The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-07-04

IN village half mile ~. lIuhT' foi
another tremendous crash, louder even
than the first. again SET the window,
to rstiling. What they got over
there, anyhow. gov ment ariillerlcs o.
Mount peleesf The cannon they bad
last year didn't make quarter that
noise L~a-n-dw as succession OF half
dozen explosions. followed by an al
most continuous rumble. with scarce.
ly nn appreclable space between. shook
the earth. What Is the matter. any.
how---the world comm 10 an endr' He
rose hastily and began TO dress, for the
ROSTERS were how all growing and the
dogs barking. aud from the barn came
a frightened bellowlng and stamping of
cattle. In the darkness and utter still,
ness Of the night the crashes were ter
rifylng Before he could don bis
clothes aud get outside there were n
dozen or fifteen more explosions, some
coming singly. others IN long, scarce.
ly broken rumble or IN one great crash.
But. once outside. the mystery was
partly explained. for the air was strong
with the smell Of burned powder Il
was the Fourth OF Julyers, as he had
first thought, but how in the name Of
reason had they managed TO make so
much noisei
Then came the last crashing eXplo-
sion, and he started. at first blankly.
then with sudden comprehension.
The crash had not come from exactly
the direction Of the village. but from
the road pasture.
"The young reprobate!" he cried
wrathfully. Hes been settin' OF them
rocks, an | told him plain they was 10
Ike let be I'LL all was drilled ! might "a
spicioned from the way be took my
scoldin' an then slipped of upstairs.
He needs good larrupin'. that's what
he needs. an feel jest the right way
now 10 give II to him" Then some
thing of the humor of the situation
seemed TO strike him, for he commenc
ed to chuckle. which was. however, In,
stantly suppressed. 'Didn't he make a
noise, though" he went on. "Whew!
lie must a been up all night gettln'
that powder ready. wonder what the
village Fourth o. Julyers are thinkln'
of bout now, gittin' beat at their own
game by little farm boy they won't
ask to none o. their doin's. I've good
mind to walk down that way an see
an then come back an give Reub his
larrupin'. II I want that he didn't |
wait like he was told I'd be minded TO
let him Off easy Jest for shakin' the
village winders. l amt heerd so much |
as torpedo from there yet. P'raps |
they amt been able to catch their |
breath back"
He stood hesitating for few mo
ments. Over In the east long line Of |
daylight was beginning to appear.
Then came loud barking from the
road pasture, toward which the dogs
had rushed at the very beginning Of
the explosion; then he heard Reub's
voice calling the dogs. Well, he was
glad the young scamp was not hurt
though Of course there had been no
real danger He had never known the
boy to be careless about such matters.
Suddenly he seemed to make up his
mind, for he turned and walked rapid
ly toward the village. muttering as he
did so: i've got to larrup Reub for not
waitin' till all the stones was drilled.
Of course, but I'm glad twas done so
early, fore travel begun. I've laid
awake nights lately thlnkin' bout acci-
dents an damages"
The village was awake, as he had
expected, but none OF Its own celebrat-
Ing seemed to have yet commenced.
Apparently Its enthusiasm was mo-
mentarily paralyzed by the unexpected
and tremendous noise which II could
not hope TO emulate. As he appeared
among them, Enos could see fingers be-
gin pointing toward him from the vari-
GUS groups, and he raised his head de-
family He was accustomed to point
Ing fingers and even to hooting from
the younger boys. He had not been a
public spirited man, and the village had
resented It. None from his farm was
ever asked TO Join In the "dolns"
But now something very strange hap
pened. Behind the pointing fingers he
began to see smiling, admirlng, even
cordial faces. Several Of the proml.
nent men started toward him with ex.
tended hands.
"Well, Enos, you certainly did US up
that time" chuckled the doctor as he
held on to the horny hand and looked
at Its owner admiringly, "and, what's
more to the purpose, you did up the
folks In the town across the river.
They've been growing over us for ten
years, setting themselves UP AZ the
most patriotic village In the county,
and I'll admit they did make an out
rageous racket on the Fourth. But this
year we made up our minds we'd beat
'em II II split the last gun. And here
you come In, without so much as horn
blowing on ahead. and do us both ~.
Well, II serves us right for not asking
you TO join in, though none OF US
thought you cared for such things. But
how'd you come TO hatch ont such
plan, Enosf"
"'1 want me. That boy Reub"-
"0h, yes. We know that boy Rcub
did the firing. And must say he's q
prime hand at IT, Some OF the smaller
boys started for your place at the nrst
explosion. but when they got In sight
Of the field the Dir w, 80 full Of rocks
and smoke they got scared and sour
fled back. Then some OF us older ones
went out ans saw your boy Heub run'
ming the Geld like an engineer at bis
throttle. Wen, II was certainly great
plan"
But tell ye I was Heub"-
Tut, tut. You've been having those
rocks drilled for two weeks past I've
been by there and know Bre day
saw voc working with the boy yourseif.
And there hasn't been a single eIpio-
sion 10 two weeks. Needn't talk 10 me.
You've been saving up for this morn
ing Bot there's something else. We're
planning for pretty biz day. and we
want you and your folks to join in
Its late asking. know. aud var feel
a. n taarf