snowballs. They
faced their fort toward the south.
Jennie and her army stole through
the woods north of the fort. Peeping
through the trees they saw the boys
at their work.
Wont they be surprised when they
see us coming this way" said Harold.
Lets begin now" said Ralph who
was very impatient to throw his big
armful of snowhalls.
Come on, them said Jennie. The
eight girls and the two boys rushed
toward the fort, shouting, Surrender,
surrender
The boys were surprised, but they
stood their ground manfully They ran
around to the other side of their fort,
and the air was soon full of flying
snowballs. Suddenly the fire from the
British began to slacken. In running
to the other side of the fort they had
not had time to take their pile of am
munition with them.
When the girls had thrown all their
snowballs t.ey began using those the
boys had made.
1--WE surrender" said Charley
Jones. coming from behind the fort.
"Who thought of coming around be-
hind the fort. "Who thought of COM
ing around behind u.s."
Jennie" said Ralph. very proud of
his sister. I'm 'fraid you'd have
beaten us if she hadn't thought" he
added, brushing the snow from his
jacket where some of the enemy's
shots had hit him.
"Hurrah!" shouted Charley. Gen
ME can be General Washington and
march her prisoners back to camp.
The brave company of American
soldiers and British prisoners-twen-
ty in all-marched straight to Mrs.
Benton's big kitchen camp fire to get
warm. General Washington's mother
gave every one of them fresh dough-
nut, hot and crisp from the frying
pan, and laughed at their excited
story of the second crossing of the
Delaware. The Little Chronicle.
THE MOON AND THE WEATHER.
The moon is the most powerful
agent in producing the tides on the
EARTH it also produces some slight
variations in the earths magnetism.
So far as science has been able to in
vestigate. there is absolutely no
change in the weather which can be
attributed to the moon. although half
or more of mankind seem to believe
I that the moon does have some con.
troll over the weather All such be.
lefs. including tho time for planting
gardens and for gorg fishing, are
mere superstitio1s--th survivals of
an age of ignoranca.--St. Nichols.
Hamburg is to have a school for
training servants. 1t is not intended
to compete with existing schools
which provide training in domestic