Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-06-26
LETTERS TO The EDITos
Entertaining chiIdrer, on the Fourth.


Mr.. Editor: 1 must tell you how a
friend of mine tthe mother CT tnr ,ss
boys celebrated last Fourth OF July.
1t seemed such a nice way to me tnat
perhaps some of the mothers who nave
boys and girls too may want 10 tfs
it this year.
The Fourth, always hailed with de-
light by the boys. was Gay greatly
dreaded by my friend, who usually
spent the day after in bed with nerv.
ous headache cause by Tom, DICK ane
Harry's strenuous celebrating
Said Tom, Dick and Harry having
thus far escaped with their lite was
no sign that they always would. and
my friend decided not to make mar
tyr of herself this year. She asked
the boys if they would give up al
fireworks if she would give them just
as good a time Last years pnrns
having long since healed, fireworks
seemed the one thing worth living III
hut they finally consented.
After that my friend was one busy
Womani So many trips down toWii,
returning with SO many bundles whlch
no one was allowed to open The boys
began to be interested-it seemed al
most like Christmas Then the day
before the Fourth such odors from the
kitchen as came through the window
to the boys, as they discussed the pos
sibilities of a Fourth of July without
frecrackers.
The long BOXED for day finally came
and with it three of the boys cfums,
only three out of the gang, VINO
We're willing to leave their fireworks
home and try the latest way OF ceie-
brating.
When the last boy had arrived my
friend told the oldest boy to go into
the woodshed and get the lawn mower
and before the boy had a chance TO
look Disguised handed him key tell
r. iSI, ad f.
ting the front lawn to go up INTO heF
attic and iE a blaek trunk he Wou1d
find a large bundle tied with red string
and to bring it down without opening
it.
Another boy was sent to the mex
house for a lawn mower and ne was
told to cut the hack lawn and Wnen
that was finished to go to the hprars
ard find the encyclopedia and brink II
out to the piazza table.
The next two boys were told to GO
down cellar and bring two barrels
and set them under the apple tree
about five feet apart; then to go Up
into the attic and bring down a long
board which they would find there and
place it across the barrels, thus maxi
ing a table.
The two youngest boys were sent
upstairs for red, white and blue bunt-
ing, paper napkins and Japanese Ian
terms. The bunting was to be draped
around the barrels, the napkins to
cover the board for a tablecloth and
the lanterns to hang about the yard
The older boys not only cut the
grass, but raked it and swept the
walks (unasked) and by the time they
had finished the other hoys had the
table placed and decorated, and by
eleven o'clock there was not prettief
locking yard in the city-nor prouder
boys.
from eleven until twelve they were
glad to sit down and admire their
1andiwork, while one boy read aloud
from the encyclopedia the Declaration
of Independence. At twelve o'clock
the boys were sent home and told not
to come back until two o'clock and
to bring with them paper and pencil
At two o'clock my friend came out
upon the porch where the boys were
assembled and told them they had all
listened while Dick read why We cele-
| brate the Fourth of July. 1t was now
| up to them to write it in their own
| would receive a prize, the prize be-
1 ing in the bundle the boy had found III
| the black trunk in the attic which
| later proved to be a large flag. They
| were allowed one hour in which tt
| write.
| At three o'clock they adjourned te
| the kitchen where, provided with ap.
rdns my friend SET them a the pleas
F, ant task of lemonade making. ice
| cream freezing. etc. Then there wa:
the fun of setting The table; the boy:
wondering why my friend insisted up
on extra plates which they were tt
| pile at one end of the table.
/ At five O'Clock the boys motheri
| came to act as Mattresses.
| In regard to the feast, I will sim
| ply say that there was everything ;
| boy could want and a seemingly IN
| limited supply.
When the boys had eaten all the.
could hold and had time to look about
| who do you think they saw lookin'
| over the fence? What was left 0
the gang" MY friend pointed to tn
| pile of extra plates and then to tn
| boys-they came as fast as they coul'
| (the halt and blind) deciding bette
| late than never" to celebrate in tn
| latest way In the evening they al
| went and witnessed the fireworks givel
by the city.
"A BURNT CHILD, ETC"
| Norwich, June %. 1911.