Putnam patriot., 1911-06-09
An Old Time Fourth A Story For Independence
 Day By ESTHER B. HAWTHORNE Copyright by American Press Asso-
 ation. 1911

| lViSu ieuuluS newspaper uS
 children were looking forward to the
 morrow-the anniversary of American
 independence. Finally they gathered
 in knot. discussing with evident in
 terest some tto theml important prob
 lem, casting occasional glances at the old man on the porch.
 You ask him. Lucy" said one of
 the boys to girl of seven. Hen do
 anything for you"
 Yes" chimed in the others. Lucy
 is the one to do 1t. She'll get more
 than any of us
 Lucy thus urged. started for the porch. evidently losing courage as she | praceeded. for The nearer she approach | ed The old man the more she seemed | disposed "a hang back
 What k t. Luey:. he asked. look
 ing aside II her from the newspaper
 @PleaSp. grandpa, won't yau gIve us
 some money for the Fourth If July Grandpa put his hand in his pocket ] drew forth several silver eulnS and | gave them to her She was going away | without word when be asked Don't you think l should have q
 kiss for rhat?''
 She went 10 him. put up her lips. | kissed him and ran away to the ehil- | dren. A consultation took place among them as to how they should the next l day burn the money they had received. | after which one of the older ones sug- eested that they thank grandpa for the | gift. So they moved in body to the | porch. and their spok esman offered the 1 thanks.
 You're welcome. children" he re piled. Your sending Lucy to me took
 me back to when 1 was a kid and my I brothers and sisters sent me on sim l liar errand to my father"
 Did you have us good times on the Fourth then as we have now. grand pa?' asked one of the boys.
 I'm inclined to think we had bet ter times We were not so far then | as we are now from that Declaration \ of Independence which But sit down and I'll tell you about it"
 I ut NliiluItu oOAiit sitring in wicker chairs. some on the steps, while Lucy perched herself on | the arm of grandpa's rocker When | they were all comfortably settled he continued:
 We always had processions in those days, and in our processioDs we had something that we don't have now several carriage loads of white headed | old men who had fought in the war l that brought about the independence | we are to celebrate tomorrow. l re-
 member just how they looked and with what veneration we regarded them. Next came the veterans of the war of 1872 There were more of them. and they were younger than the Revolutionary soldiers But today we have not these survivors of the Revo= luton to keep us in touch with the great struggle which evolved a na- | tion.
 We children usually took part in | the processions. the boys marching as soldiers, the girls making up groups on Heats decorated with flowers. l re memher marching myself with a dozen boys. all ot us in white shirts and white duck trousers. drawing little cannon. One of the boys marched al | our head bearing aloft the stars and | stripes When we were tired we turn | ed out of the line. Our standard bear CT. not being notified. went proudly on with the flag till laughter among the spectators caused him to look be | bind him. when be discovered that he was marching alone. When be re- joined us Ae was the maddest boy ] ever saw.
 s.In that procession We marched be | hind a hay wagon that had been tilted up for a float II was covered with white sheets and both the body and the wheels decorated with flowers. while the harness was covered with prafusion of red. white and blue roSettes and streamers. in the center on a raised dais stood a girl personal ing the Goddess of Liberty. Tbe rest of the wagon was covered with little girls from six to twelve or thirteen years old was one of two front boys who held the rope attached to our cannon. and 1 noticed especially one of the girls on the rear of the float. Her goldeu nair hung over her shoul' ders. and her eyes were great hig blue ones straichtway pbeked her out to fall in love with
 Have any Of you boys ever been in Iove?"
 There was no reply to this. and the speaker continued:
 "A boys love. as l remember it. IS very funny He is seized with de sire to show off before the girl to whom be is attracted When | saw the girl on the float looking at me ] walked as if l was stepping on springs. holding my head up in the air as though 1 was mighty proud of myself 1 must have marched an hour behind the float ou which the blue eyed girl sat When we left the procession l looked back at her but girls of her age are ant to be offish with boys. and she turned her glance away. l sup posed she had no use for me-" "Sne dicnf make face at you. did sheY' rema<ed one of the boys -Oh. DO. she didn't do that. But to proceed with my story-of course we were just like boys nowadays-6rtne our crackers and our cannon. keeping up an incessant din all the afternoon We couldn't wait tili dark to set on our fireworks any more than you boys will be able to wait tomorrow night