Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-07-02
Firecrackers
sS-Zs-ESzsEEEZEEsEsEIE

Twas the day before the Fourth OF
July and Freddie had no tirecrackers
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 crackling squibs, but he had
none
Stin Freddie was not unhappy. He
, was only impatient. When his father
came home he thought all would be
we'll, 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.
so Freddie wants some frecrack-
ers? What, Roman candles and squibs?
What! And a whirla-gig? You mean
q '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.
and, what's more, your old dad will
help you fire them Off"
Freddle's eyes shown like diamonds;
he clapped his hands together in glee
and said: Papa, you mind just be-
fore mamma lay hat quiet l couldn't
wake her no matter how l tried, she
told me I'd never want for firecrack-
ers and squibs and everything good on
the Fourth of July. She was right,
too, wasn't she, papa? And she hasn't
forgot me yet, either, papa, for when
1 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 it, papa
The boy fixed his eyes with a con-
fdent look on his father and the par
ent turned his head away He was
afraid to let Freddie see nts 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 al that he had been a hard drink
er since Mary died M yea q -
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
frecrackers and fun will be his IN the
morning, doesn't he want to go to bed
and lake a 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 WI 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 firecrackers.
Wiping a tear away on his coat
sleeve as he reached the outside, John
walked swiftly down the street toward
corner a voice hailed him: Halo
there, Jack! What's the rush?" Will
son looked back and there stood the
boys" @ pa sd y A
Just as the sun on the Fourth Of
July a year ago was peeping through
house Freddie opened his eyes,, and
without waiting to 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 No
papa, no frecrackers anywhere. Then
he climbed out Of bed and battered into
the kitchen, and still no father, no fire
6ackers 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
a start, and again calling: Papa,
papa" received nc answer.
Then he remembered how his
mother, In the night. had told him
how he was going to have a good
time the Fourth" T%rustingly he be-
gan to search the room and kitchen for
what mamma had brought him"
Underneath the bed and old rickety
table Freddie looked and looked.
when his search revealed nothing be