Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-28
A PREMATURE CELEBRATION

She struck a match, and, in attempting to
light one cracker, set fire to the whole bunch.
She started to run, with a wild scream, and
flung 1t from her in blind and reckless
way.
1t alighted directly upon the drygoods boz.
where the entire array of fireworks lay OUT
spread.
In an instant there was deafening expIo-
SION, and then a fiery chaos ensued. Rockets
tore hither and thither along the ground, PIN
wheels buzzed and whirled off into the grass,
Roman candles sent out their rainbow bub-
oies In every direction, and red-fire spread q
streaming color of flame into the sunlight.
The cracking and bursting were terrific.
Lucy had run but a short distance before
she fell senseless from terror behind a tree.
Nanny stood her ground in kind of daze, not
knowing whether to run or face it out.
"Run-run, Nanny" screamed BASIL
But just then one of the blazing missiles
struck her in the chest. 1t hit squareiy upon
the powder-horn and knocked her fiat upon
her back.
The horn had wooden bottom in it. old
and cracked. This was dislodged by the forca
of the blow, and what powder there was in
it streamed out upon her dress.
This, exploding, set fire to her light cloth
ing.
Basil was instantly at her side. He rolled
her upon the grass. He snatched of his
Jacket to smother the flames. Mars was on
hand with his too.
Keep the fire from her face" said Basil.
in frightened whisper.
Fortunately, there had been little more than
pinch OF powder in the old horn. The
flames were quickly subdued, and before they
had burned through Nanny's clothing.
Inc last expiring detonation Of the fire.
works died away.
Then Nanny, recovering from her bewilder.
ment, sat up.
People from the street had seen the dis
aster and. were hurrying there in crowds.
Nanny's face was blackened and her mar
tis ao tSineMTy yn ssOrshed and ssinged;
the smirch fror, her cheeks; "are you
burnedT
I--smell fire. said Nanny.
" "H1es, you DC, Sis, but do you feel it, too-
"There couldn't have been great deal OF
powder in the flask or it would have covered
youI,put out your eyes--bsrned you to
81 think ggreat-grandpa must have-shot
most OF it at the British" said Nanny, coolly.
"Find Lucy urged Nanny. '.Do look for
her, Mars! She'll die of fright"
Mars stood BY as white as ghost. He did
not stir to 80 in search of Lucy.
At length he spoke.
Basil, you said girl wasn't worth cent
at setting off fireworks. But Lucy has beat
the whole of u.s."
When it was found Nanny was not badly
hurt-only a blister or two and some powder.
blackening Of the skin-every one was re.
joiced..
BY the time the procession had reached that
point of march near the Wylies, Nanny had
had her face washed, her burnt fingers done
UP in wet soda. clean, whole frock put on,
and she was out on the top of the fence with
the rest to listen to the bugles and the drums.
Lucy had been put to bed, weak and III
from excitement, but quite unconscious OF
the part she had played in the pyrotechnie
display.
When night came, ard far and near soar
ing rockets trailed along the summer sky,
the Wyhe grounds had not even so much as
a pin-wheel to show for their part in the ceIe-
bration.
1--WE had our show before any one else"
said Basil.
"And a girl did the most of it, after all,
didn't she" laughed Nanny.