The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-01

left home with lots of matches In my pockets and l guess they're still therei
 "Oh, see," said the skyrocket. Well. find myself in the same handess ore. dicament. But there comes Billy Grimes. your school ehum. I'll ask him to give us light"
 At that Instant Billy Grimes did ap- pear, and the kyrocket-otherwise the lawyer-bent over toward him and said: My esteemed friend, will you kindly touch lighted match to me, and also one to my smaller companion here. and see us go toward the cloudsf
 Well, my goodness gracious! Who ever saw such huge skyrocket and giant hrecracker before?" cried Billy, looking up at the two queer things that looked down upon him. Indeed, shall touch matches to you and see yon both go on ker-plunk Gee. you fellers are g-r-e-u-t!
 Then getting some matches from his pocket Billy scratched them against the sole of hls shoe and protected them In the hollow of his left hand till they famed good and strong; then he applied the blazes to the skyrocket and giant firecracker, running off safe distance immediately upon seeing the fuses ignite.
 strange feeling took possession or Fred as the fuse burned within him. Then, just as he was on the point Of
  sounded near him and he saw the sky rocket dash through the air like can nonball. But he had not an instant to spend enjoying his friends sudden exit from earth, for immediately his own body shot upward with Il terrible ex' plosive sound and he followed In the wake of the rocket that was carrying trail of fire into the clouds.
 Then he burst!-went into hundred a ground And how the sparks of nre burnt him and tingej through his body the part of It that was left to tllgie, which, indeed, was but q bit of cnareo piece of wood. And how he fell witn dull thud to earth. still burning hke Il blister.
 Then something srange happened. All of sudden he felt a dash of somethins cold on his = face.-yes, face, TOT nis cheeks and nose and chin felt It as plain ly us could be. Another dash! Then Fred opened his eyes--yes, eyes!-for he still had those precious orbs Ana In another Instant he realized just where he was and what he was. He was piaih Fred Harper, aged 10. and was lying on the ground under tree, but not In the shade, for the sun had crept round toward the West and was shining iuil Ill his face. Over him stood Billy Grimes Wlln n nome -mHue Squirt-Buu liohi "ht~N& the mischievous rascal sent spray ot cold water over Fred's face which was almost burned to a blister by the hot sun.
 HI, what you sleepin' fer on tn Glori. ous Fourth?' asked Billy, giving Fred | some more water from the apparently | inexhaustibe squirtgun. Don't you | know they're spreadin' the dinner? An | they've got dead ioads of goodies" How did 1 come here?" Fred asked, rising slowly and aking a wry face, | for his arms and legs were asleep and | tingled like hurt crazybone when he | tried to get up.
 Wy, you went to sleep while that lawyer man was a-readn' the Declara- tion of dependence, an yer ma she looked you up an carried you out here an laid you In the shade. But fer quite awhile the suns bin cookin' yer phiz. It's been lots of fun to see you wriggle an make crooked faces. Then yer ma she called to me an told me to wake