Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

But it might have rained yesterday
or tomorrow" complained Mabel.
1--WE did so want to go to the country
today. And you know every plan has
been made for day in the woods.
Mamma and papa are both disappoint-
ed, too, though they won't say as much
as sister and do. And, Granny, I
don't understand your cheerfulness
when the rest Of the household are in
sorrow"
"Sh-h!" said grandmother, putting
up a warning finger. do not say
sorrow, dear. Sorrow comes from
more serious causes than a mere
changing Of plans for day OF pleas
ure. You may be disappointed, but
you are not sorrowing. And If you
would like me to tell you why /
am dressed in my best frock, and
smiling so happily, come sit beside
me in the library and will tell you
of Fourth Of July forty-f1ve wears
ago today"
Mabel and Betina were eager to
hear gradmamma tell of her past
experiences, and their faces cleared
as they went to the library, one on
either side Of the dear old lady. When
they were comfortably seated beside
the big bay window, through which
came scent Of damp lilacs and roses,
grandmother began:
"Well, just forty-fve years ago to-
day came a great and happy event IN
my life And in memory Of 1t, al
ways dress myself in my best on the
anniversary of that day. You see,
my dear grandchildren, this is the
first Fourth of July have spent with
you"
Grandmother stopped to sigh and
look into distance. Betina whis-
pered: Eyes, grandpa died just
after the Fourth Of last year. And
then you came to live with us"
Eyes, my dear, but even before l
lost dear grandpa always OBJ.
served the Fourth, and no matter
where we were on that day, we both
put on our best clothes, made merry
by going to some place where a cele-
bration was being held, or to visit with
friends who helped US to celebrate,
not only the glorious Fourth, but our
own anniversary day"
"Oh. then you and grandpapa were
married on the Fourth Of July" ex-
claimed Mabel. "Was that it, granny"
Grandmamma shook her head, smtl-
ing the while. mo, dearie, we met for
the first time on the Fourth of July,
just forty-fve years ago to-day. And,
OH how handsome and noble your
grandfather was that day. shall never
forget how really lost my heart to
him when my cousin Robert intro
duced us. You see, he-your grandfa-
ther-was college chum of Cousin
Roberts and was spending the vaca.
ton at Roberts country home. l went
out from the city to stay over the
Fourth at Uncle Clems home, and
there met the young man who year
later became my husband. You see,
your grandfather graduated with hon
ors the following spring and soon art
er that proud event we were married.
Again grandmother paused to look
into distance, and soft little sigh
fell from her smiling lips. "Oh, 1t
seems as though it were but yester-
day." she went on. II reached Uncle
Clem's home-a fine old southern
plantation on the evening of July 3.
Cousin Robert and his visitor, young
Andrew Harden, had gone to the city
for fireworks with which to celebrate
on the following evening. So did net
meet Andrew till the next morning.
And when came down to breakfast
he and Cousin Robert were standing
in the great, wide hall, looking out on
the most beautiful rain ever saw
fall. Before coming downstairs had
sighed and said to Cousin Betty, oh,
isn't it a pity to have a rain on the
FOURTH But Betty had replied. No,
Cousin Hattie, we need the rain so
much. Papa was saying that If it did
not rain within two or three days the
crops would be ruined. But We'll have
all sorts of fun in the house today, for
we'll have a great crowd of young
folks with us. They'll come from all
the plantations round In spite of the
rain
And so they did come, by buggy.
fuls. on horseback and in wagonettes.
And we made merry till about 2
O'Clock, when we sat down to a splen-
did Fourth Of July dinner. And then 1t
was that your dear grandfather-then
in his twenty-third year-responded
to Cousin Roberts most able and pa
triotic toast. And how proud l was OF
him, too, though he was yet almost
stranger to me. And how we all
cheered him to the echo when he sat
down, his noble young face flushed
from excitement! oh, it was such a
happy day! And all the while the rain
poured without. But sunshine glowed
within.
"Well, soon after dinner, much to
our surprise, the clouds cleared away,
and one Of the finest afternoons In my
memory was made ours to enjoy. We
made merry on the broad veranda till
after the sun went down. Then, after
a light supper in the spacious dining
room. we girls hurried to our rooms
and dressed for the evening. And when
we returned to the drawing room we
found the boys had also donned even
ing attire and had cleared the dining
loom preparatory for dance. Three
of the finest musicians Of the county
had been engaged for the occasion and
furnished the music for us.
1T was happy moment for mo
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