Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-30

lawn. 1t was always an exciting time
and the Judge. being the center of things
enjoyed every minute of 1t.
The day dawned beautifully bright and
clear. The little Kirbys were up at the first
streak of dawn firing of crackers and risk
ing their lives with that cheerful reckless
July spirit with the American youth.
Immediately after breakfast the children
filed into the library with their aunt, fol-
lowed by the servants, the extreme rear be-
ing guarded by old Rover. Here their
father, In his Sunday frock coat and
with pomp Of manner worthy the high
est cause, read to them, according to his
custom, the Declaration of Independence.
Then he would give them short and i'm
presSive talk on the beauties of freedom. the
sacredness of liberty and the rights of
American citizens. This done he issued his
orders for the day and the children were
free to do they liked for while. OF
course, they all had to attend the meeting
in the opera house and hear the exercises.
The town hall was NOT large enough to hold
all those who attended the celebration SO 1t
was always held in the opera house, where,
by the way, opera had never been given
within the memory of man, but where lurid
melodrana made occasional appearances
throughout the season. The children al
ways enjoyed the ceremonies, for they sat
In bunting draped box and were quite i'm
portant They held little flags in their
hands and knew just when to wave them,
which was whenever papa paused for a
moment and at the conclusion they stood
up and started off singing The Star Span
gled Banner" of which they had known
every word since they could remember.
Liberty is the birthright of every Amer
lean citizen" the judge exclaimed, even to
the humblest. No man need be downtrod-
den, even in this age of trusts and capital
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 1t was not for this that
our fathers fought; 1t was not for this that
Washington and Patrick Henry and Thomas
Jefferson lived and .strove; it was not for
this thai blood was spilled on Lexington
common or that brave men died at Valley
Forge. No, my friends, if this country offers
nothing else TO the poor immigrant, 1t offers
freedom: If 1t stands for anything at all
among other nations. 1t stands for liberty:
II 1t means anything to the youth it means
opportunity. equality and independence. The
spirit of Seventy-six is not dead. 1t lives
fellow citizens, it must live in the heart Of
every true-born American. Liberty is the
watchword freedom the birthright, and in
dependence the soul of every child born I'M
der our glorious flag
With this final outburst of oratory the
judge turned with an impassioned gesture
to the huge flag that hung on the stage be-
hind him. Then the audience cheered wildly
the fife and drum corps burst into the
strains of the national anthem, and the
Kirby children knew it was time for them
to open their little mouths and sing 'Oh,
say you see?" at the tops of their
voices.
body shaking hands and saying What a
fine speech the judge made" and Fine
orator, Judge Kirby" etc, etc. And all
the children rushed home to fire off their
caEnons and crackers, while their mothers
made sure that plenty of cotton and sweet
oil and arnica waited in convenient spot.
The Kirby children had set off all their
crackers and the pinwheels, Roman candles
and other spectacular effects were locked
carefully away only the judge knew where.
So they had nothing particular to do until
dinner time, which was o'clock, when a
great feast was always served to celebrate
the day. The younger children all made for
the cool back yard when they reached home
and climbed up into their favorite big apple
tree, which accommodated them all and
still had room to spare.
why is It,, propounded Teddy, the
solemn one, that speeches always sound
so fine, but you can never do it?'
In spite of his doubtful construct on the
Others understood him.
Il think so. too" burst in Bobby. who
was eight years old. It's all very well to
say we are free. but we can't even take
another doughnut without asking some
body
What was the good of Patrick Henry
and Valley Forge and everything when we
can't go In the Deans yacht and papa
makes us go to bed at 8 o'clock"
FRANK, with the wisdom of fifteen years
shifted at his younger brothers.
Liberty isn't what 1t used to be: then
you could get up in church like Patrick