Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-01

1Ortn any great amount Oh enJnu-
l4yNEtAN siasm from the grown people of
- Springville. They seemed to think
that they had done their whole
duty patriots when they invited an out-of-
town orator to read the Declaration of Inde'
pendence and make speech.
On some occasions-very rare ones, however
they satisfied their patriotic scruples by 20.
ing to the expense of having a balloon ascen-
sion. But on the Fourth of which | write no
such excitement as this was to be given us.
The great day that we boys looked forward
TO with so much pleasure was considered by
our fathers and mothers as day of noise and
accidents, and they were glad when it was
over.
But the younger portion of the population of
Springville amply made up Tor the enthusiasm
that was lacking in their sires. This was espe-
tally true of we four boys, Tom Parks, Joe
Blake, Frank Brown and myself.
On the second of July we met by apponts
ment at the band-stand in the square Ot
course the general topic OF conversation was
the approaching holiday and the part we were
to take in it's observance.
For several weeks previous we, together
with the other village boys, had spent all our
spare moments in collecting barrels ana otner
material to be used in making big bonhre
on the square on the night before the Fourth
Besides this general attempt at celepration'
the boys individually had been saving up their
spare pennies, all Of which they felt IN duty
This was the condition of affairs when we
met at the bandstand for our last consulta-
ton. a.,
''How much money have you saved up"
asked Tom Parks of Frank Brown.
The question was repeated, and it was shown
that Tom Parks had one dollar ana ntteen
cents, Joe Blake one dollar and twenty Genus,
Frank Brown ninety-eght CENTS, while naa
been able to lay by just one dollar and elght
cents.
"Four dollars and fforty,,onee cents, :aI said
Joe, after few seconds work at mental arith-
metic "Quite lot, amt it?'
oSF so%eGsd saS as 1td been 5ee thRng of
good way to spend that, money"
"Oh, that's easy enough" grumbled Frank,
to whom it was task of selt-abnegatlon 70
save money even for a Fourth OF July ceie
bration.
Franks observation was overlooked and we
asked Joe what his proposition was. .
Joe was, by reason of his superiority IN
years and experience, our aeknowledgea @ lead a.,
er, and whatever suggestion. he made was gen
orally received by. us with favor
'T suggest" said Captain Joe, "that we club
together and buy lot of powder, fireworks
and other necessaries, and nave IN llttEe RtS cee-
You know the towns celebration this year. IS
to be rather slim affair, and think. with
what money we have, we can get up quite
little surprise for the people, old and young. !.
"That's so! Wonder we haven't thought OF
it before" cried we in chorus.
"Our celebration must be, SURPRISE con-
tinued joe "Tll borrow fathers wheelbarrow
tonight, and Tom and 1 will go. to Pottsheld
(things are cheaper there than they are here)
and buy all the fireworks we can for the
money"
Frank, who had determined to include can
dies and cakes among his items of expense on
the Fourth, suggested as amendment that
we each reserve small part of our savings for
contingencies and this, by general consent,
was agreed upon.
Frank was not the only one of us who had
sweet TOOTH
owe must get some powder for the cannon"
said Joe.
"And for my old musket," put in Frank.
sis that old relic in existence yet" put in
Tom.
ssYes; it's alive and kicking" replied Frank
OF the latter part of Franks statement we
had no doubt, for it was a fact well known to
b. all that the old weapon was possessed of
the habits Of an ilnatured mule.
Each of us had some advice to offer in re-
gard to what should be purchased for our cele
bration, and before we parted that day Joe
and Tom had a full list of what they were to
buy.
mission, while Frank and eagerly awaited
their return.