Putnam patriot., 1911-06-09

when | was eighteen years old l was invited to one of these Fourth of July parties composed of youngsters about my own age. 1 met there for the first time a girl about sixteen. She was called by a nickname which had been given her by her father when she was a baby It WIS Tottie. The moment i looked al her felt sure that l had seen her somewhere before. But when saw that she didn't appear to regard me as a former acquaintance l made up my mind that l must have been mistaken. Of course we were now too old. the boys to fire crackers and can nons, the girls torpedoeS. and we were obliged to ind other means of amuse ments. The place where we were spending the day was partly country home and partly a farm. Our hosts, who were the sons and daughters of the owner. got out wagon used for carrying grain. and. covering its bed with straw. took us all on the after noon of independence day for long ride.
 I've sang songs and shouted and laughed loudly at the poorest jokes. just as boys and girls of that age have always done on such occasions and will always do to the end Of time. But there was no harm in it, tor the Fourth is day devoted to noise. and we had the open country in which to do our singing and shouting. Al every farmhouse we passed urchins who waved little flags at us, and we waved return with our own flags and hand kerehiefS.
 "'Men off hereV cried the driver as we came to steep ascent and we jumped from all parts of the wagon like startled frogs from a log. l was trudging along with the others behind the wagon, the girl they called Tottie being one of those at it's rear end.
 "'I hope you're not going to be as disagreea ble as you were once. she said to me. with a spark ot mischief in her eyes.
 "'What do you meanY l asked.
 "t0h, l saw you do a very mean thing once.
 "'When? WhereP
 "I was sitting just as am now on the rear of a wagon and you were walking behind
 "tDo you mean to say that you have seen me beforeY
 ".Of course l do'
 "tAnd what is the mean thing didg
 "'You didn't do it alone. Others did it too.
 "'Tell me-
 ".You were one of juvenile artil lery company dragging a small can non in a Fourth of July parade. You all turned out of the line without no tifying your standard bearer. who marched on alone. exciting a laugh from those who saw him. especially us girls on the float
 "I fixed my eyes on Tottie and kept them on her while she spoke. Grad ually in the features of the girl of sixteen l brought back those of the girl whom 1 had fallen in love with at ten. Six years don't count for much after twenty. but between ten and sixteen the change in boy or a girl is considerable.
 Just think of 1t. children; she had remembered me perfectly for years"
 But l thought you said. grandpa. put in Lucy. that when you turned out of the procession she didn't look at you"
 "Yes. but I said girls of that age are apt to be otfish."
 "Go on. said one of the older girls
 "I thought it queer that l should have SD long considered this girl a surt of sweetheart and then d.d not know hei when saw her again. But the fact that had so considered her made me feel very differently toward her now that had met her again. And another thing made a lot of difference to me--the fact that she had remem- bered me so long and recognized me notwithstanding that l had grown as tall as 1 am now. When we men got on to the wagon again I took seat beside Tottie. and we talked over that procession-how proud we boys felt dragging our cannon
 Well. when we came in frosn our ride. hungry as boys and girls are bound to be after an outing, We Sat down to tea. and l took especial pains to secure seat beside Tottie. and we kept on talking about that procession in which we had first met till the other boys and girls asked II that was ttie only Fourth of July procession we had ever taken part in In the even ing when the others were setting of the fireworks Tottie and l sroie away together and were 30 engaged wifi each other that we didnr see any hre works at all That & the end of th' story"
 What became of TottieY' asked tn oldest girl.
 "Oh. Tottie and l concluded to gt through life together. We've nevei separated"
 You don't mean to say grandma is Tortie?"
 Yes. she is
 "H'mr said the oldest girl. .'l knew that all the tlme."
 Schooners Barred.
 A gunner's mate from one of our warships went into a saloon and or dered schooner of beer.
 I'd like to give 1t to you" said the bartender. leaning over toward the customer. but the Bible says 1 must not"
 Whats thaty' roared the gunner's mate. What yer giving meT'
 The bartender looked at him sorrow