Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-07-03

mast. Her complement of guns was q
meager half dozen-three on Il side.
The two big firecrackers were placed
In position at the Chesapeake's bow
and stern. and the commodore, joyfully
striking match, stopped down to fire
his guns.
Whack. 'Phrastus shot out into the
pond, turning n SomerSault and scat
tering matches as he went. His line.
of motion was directly across the Ches-
apea<e. Both her slender masts snap
ped, and the stately vessel careened
till her whole armament slid off into
the water.
'PhraStuS' first thought as he emerg-
ed putting and suffering was that the
heat had exploded the firecrackers all
at once. But when he got the water
out of his eyes he saw that the British
had received unexpected reinforce
ments.
King George MI, arriving uneXpect-
ed from the rear, had disposed of the
American commodore and now turned
his attention to the stars and stripes.
which he iammed into the bank with
repeated blows of his woody head. The
patriotic blood of 'Phrastus boiled.
Cit out Of that you old British ram!
Le' my flag alone. I'll hit you with a
rock, | will"'
He dug vainly about with his fingers
in the muddy bed of the pond, but found
nothing larger than small pebble.
Meantime King Georges pointed feet
were tramping his ammunition deep into
the soil. Phrastus lifted up his voice in
rcproach and lamentation.
You're the meancst. meanest old sheep
that ever was! We did beat you, we did
we did, Oh. my hag-boo-Tn'f rrcraCkerS
-hOo-hCs a-sp'ilin every last one! L
wish they'd bust n turn him wrong side
ou-ou-outr'
The howl drew King Georges attention
to the pond. He stood a moment with
lowered horns and then plunged threaten
inEly forward, drawing back, however. as
his feet touched the water.
AT the forward movement 'Phrastu5
turned and ran. He reached the shore as
| King George came galloping around the
| curve.
| Up the nearest tree scrambled the small
| American. 1t was not a very large one
| and received a blow from King Georges
| head that almost shook the climber loose
| before he reached 4 place of safety in
! the crotch.
l. or some time BnlaStuS aEIefW0Tu
said, The hull mOrnin,' but he was in
| no condition to judge-King George butted
| the tree, bringing down upon himself
| fresh explosions of fearful wrath and all
| the hrcakable branches 'Phrastus could
| reach. Afterward he nibbled about in the
| vicinity, returning at intervals 10 renew
| the assault AMI never going far enough
| away to permit the escape of his prisoner.
| Aunt 'Scil!a's dinner was late. for Uncle
| Ben went to the parade, but it was an eX-
| Ceptioually good one. and there was a
! puffy little turnover at 'PhrastuS' place
Aunt 'Scilla rang the little bell. and I'm
| Gle Ben rang the big bell without bring
| ing any small nephew forward to eat it
/ After all I've said" declared Aunt
| Priscilla. her lips growing ominously thin
| and tight. that boys been and gone tc
| the p'rade,'
..'rain't agin nature if he has" said
| Uncle Ben. When you stretch string toe
| tight, il II snap"
! Something II snap" said Aunt 'Scilla
Her eyes did. I've got to train up that
boy in the way he should so, and l NEAR
to do it. Don't you daSt say a word
| Benjamin ArbuckIe! If he don't learn tC
i if s''"'s"' now ne Il 80 CROOKED all III
After dinner she cut two long lilat
| sprouts and trimmed them with ostenta
| tious cage. While she was washing dishe:
| in the kitchen Uncle Ben slyly cut tiny
!
| switch.
1t was the middle of the afternoon wher
a boy with dirty. tear marked face an(
mud stained clothes shufTied into tn
house. Under his arm he carried a dis
masted toy schooner and 4 dilapidatet
| five cent American flag
| so, TheophraStuS Wilson," greeted Aun
'Scilla. you've been to the prade afte
all. Very well, sir, you're goin' to re
member this Fourth of July as long a
you live. Come straight here"
She flourished one of the switches. an
it fell to pieces in her astonished hands.
Guess 1 shell member it," whine,
| 'Phrastus. 81 hain't been to the p'rade,
hain't. l stuck up in a tree this hui
| evcrlastin' Fourth, with Turner's old ran
a-buttin' at it. tryin to shake me down
| I'd had to stayed there all night, too
likely, if Mr.. Turner's Pete hadn't com
along. You jest asst him.
| When Harvey Harris heard of 1t, h
could not resist saying, 80 the BIRTHS
beat. en-. 'PhraStus?"
! Just that once"' said 'PhrastuS.