Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-06-29

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Twas the day before the Fourth of
July and Freddie had no firecrackers.
He could hear the boom, boom of the
cannon-crackers all around where he
lived, and every place he looked 1t
seemed as if the ground was covered
with cracking squibs. but he had
none.
Still Freddie was not unhappy. He
was only impatient. When his father
came home he thought all would be
well, then there would be lots and lots
of crackers.
Freddie met his father at the door,
and John Wilson, rough as he was,
softened under the lads greeting.
$50 Freddie wants some firecrack-
ers? What, Roman candles and squibs?
What! And a whirl-a-gig? You mean
a 'cartwheel, don't you, Freddie, boy?'
Without waiting for an answer the
father caught his son with his hands
below the arms and hoisted him on
his knees.
You'll have them, Fred" he said.
land, what's more, your old dad will
help you fire them of"
Freddie's eyes shown like diamonds;
he clapped his hands together in glee
and said: Papa, you mind just be-
fore mamma lay that quiet | couldn't
wake her no matter how / tried, she
told me I'd never want for firecrack-
nd he tn
the Fourth of July. She was right,
too, wasn't she, papa? And she hasn't
forgot me yet. either. papa, for when
/ was in bed last night l seen her all
In white as close as anything to the
bed, and she kissed me on both cheeks
and said: Little Freddie will have a
good time tomorrow And that's right,
isn't 1t, papa?"
The boy fixed his eyes with a con-
fident look on his father and the par
emit turned his head away. He was
afraid to let Freddie see his counte-
nance. For the boys eyes reminded
him of a face fixed on his memory
forever. John recalled a face with a
lasting smile, with eyes that were the
color of a clear sky on a summers
morning, and dark hair hanging in
abundant glory around her head. And
for all that, he had been hard drink
er since Mary died one year ago to-
night. His position had gone. and.
worst of all. Mary's, boy had been ILL.,
treated
Yes, Freddie and papa will have a
good time tomorrow" he said at last.
And now when my boy knows what
firecrackers and fun will be his in the
morning. doesn't he want to go TO bed
and take big, big sleep, so that he
may be up bright and early in the
morning to bang away the Fourth?"
The father laid Freddie down to
sleep in his own bed. He watched the
lad until his eyes closed in slumber.
and a little later, when perhaps the
boy was looking again at that white
figure, John turned and went out of
the house to buy the tirecrackers.
Wiping a tear away on his coat
sleeve as he reached the outside. jobs
walked swiftly down the street toward
the notion store. As he turned
corner a voice hailed him: Halo
there. Jack, What's the rush?" VIII
son looked back and there stood the
boys"
Just as the sun on the Fourth of
July a year ago was peeping through
house Freddie onened his eyes. and
without waiting u look around called:
Papa, papa, did you get the fire
crackers?"
But no answer came, for the father
had not come back.
Freddie was surprised at his fathers
absence; it had often happened before
during the past year. but: To-day, to-
day was the Fourth. and where vas
papa with all the firecrackers?" Rising,
the boy surveyed the dusty room No
papa. no frecrackers anywhere. Then
be climbed out of bed and battered into
the kitchen, and still no father, no fire
crackers, Returning to the bed Freddie
buried his face in the pillow and cried
himself into a broken slumber. A
couple Of hours later he awoke with
start. and again calling: Papa,
papa" received no answer.
Then he remembered how his
mother. in the night, had told him
how he was going to have a good
time the Fourth" Trustingly he be-
gan TO search the room and kitchen for
what mamma had brought him"
Underneath the bed and old ricksty
tab, Freddie looked and looked.
When his search revealed nothing be
burst into tears. and crying called
Mama. mama. Freddie wants a fire
cracker
In time the crying grew tiresome.
and again the hunt began. All ever
the room be searched. Not corner
of the kitchen was left unexplored. In
an old desk he found revolver.
"Oh. look. look" he cried. what
mamma sent me-
He Rugged the weapon tightly In
both hands and carried IL triumphant
IL TO the bed His eyes we're gov
with pleasure With all the N. ght OF
his little fingers he pressed the trigger.
a hrst. second, and third time the