The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-08-07
THE CHlLDREN'S HOUR.
TWAS A GLORIOUS FOURTH,
AFTER ALL.

"A'AA pAPN" oP ->SN 4ANAiA -
as the South End Athletics crowded
into the empty garage in Ned's back
yard.
Maybe he's sick,' volunteered Will
lie Prentice
mo, he isn't, answered Tommy
Watson, '"cause I saw him coming
from the store a little while ago.
1t was the Fourth of July, and the
South Enders had planned for a grand
celebration of the nations birthday
Tin banks had been emptied, and ev
cry possible penny had been secured
for the clubs common purse. There
were to be flags, lemonade and noise
makers of all sorts to come after the
morning baseball game with the West
End Eagles. When the plans were be
ing made for the celebration Jimmy
Darrell had been the leading spirit
Now, on the morning of the eventful
day, the little members of the neigh
bOrhoOd club were gathering for the
ball game and anxious for the frolic
of the afternoon. All that was need
sharp witted Jimmy, the club presi
dent and popular leader Of the youth
full Athletics.
do you suppose he won't show up
to pitch against the Eagles this morn.
ing?" asked Eddie White.
His question was followed by a
dark silence, for without Jimmy in the
box there was no hope of winning the
game. Suddenly Will Prentice let out
a shrill whistle and dashed to the
door, wildly waving his cap. Here
he comes!" he shouted. And sure
enough, down the alley walked the
missing Jimmy. There was some
thing about him that caused uneasi
ness among the boys clustered in the
garage door.
Hi, there! Hurry up, JIM" called
Will, who was bent on getting the ball
game started.
Go on; I'll catch you," said jim
And as the club headed for the ball
grounds there was a secret hope in
the breast of the members of the
ItdIl llldI Jill WOulu Wdhc up Ill
time to pitch a good game.
Jimmy did not wake up" He
pitched a game of ball without any
heart in it, and the Eagles won by
three runs, which they piled up in the
last inning. On the way back to the
garage Jim said:
Il hated to disappoint you fellows
It was because l was worrying about
our big celebration this afternoon thai
l couldn't pitch against the Eagles.
After pause, during which the boys
wondered what was coming, he wen
on, 1--WE all belong to the Junior Rec
| Cross, don't WEI"
There was a general nOdding of as
sent.
Our teacher told us that if we were
| to be good citizens we must serve
others, didn't she?" was his next ques
| ton. More nodding of assent.
"Well, on my way down here thi
morning l met two boys from the Or
phans' Home, and they told me the.
were looking for an American flag 81
that they could celebrate the Fourth
That was to be all the fun they wer
going to have. l had the clubs none.
in my pocket, and the thought strucl
me that if we were good citizens W.
ought to help those boys, and especial
ly since they were doing their poo
best to celebrate the country's birth
day. Why can't we buy a flag TO
them and then spend the rest of tn
money on jimcracks for thei
FOURTH"
A buzz of conversation fOlloWe
Jim's question as the boys groupe
themselves about their leader. Fina
ly Will Prentice said:
"That's all right, Jim. Let's buy tn
flag and everything. We ought to Civ
those orphans one sure enough Gle
rious Fourth. We can get some len
ons at home and make some lemonad
for ourselves and then go down to Sc
the parade and maybe the firework
tonight, so l guess it won't be such
bad Fourth after all, only l do wis
we had won that ball game"
AS Will ceased speaking the boy
heard some one coming out of the gal
age, and, turning around, they say
Ned's uncle approaching.
81 happened to hear what you boy
were talking about just now" he RI
marked as he came up. Jimmy ha
asked you to make big sacrifice i
the way of unselfish service for otl
ers, and you boys are little bricks fo
backing him up Now, don't say an.
thing more about it, but buy you
treat for the orphans, get some lunc
and then meet me at my house at
o'clock"
Promptly on schedule time the boy
were at the meeting place, and the
things began to happen so fast ther
; was no time left for regrets over tn
money that had been spent. Ned