The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-07-07
TERARY MAGAZINE

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The next thing the program said Brnker-
hoH lis lunch-a patriotic lunch" He waved his
ice Soda he cried with vim "eineer
ale pop.
Peanuts
"Patrotism
always top"
The crowd then made a noise like to the eating
OF ham sandwiches and cold boiled eggs and the
guzzling of cold tea. Brinkerhoff the very near
nation OF patriotism and good humor, made him
self constantly socable; visited here there eyery
where. to see that everybody was patriotic and
happy.
All" he exclaimed, "the children. They enjoy
it-this wonderful day in this wonderful grove
And it's safe to very safe.'
voice, Off stage heard. Papa" said the
little Twomby girl. in the wings, but with painful
distinctness cant we go back home now and fire
off firecrackers? Papa
The Elphnstone kids followed suit Mamma
they suggested, "look here We've both got dol
lar bill We saved it up all year. Just for some
powder and brass cannon That's ALL Just for
cannon Can't we go home and buy just that?"
Shh-h! The parents exchanged anxious
chances. This looked bad. The other children
in the patriotic party We're growing FESTIVE Was
there to be open mutny? None ever knew. For
suddenly, far to the right in an open field there
rose sound like thunder.
Boom. Boom" The crowd stood, spelbound.
WHATS that?" queried Brinkerhoff. 1t startled
him. For through the smoke in the distant field
he could see small boy bending down over an
upright red object
Who is that boy?" he queried ''is there an in
terloper in midst?"
r ANKs stepped forward sheepishly. well I'll
tell you how it is, Brink" he said cts my boy
thought I'd let down easy him this time see.
ing as Its the first time l gave him permission
to bring along, we'll, just or two
told him he must keep away from the other kids,
that's all. So he went over in the field. Just one
or two repeated Banks in pleading, purring
voice.
For an instant there was silence. Then the
crowd made noise such as a crowd makes when
it moves suddenly toward it's respective mo-
tor cars and carriages 1t climbed into the
hicles, fumbled for instant under seats and
then climbed out again.
Elphinstone rushed over to Brinkerhof with a
paper package in his arms "Ill tell YOU Brink
he said, my kids got dose of getting burned
last year I'm pretty sure they'll be blamed
full this trip and just brought just these
rev, alons Just little taste OF the
Fourth you see. l thought it wouldn't make any
difference, just my kids
Your kids, and the Banks boy" gasped Brink
erhotf. He looked helpless about him The crowd
confronted him huge group OF human
parents male and female; and every parent with
package in his hand.
Just my kid said each and every parent Just
for minute. Well let EN- down easy Just this
once"
Boom Boom Boom. Goldenhorn's
George. just like Fourth of July. 1t hour
later when Brinkerhoff sped like deer and inter-
cepted Banks, ST., he driving off in his
double carriage
Hey, Banks called Brinkerhoff the peaceable
patriot. not goin' to leave us, your?
Banks rubbed his eyes We'll in fact" he said
my kid only had one or two firecrackers and |
thought Id just run back into town-for more"
You-renegade, Kissed Brinkerhoff. He made
his way back to the pavilion He and his wife
and Benjamin, Jr., sat under the shade of the big
tree. The shadows heightened, and as they
heightened, the noise from the nearby field
strengthened. Ever and some other rene
gade would sneak into the wagon enclosure and
seize the reins and dash madly toward town
Pop walled Benjamin Brnkerhoff, Jr, cant
l go out there and have some fun? /. want
a ritle-l got to have rifle"
Benjamin said his father, severely you stay
here by me-"
Benjamin, said his father two hours later.
when the dusk had settled down effectively you
come with me- He gripped his by the wrist
his grip like the grip of death-and stole
with him to the big red automobile that had led