The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-07-02

Y
believed he could reach out his hand |
and touch It. He tried. and sure
enough II was within reach and It |
winked at him. Bonnie had heard OF
American eagles. He would find out
II this was one.
"Are you the American eagle?"
Sure" responded the bird, "and
what are you doing here? Don't you
know this is the day we jollify, the
boys and I? What do you mean stay |
ing home asleep on the Fourth OF
July? Aren't you proud Of your
country? Don't you remember George
Washington and how he licked the
British and set us free? Don't you
like fun? Why. I declare you are
about the only boy in America that
would go to sleep on a haystack on
the Fourth of July!"
Bonnie almost suffered in his eager.
ness to say that he didn't mean to be
unpatriotic.
T-I-wanted to go-I never knew
before-I get all ready, and | worked
hard too. but"
The eagles face was so sharp and
comical looking that Bonnie could not
keep from grinning. then he added:
| 81 Just wish I had half chance
now"
The eagle edged his way close over
to the boy. and before you could say
Jack Robinson" and, without Bonnie
being able to understand how It ever
happened the boy was astride OF the
bird. and away the two went in great
sweeps up into the heavens. And yet
Bonnie didn't scared. 1t seemed the
most natural thing in the world. They
were going. he knew not where, The
first time he looked down he saw that
they were lowering over town on
the outskirts of which he espied a
long table where IL seemed that hun.
dreds OF people had been eating. Great
crowds were in grove near by, and
some one was standing on a platform
throwing his arms and shouting till
Benpie could almost hear the words.
Bands were playing. flags were flying
everywhere. and everybody was hap
ny. Bonnie himself could not help
getting hilarious. whether 1t was be-
cause he caught the spirit of the peo.
pie beneath him, or because OF the
rare atmosphere in which he was
floating. First he chuckled to himself.
then he laughed and then he shouted.
The bird seemed to catch the spirit of
the occasion and made grand sweeps
down until Bonnie could see Farmer
Brison and his family and all the peo-
nile and he noted that nobody seemed
to he as happy as he was himself.
Then the eagle wheeled as though the
whole world was spread out beneath
, him. He could see lights glimmer.
ing here and there below as the even
, came on, which were answered by the
| stars that stole out one by one and
}. seemed TO twinkle welcome to him
5 At one place he saw a bonfire, and In
a the colors, red, white and blue that
!. blazed near by, welcome ALL" while
Q all about fountains of sparks rose into
A the air and rivers of fire ebbed and
5 flowed lighting up the sky about him
with eolors of which he had nevel
dreamed. Flowers Of light grew from
buds to full bloom before his wonder
. ing eyes. A flash of light shot acros:
i, the heavens, n shout went up, and th'
a eagle. swelling and spreading hi
:, wings. bore him up. till it seemed tina
he would touch the stars. Then
a from a deep-toned cannon, huge ball
u of colors shot out and up and brok'
n Ia a myriad Of stars.
!" Thus Bonnie sped on from town Z
q town. over cities ablaze with splendor
a Ehnnfinj
q and the music from assembled thou
sands. And such music! Never be
6 fore had he heard such sounds. Neye
- had he known there was music Xix
"A that. His heart beat. and before h
knew 1t he was singing songs he ha
~ never sung before. He was so happ
IA he could hardly keep his seat on hi
% | flying steed. 4 rocket burst abov
=, him, and as the stick descended b
"A grabbed at it; the weight unseate
~ him. and over he went still holdin
~ on to the stick, till. falling dow
m down, he struck Farmer Brison's ha,
IN. stack with thud.
a. Then sitting up. holding his hat tigl
be In his hand. he heard his name calle
70 It was night, and old John Brison va
". cursing.
hv Yes, sir. Yes. sir" he reptile
~. T'm here, I'll unharness the horse
as I'll give them extra corn too. We
az. I'll rub 'em down. I'm coming"
NJ But Bonnie had had the bigge
Nv kind of a Fourth of July and W;
,lv happy.-The American Boy.
n.y.