Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-10-12
'she didn't make face a. you. did

our crackers and our cannon. keeping
up an incessant din all the afternoon
We couldn't wait till dark to set Of
our fireworks any more than you boys
will be able TO wait tomorrow night.
When the last piece had been burned
and we had eaten watermelon or
some ice cream we went to bed mourn
ing that whole year must pass be.
fore another Fourth OF July would
come around.
'Of course as we grew older our
way of spending che day changed
When we reached the youth period we
would get together at the country
home Of some one OF our set or young
fellows and girls. ! remember that
when was eighteen years old was
invited to one of these Fourth Of July
parties composed OF youngsters about
my own age. met there for the first
time a girl about sixteen. She was
called by nickname which had been
given her by her father when she was
baby. II was Tottie The moment
looked at her felt sure that | mad
seen her somewhere before But when
! saw that she didn't appear to regard
me as a former acquaintance | made
up NY mind that must have been
mistaken or course we were now too
old the boys to fire crackers and can
nous. the girls torpedoes and we were
oh m mr. ~
ments The place where we were
spending the day was partly country
home and partly Il farm. Our hosts.
who We're the sons and daughters OF
the owner. got out wagon used for
carrying grain. and. covering its bed
with straw. took us all Oh the after
noon OF Independence day for long
ride
I'VE sang songs and shouted ano
laughed loudly AT the poorest Jokes
just Ms boys ana girls OF that age
have always done on such occasions
ana will always do 10 the end OF time.
But there WAS no harm In IL, for the
Fourth Is day devoted to noise. and
We had The open country In which to
do our singing ana shouting. Al every
farmhouse We passed nrchins who
waved little tags AT us. and we waved
a return with our own tiugs and hand
kerchiefs
Men of herer cried rh,. driver az
we came 10 n steep ascent and we
Jumped from all parts OF the wagon
like startled frogs from log. was
trudging along with the others behind
the wagon, the girl they called Tottie
being one OF those M its rear end.
~ hope YOUR, not going to be az
disagrpeable as you were once. she
said 10 me. with 81 spark of mischief
In her eyes.
"'What do you meanr ! asked.
"'Oh, saw yon do very mean
thing once.
"'Wbeni Wherpr
~ was stirling just as am now
on the rear OF wagon and you were
walking behlnd
do you mean 10 say that you have
seen Iue beforeY
"'Ot course do.
land whar is the mean thing !
did,?
"'You did,, do 1t alone. Others
did II too
Tell me
"'You were one of juvenile artil
lery company dragging small can
non In Fourth OF July parade. fnn
all turned out OF the line without no
tlfying your standard bearer who
marched on al1ne. exciting n laugh
from those who saw him. especially
us girls on the float
II fixed my eyes on Tottie and Kept
them on her while she spoke. Grad
ually in the TEXTURES or the girl or
sixteen brought back those OF the
girl whom | nad fallen IN love win
at TEN Six years don't count for
much after twenty INT between Ten
and sixteen The change IN boy or
girl Is considerable.
"Iust think OF it. children: she Dad
remembered me per Getty tor years
But thought yoi Said. grandpa.
put In Lucy. that when YOU turned
ont of the procession she didn't look
at you
yves. hut | said girls or rhat age are
apt 10 be- otlish
"Go on said one or the older girls
II thnnghr II queer that 7 should
have so lulg co idnrrd TN girl SORT
OF sweetheart ana Then d.d net know
her wnrn | saw her again But M
fact that / had 50 considered her made
me tpp very differently toward her
now that ! had met her again. Ana
another thing made lot Of difference
To me- the fact that she had remem
bcred mr su long and recognized M
TINT | had grown rs
tail as ! am now When We men got |
on To thp wagon again | t'toE a sent !
beside Tottie, ana we talked over lhai
bow proud We bo}s teii
dragging our cannon
We'll. when we came in from our
ride. hungry ms boys and girls ~
bound to be af,er au outing, We Sa'
down to ten. and took especial pans
To secure seat beside Tortie. and W.
kept On talking about thar procession
ii which we had first met till the other
hovs and Girls asked In that was fhe |