The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1912-07-04
Uncle Peters
Flag
"A Fourth Of July
Story
By CLARISSA MACKIE


I" TIL be the first time in my life
that a flag hasn't flown from
the pole on a national holiday"
murmured Uncle Peter Mason
sorrowfully as he sQuinted up at the
tallest flagstaff in Little River. 1t
stood in the middle of his front yard.
and it's gilded ball reflected the SUM-
light high above the highest tree.
His wife. Aunt Rehecca. held at
arms length a dingy object that once
had been an American flag. Now the
red and white stripes had been beaten
by weather until they tuok on uni
form gray color. and there was little
enough Of it. too. for the wind had
whipped the emblem TO few tattered
rags that might not have been recog.
uizable had It not been for the stars
carefully stitched by hand and the
faded fragments of hand sewed stripes
at don't look like this had once been
ten foot long" remarked Aunt Rebec.
ca. After your father always flying
the biggest flag in Little River and you
carrying out the same idee hate like
poison TO run up small, cheap one.
but don't know what TO do. That in
terest comes due the LIST Of July. and
there amt a cent to spare over. even
for patriotism"
Il know 1t. Rebecca. haven't done
more than price these big fags-S15
for this size unless l get cambria
one You can always tell what a flags
made of by its hang and by its float
Job Little offered to let ME have the
flag and said could pay him up by
instalments. but says to him that
was poor patriotism"
"a cambria flag is better than none"
said Rebecca sensibly. Il was telling
Etty about it the other day. and she
says. says she. If l had time I'd make
pa flag. but I'm always SO busy with
the children's clothes 1t seems as II
was tired from morning to night l
told her If anybody made a flag 1t
would be me. but the material would
cost a sight if twas made of wool or
silk"
My mother made this flag. every
bit said Uncle Peter.
81 wish I'd thought Of it before"
said Rebecca to herself. Il might
have done something to get him flag.
The Fourth Of July is his birthday.
There's hull week yet I'll see what
| can do In the meantime"
Rebecca Mason went up In the gar.
ret that morning and turned out the
- t-r
of every color were spilled on the
clean floor, and while the wasps hum.
med about in the shadowy rafters Re
becca turned and sorted and shook
and discarded until pile Of white
garments lay beside her. and In her
lap was heaped her wedding gown.
bright blue delaine.
During the next week Aunt Rebecca
was mysteriously busy. She washed
great quantities Of white popin, and
her dye kettle dubbed secretly in the
cellar wash room. Her hands were
stained with red. and the sewing ma
chine in the spare chamber hummed
busly in every spare moment.
Uncle Peter Mason was busy with
the June work in his garden. where
the long. straight rows of carefully
tended vegeta bles looked Just like the
pictures in the seed catalogues which
he studied all winter. He had not men
toned the matter of the flag again.
and Rebecca had been too busy with
her own plans and the fear of discov.
cry to breach the subject. Her daugh
ter Eta. who lived over the river, was
up to her ears in sewing for her two
children, so Rebecca was quite undis
turbed In carrying out her pleasant
plans.
The day before the Fourth Aunt Re
becca. looking tired. but very much
pleased with herself. carried some
neatly rolled bundles up to the garrett
and stored them away in the trunks
There was a roll of blue delaine and
another of white poplin. This latter
was very small indeed. for there were
a great many stars to make now.
At supper Aunt Rebecca mentioned
the coming anniversary for the first
time in week.
What you going to do about fag?"
she asked.
Nothing. except run up the old one."
said Uncle Peter dispiritedly.
Seems too bad you couldn't have
new one! How much was the big
cambria ones. Peter?"
i've forgotten. Rebecca-more'n !
can afford anyway. I've been count.
ing II I'd hadn't had any terbaccer for
three years l might have had that new
Gag. Shows how bad habit will trip
you up sooner or later"
"'Tain't a bad habit the way you
smoke" defended Rebecca warmly.
MY land. guess you're entitled to
that little comfort the way you've
worked all YOU lifer'
"'Taint no credit to me that I've
worked Its what was put in the
world for. Never mind about the flag.
Becky. There'll be Just as much pa
triotism in my soul when l run her
up as II she was made Of the finest
silk. That's all that counts-whats
inside your heart"
Il suppose you're right, father" said
Rebecca. little smile curling her lips
as she arose to clear the table. After
the dishes were washed and put away