Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-07-15

tills it exploded in his fingers His
burnt hand brought out a howl of
pain, and he ran screaming to the
house for Grandma to do up the bis
tered fingers. While this was in prog
ress a smell of smoke took them all
to the window, only to see the grass
had caught fire from the punk, hastily
thrown down, and now the fence was
ablaze. The farmhands with few
pals of water quickly put out the
flames, and order was once more re-
stored.
Arrived at the grove, Sammy found
SO much to divert his attention that
his burnt fingers might have been for
gotten, except that the cause of the
bandages had to be explained to the
other boys. and Sammy became the
center of attraction to those who had
not been favored with crackers from
city uncles, and were ready with ad-
vice as to what Sammy should have
done to avoid disaster. Not one of
the boys but would have known better
how to handle them and come out free
from harm
Sammy was to appear on the plat
form with carefully learned speech.
and WAS therefore dressed in his best,
but while the Declaration was being
read and the orator of the day was
holding the attention of the crowd, the
boy thought he would stroll down to
the lake and see what amusement was
e.
only one who found the walk by the
lake attractive. Many other boys
We're there, and they had discovered
there were frogs to stone and water
lilies to pull by going out on an old
raft near at hand. The boats were al
ready occupied by the older youths
and maidens, intent on other declara-
lions than those of independence, and
who evidently thought the old RATS
were good enough for the boys.
Sammy, in his eagerness~ to obtain
the lilies lost his footing on the raft
and was flung into the water. No
particular danger to himself followed,
as he quickly scrambled out, but what
of his fine, new suit, which was COM
pletely daubed with the messy slime
from the pond. With dismay he be-
held himself and reflected as to what
grandma would say.
His frantic attempts at cleansing his
garments, aided by the other boys.
were not a great success, and though
the sun had dried them off pretty well,
the vigilant eyes of grandma soon de-
tected the state of things when Sammy
appeared on the platform for his
speech. Her pride in his appearance
was entirely demolished, and she felt
all her care had come to naught 4
do believe that boy is never safe out
of my sight, she grumbled "Of
course he was the only one to tumble
into the water. 1t was bad enough to
appear with those bandaged fingers,
should think, but that new suit is COM
pIetely ruined. I'll have a nice time
cleaning it. That boy is the plague of
my life Her friends praised his
brightness and ability. but she could
think only of the spoiled clothes and
the work they entailed.
The usual routine of picnics followed
the literary exercises of the day. Old
time friends met and exchanged news
N axU-p7ada 9cdn3iptancaS DrOmiSad to
ripen into friendship, lovers and sweet
hearts were enveloped in their own
blissful thoughts to the exclusion of all
else and everybody declared them
selves satisfied with their celebration
Of the day. Grandpa Brown says
however You may call it a safe and
sane Fourth but there is the fence to
be mended, and that suit of clothes to
be replaced. I've about made up my
mind you can't count on anything GER
tain. if there is a small boy in the
way" AN IDLER.