IN GLAD CONTENT.
Th. world, they saj, is gettin' old mi
wonrv UK ran be!
But write me down as sayin ifm good
enough for me!
It's good enough with all Its grief, itm
Dieasure. an its pain;
An' there' a ray of sunshine for every
drop o' rain!
They stumble in the lonesome dark, they
cry for lieht to see:
But write me down as sayin' It's light
enouirh for me.
Tt' Ho-ht enoiura to lead us on from
where we faint an' fall.
An the hilltop nearest heaven wears the
brightest crown o ail!
They talk about the fadin' hopes that
mock the vears to be;
But write me down as sayin' there's hope
enouch for me!
Over the old world's wailin' the sweeter
music swells:
In the stormiest night I listen an' bear
the bells the bells!
This world o' God's is brighter than we
ever dream or know;
Its burdens growin' lighter an' it's Love
that makes 'em so
An' I'm thankful that I'm livin'
Trove's blessedness I see.
where
Neath a heaven that's forgivin'. where
the bells ring "Home" to me!
Atlanta Constitution.
Caught Per Telephone.
PROPOS of bank note thieves,"
said Inkster.my detective friend.
"did I ever tell you how I
caught one with the assistance of a
girl? Well, here Is the yarn:
Ring r-r-r-ring! goes the telephone
bell in a Liverpool bank.
"Well, who are you? asks the at
tendant clerk.
"Mr. SUverton, of SUverton, Sons &
Co.. Princes street. London," comes the
answer. "Is Mr. Golden In?"
"Yes," says the clerk.
"Then ask him to speak to me at
once, please," requests Mr. SUterton.
"Are you there? Ah, how are you.
SUverton?"
"Dreadfully worried and " annoyed,
and I want your assistance. One of
my most promising men, Cecil Hamp
ton, has gone away on his holidays, and
as a large number of notes are missing.
I fear he has absconded."
"Well," queries Golden, "bow am I
likely to be of any use In the mat
ter?"
"Among the notes," answer the Lon
don banker, "there are two thousand
pound notes, and, as I expect be has
some relations In the States, that will
be his destination. It Is quite likely
. that be will call at your bank with the
notes and a plausible story, and ask
you to cash them."
"I suppose I am to have him arrested
out of hand, then?" Interrupted Mr.
Golden.
"No; nothing of. the kind!" testily an
swered. SUverton. "You must get him
Into your office and give him a thorough
good lecture and 500. Please do not
Interrupt. TeU him to go" out of the
country and begin an honest life. TeU
him also that It is entirely owing to the
position his father holds in the world
of politics, and my respect for him as
a man, .that I give him this chance. I
will not blast the lives of his father
and his family for the son's peculation.
Don't talk to me about condoning a
felony, or give me any ethical defini
tion. I consider that, apart from giv
ing the youngster another chance after
his first misstep, it Is infinitely prefer
able to marking the family with shame
for the rest of their Uvea,"
"Is this the opinion of your part
ners?" asked Mr. Golden.
"No," answers SUverton; "they know
nothing of It as yet; but. If they did, I
am convinced they , would agree with
me, I will remit the 500 to you, and
you wUl then send the recovered notes
by a trusty man, whom I will recoup
for his out-of-pocket expenses."
"Very well; I agree," said Golden, at
length. "And If, as you suspect, he
comes to us, I will do as you desire.
But give me a description of the man,
so that there can be no mistake, and I
wlU instruct my teUers how to act"
"Thank you, Golden," said the Lon
don banker; "I knew you would help.
The lad stands about five feet ten
Inches tall, 25 years' old but looks
more like 30 rather sallow skin, with
very dark hair and short, pointed beard.
He has a very slight limp, owing to
some accident to his left ankle when a
boy."
"That Is a very good verbal por
trait," said Golden, "and I think we'U
not mistake him. I'll ring you up after
he has been here, and report progress."
"Kindly do nothing of the kind.'
said SUverton, "as I am - going to
Brighton this afternoon, and -will prob
ably be there a week or two. I wlU
telegraph to you either to-night or to
morrow morning, teUIng you where I
am staying, as the place is pretty fuU
up, I understand; then you can write
me at the address given. Thank you
very much for falling in with my view
of the case. Good-day!"
"Good-morning," answered Golden,
and the conversation ended. ,
Mr. Golden proceeded to describe
Hampton to aU the clerks at the coun
ter, and ordered his luncheon to be
sent in in order to be at hand- if the
- thief turned up. .
At luncheon time, when the bank
. was very quiet, Hampton walked in
and boldly asked a teUer to change the
two notes. : -
"I am one of SUverton's men," he
maid, "and on the firm's business."
"Certainly, sir." said the teller. "WUl
you just endorse them as usual?"
As Hampton was writing his name
on the notes, the teUer gave a sign to
the watchful commissionaire, and also
sent a junior for his principal Mr.
. Golden was soon behind the counter
and addressing Hampton across the In
tervening mahogany.
"Please walk Into my office, Mr.
Hampton; I wish to speak to you. Don't
,' attempt to escape, as the commission
aire will prevent It at a sign from
me." : -.- "...
Once Inside the office and the door
closed, he dropped into the first chair
and shamefacedly buried his face In
his hands.
"Well, young man," said his captor,
"you have soon launched yourself on
' toe aea of iniquity, and in a most skiU-
COMMANDER OF THE
n :?r'.i3W ill
VJJ BOOTH-TUCtSER.Lfy
Frederick De L. Booth-Tucker, who is
the command of the Salvation Army of America after the secession of Commander
Ballington Booth and his wife several years ago. Before that time he was in
command of the work in India. On his marriage to Emma Booth, daughter of
the founder of the Salvation Army, Mr.
has since called himself Booth-Tucker.
long hair is gray and his bine eye Is full of humor. In the pulpit he talks more
after the "heart-to-heart" fashion than with any attempt at oratorical effect. ' His
illustrations are usually humorous, but none the less effective. He is a firm be
liever in the "hallelujah" methods of conducting religious meetings, and an "Amen'
shouter from the audience usually finds a response in the pulpit. In the executive
department of the army work and the extension of the relief work he has been
fully as successful as his. predecessor,
ago."
ful manner. -When you gave way to
the temptation and purloined the notes
you did not think that they would be
so quickly missed. Nor did you think
that a shrewd .business man would be
quite Ukely to hit upon the route yon
would take, and by telephoning yes,
you may well start! to the bank you
would probably caU at to change the
notes, have you arrested, and your
father, brothers and sisters disgraced,
within very few hours of your, theft
being discovered. . It is entirely owing
to the latter contingency that Mr. SU
verton has instructed me to hand over
to you this bag of 500 In gold in ex
change for the notes. :'.
"The sole condition he makes is that
you leave England and attempt an
honorable career abroad. If you re-i
main In England you will be prosecut
ed, with the result you- may easily an
ticipate.. "
x"Do you accept the terms?" he asked.
Yes, sir," answered Hampton. "I am
very grateful to' Mr. SUverton. I am
truly sorry I have done what I have
done, but with the help of the money
lent to me I wUl keep straight." -
Mr. Golden handed the bag to. the
younger man and received the notes
which he oasuaUy compared with the
list of missing notes received, of course.
from Mr. SUverton by telephone.
Golden accompanied Hampton to his
office door, and warmly shook him by
the hand, and wished htm good luck
and success in his new Ufe... ""
'Where do I come in, you ask?" said
Inkster, pausing in his narrative.
"Well, you see, I don't appear until
near the end, which wUl probably be
rather a surprise to you." ; -
There happened to be a very smart
but rather curious young lady - In the '
telephone exchange, and it also hap
penedby accident, let us say that she
heard the telephonic conversation be
tween the bankers.- Whether it was the
result .of her suspicious nature or wom
an's intuitiveness is. quite immaterial,
but she rang up the London 'bank her
self and asked them if they had heard
distinctly when talking to Liverpool.
The bankers were surprised at the
question, and said they had not spoken
to Liverpool that day. ,y
I must have mistaken the number,'!
she quickly answered, "I beg your par
don for troubUng you.? :
Then she rang up the detective office
and detailed the supposed conversa
tion to the chief, wW laughingly called
out to me: v.-.-. ' . "... ' -
'Here Is your man, Inkster, and run
to earth by a telephone girl." ,
'I was In Liverpool at the time after
a troublesome gang of forgers," inter
polated Inkster. - ' - ;" ?
On being told what Miss Telephone
had said, I was soon in a hansom and
being quickly driven to the bank. The
cab pulled up with a jerk, and just as
I alighted Hampton walked out of the
premises Into my arms. ; : .
, The- roll of notes ..were very clever
forgeries, of course, and he would have
been amply repaid for-his labor , had
he received 500'cash for them, but- he
wlU not be allowed to visit the States
TRAINED ALLIGATORS TOW HI5 BOAT.
" Jefferson Lee, who Uves on the St John's rlver,"inr Putnam County, Fla has
the most extraordinary team in the country. It Is a 'team of alligators that -Mr
Lee uses to tow his boat up and down the river when he goes to market. "" ' ' "
Mr. Lee has to go six miles down the river to his postofflce, and it is' a hard
pull against the current coming back. He noticed how swiftly alligators swam,
and it occurred to him that it might be a good idea to turn the alligators that
-abound in the St John's river to some account - He captured a pair of young
'gators and raised them in his yard. He taught them to swim and drag a weight
behind them, and he also taught them to turn either to the right or left by
pulling ropes fastened to their teeth on either side. , ' - . . ,
When the alligators were big enough he put a harness that he had constructed
on them and harnessed them to-his boat They swam-well and pulled the beat
through the water at a good speed.' By pulling on the reins, that passed through
the mouths of the 'gators, Mr. am was able to turn his strange water team in any
direction he pleased. Mr. Lee's success has created great interest among all of kirn
neighbors, and now many alligators are being trained for doty as mem horses.
SALVATION ARMY.
now visiting this country, succeeded to
Tucker assumed his wife s name, and
The commander is tall and spare. His
lie was born in England nrty-two years
'- "-. .".;' :"':.'V :; -
for a very long time yet Indianapolis
Sun. - - - ' ''
A Dog Hero. -, . ."."'-"
"The world is full of dog; heroes,"
says a friend and admirer of our' ca
nine pets; "but few of their brave deeds
ever come to light for they cannot tell
their own stories." The New York Sun
relates' the exploit of a St Bernard.
The incident occurred , recently at
Bloomfield, New Jersey. -
Bruno is a splendid specimen of his
kind, and his behavior in an emergency
has endeared him more than ever to his
owner's heart : '
The dog is deeply attached to a fine
pair of horses, one of whom Is his spe
cial friend. ; The dog has often led the
animals to water, carrying the end of
the rope in his mouth. His air of pride
and proprietorship on .these occasions
has been the source of no smaU amuse
ment to observers..: ."
A few nights ago a fine broke out In
the Baldwin stable. Bruno was sleep
ing outside on the veranda.. The fam
ily were awakened in the "wee sma'
hours" by the barking -iand scratching
of Bruno at the house door.
When Mr. Baldwin appeared, the dog
seemed beside himself with excitement.
He dashed, ahead to the stable door, and
the Instant, it was opened rushed inside.;.-
' ' . - " - ' ' '
Mr. Baldwin released' one - of the
horses, and after some difficulty suc
ceeded in leading It out of the stable.
Then he hurried back for the other
horse. As he was forcing his way into
the midst of the smoke, and flames Bru
no appeared, leading the horse, the end
of the halter-rope dangling between his
teeth. - -; -- .' -'- .,
Investigation ' showed ' that ' the St
Bernard had chewed off the rope. "It
was his friend, his favorite horse.
whose- life he had saved. - Mr. Bald
win doubts If - he himself could have
reached the animal's stall, so fiercely
was the fire raging. .
Stops the Train. - -
" With a view to preventing accidents
at level crossings and collisions in the
neighborhood of railway stations a very
ingenious mechanism has recently been
tried in' France. It consists essentially
of a huge hook, or catch, made of Iron,
which is connected, with a lever at the
station by means of a wire, through
which a current of electricity passes.
When It is lying in its place the train
passes over it quite easily, but as soon
as it is raised it -catches a lever which
is attached to the engine; . The lever
thus caught causes an air valve on the
engine to open automatically and ap
plies the brakes at once,- so that ;, the
whole train is brought to a standstill
within a .short ... distance. '.. In foggy
weather the use -of such an apparatus
cannot be overestimated, asJt is calcu
lated to prevent a train running Into
another "'which happens to be delayed
at a station.
A man will promise to do anything
next week, and when he is smoking a
good cigar after a good dinner, he will
promise to do anything to-morrow.
ETA
t4
"Do yon use any fiction In your pa
per?" "Well, we publish the weather
Indications." Town Topics.
Some publisher is missing a golden
opportunity In neglecting to bring out
"The Love Letters of Brigham Young."
-Ex.-
"Why are the feelers of a butterfly
like the meeds in a California orange?"
"Give it up." "Because they're an
tennae." Ex.
. Was One: Mrs. Empeck You acted
like a fool when you proposed to me.
Empeck That wasn't acting, my dear.
Town and Country.
Charles Loveday Urn, ah. Er, ei
erl Er ! he! he I" Jeweler (to his
assistant) Bring that tray of -engage
ment-rings here, Henry. Tlt-3its.
Fred I bad a fall last night which
rendered me unconscious for several
hours. Ed You don't mean it? Where
AM vnn full? VroA I foil hhWtv Tlt-
IBitS. - V . - ,. ...
. ..... . - - ..' . .-
,, MoUy My little sister's got the
I measles. Jimmie Oh! So has mine.
I Molly Well, IH bet you my little sis
ters got more measles than yours has,
Tit-Bits. - -
"What is the difference between the
cannibals : and - Mark Twain ?" "The
cannibals enjoy cold missionary, while
Mark.Twain likes the missionaries
hot" Life. " . ...
On Board Ship: "Can I bring you up
some luncheon, sir?" '.'What! Lunch
already? Why, It doesn't seem more
than fifteen minutes since . breakfast
came up!" Life ;
How She. Proves Its "Maggie says
she's a - Daughter of the Revolution."
Can she prove It?" "Sure. Her fath
er runs a merry-o-round." Phuadel
phla Evening BuUetln. . :
Right Up in Line: "Same old presen
tation of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,'. I sup
pose?" "Not much; we've-worked in
an automobile collision and 'plantation
rummage saIe."--Detroit Free Press. .
Not an Asylum: : Visitor It must be
very convenient to have an asylum
right in the heart of your city. -'New
York Policeman Asylum! That is the
Stock Exchange. Ohio State Journal.
Strong-wUled: Kind Lady It must
be hard to get along without working?
Tramp Indeed it Is, "ma'am; yet haver
no idea how strong de tem'tation ter
go to work is, sometimes. Brooklyn
Ufe. .. - . ,...' ,
Twofold:; Sniffs There is more sin
in Chicago than any other city on the
face of the' earth. Snuffs I. beg leave
to differ. '; Sniffs--I defy you to name
another with more Bin in it!" Snuffs-
Cincinnati Ex. - :,vt;
-Distingue: "She comes of a grand
old family, I believe?" Yes, very! An
ancestor of hers was beheaded In the
Tower during the reign of .the fourth
Edward!" "How " perfectly ' lovely!"
Detroit Journal. -
How- much does a member of the
Legislature get In this State?" inquired
the tourist "His salary," answered
Farmer Corntossel, "is three dollars a
day. Nobody knows how much he
gets." Washington Star. V :
Suited to a Tee: Fox (to bear)
Come over to-morrowt and we'll play a
game of golf on the links. . Bear All
right I don't know what the game Is,
but if there's any job -you can put up
on the lynx I'm in with you. Boston
Herald.- . '- '" ' -s
His Training: "How did Spudkins
get his appointment as Brigadier-General?
I never knew that .be was con
nected with the army?" "Oh, yes, by
marriage; Dls Drother-in-law is ' a
United Slates Senator." Town and
Country " - i-i ss,-
A Great Preface: ; Publlsher-I fear
'your book ,1s too short; it consists of
only forty - pages. ; Author-Oh, I "ex
plain all that in the preface. Publisher
What length Is it? Author Five hun
dred pages, sir. Columbus (Ohio) State
Journal . -. . :,: .-. . . ; .
Teacher Now, Tommy, suppose you
had two apples, and you. gave another
boy his choice of them, -you would tell
him to take the bigger one. wouldn't
you? Tommy No, mum. Teacher
Why? Tommy 'Cos twouldn't be nec
essary. -Tit-Bits. j
Their Favorite Diet: "The bulls and
bears In Wall street are all carnivorous
animals," -remarked the horse editor to
the. snake editor. , "Indeed?" "Yes;
they are ' fond of spring Tamb ' with
United States mint sauce." Pittsburg
Chronicle-Telegraph. .
Mrs. Innocence; (finding poker-chips
in her husband's, pockets) Dear me!
isn't George, too, thoughtful for any
thing! -1 told him to buy something to
amuse - the baby, and here be has
brought home these 5 pretty colored
disks. Philadelphia Record.-
A? PhUosopher: : Wife There's
burglar, down cellar, Henry. Husband
Well, my dear, we ought to be thank
ful thatwe are upstairs. Wife But
he'U come up here. ' Husband Then
we'll go down cellar, my dear. Surely,
a- ten-room - house ought to : be big
enough, to hold three people, without
crewdlng.Detroit Free Press. ;
The Bliss of Ignorance: Nagger
Did you see the President about your
appointment when you were in- Wash
ington? Noodleman-r-No, but I saw
his Secretary.. He told me that the
President had remarked when.the mat-
ter of "my appointment came up that
I was "persona" non grata-'"-Nngger-i-
And what does that mean? Noodleman
Why, It's Latin for 'no person great-
-er,' .. Rather high praise, coming from
a man of his distinction,, eh? Rich
mond Dispatch. ..
Body Shorter at Night. :
The human body, it has been found.
Is shorter at night than in the morning,
due to the weight of the body com
pressing the Intervertebral cartilages.
During sleep, or while In, a recumbent
position, . the pressure being removed,
their " natural elasticity - enables them
to resume their normal slze, conse
quently the height of an Individual will
vary from three-eighths to half an inch
between morning and nlgbt ' -
A-woman's-sympathies are arouse
when anjF one else on earth gets sick.
except her dressmaker. . . .
X-RAYS APPLIED TO
WW
. '. .THE FOURTH. ,
Bail to "America, land of the free!"
Holding her honors on land and on sea!
Heaping her victories, kindly and true.
All in the name of "The Red, White and
Blue!" - .- -- .' - --.:. .
Hall to the spirit of Justice and truth
Born In, America's spirited youth!
Hall to her enterprise, courage and skill I
Hall to her upright persistence and will!
Hail td her loyalty! r Hall to her brave, -.
Determined endeavors her dear States to
save
When danger assails them! and hail -with
Her glorious oi, banner her sons hold so
dcarl
Hail to our""Natlonal Holiday!" Hall!
For never in hearts shall Its joyousness fall!
Hail to Its advent, and even Its noise.
Since It stirs In. the hearts of our girls and
our boys - '
A bold, sturdy reverence," never to die
While America's flag waves, for Fourth of
- July! '
Mary IX Brine, in Christian Work. ;
The boys had planned such a particu
larly jolly Fourth that when Mrs. Rey
nolds became, so ill on the very morning
of the" 3d and the doctor sternly announc-
if a- firecracker, exploded within a
mile of the house the boy who shot it off
would be euiltr of murder there was
wrathful indignation-in the breasts of
the junior patriots. ; " -'
Say,- fellows,what do yon think or
anyway ?" demanded Ned , Thursby in a
tone of fierce displayr ,
'Think of it!" exclaimed Sam pren
tice, shaking his fist at the cloud of dust
which enveloped the doctor's antiquated
gig. "I think it's a mean shame."
"What are we going to do with our
firecrackers, I'd like - to know," Will
Brown asked angrily "and the skyrock
ets and Roman candles and the cannon?"
"Plague take it anyway," scowled Jack
Loring, hitting-the" tree against which
he was leaning a blow with his clinched
hand. "We might just as well have
stayed in the city." " - -- -
I tell, you what fellows," interrupted
Ned.- "I wouldn't mind so much spoiling
the Fourth if it was only Mrs. Sawyer,
or ' any' of our mothers, or Miss Hattie
or Miss Isabel, but every kid knows what
Mrs. Reynolds is, . I don't believe she's
sick at all.'' : -.-.,- - -
"Nor , I," , added Jack impressively
She's iust done it to keep' us from hav-
inir a eood time. . iron t you rememoer
last summer how she .spoilt the yacnt
rs ee bv tumbline into the river and
smashing the sails?" 1 - '
I wish- rour .Uncle George was nere
now.,. He'd tell us what to 00, lor i uon i
think that, other George, the father or
hlsv country, cares the least bit that'' his
little boys can't have' rockets and fire
crackers,'' ; and Wilt lay down upon the
grass and pounded the soft turf with his
vleorous heels.
Of course he doesn't - agreed sam
mournfully, "or he wouldn't have let it
barmen. I think he s a mighty mean
father, that's what, I think."
"Oh. nerhaos - it's because he's been
man for such years and. years that he's
forgotten' all about chopping the cherry
rrop and beine a little boy-himself, ex
plained Ned magnanimously: ;
"I saVi fellows," Jack began excitedly,
"I bet you George Washington will help
n. vet- Isn't he the father of bis coun-
rrv and wouldn't my father or Ned's fath
er or any. of our latners nate io nave u
lnse--, zood-time? t tell -you, George
-WashmgtOT' tares as -much about it as
they do, and I'm going to write to nim
and tell him that we can't shoot off any
firecrackers or -cannons or rockets or tor
pedoes or do anything at an to give mm
a rouslUK Sena-on, juai ubchuhb nu -oiu
wnman savs she's dying.? : 1 -
I ; don't : believe- George .Washington
cares -anything about us,' Sam interpos
ed gruffly. . . - .. ' V - . - "j.
I don't believe ne does, eitne, - sup
plemented Will. .''
- 'WelL- said Jacic,- 1 intend to write
htm a regular letter and .tell' him just
how it -is. I thought I'd say that we
came aU the way from Chicago to shoot
off a cannon for him on ther Fourth of
July, and didn t he ftel sorry, we couldn't
do it because Mrs. . Reynolds ' went and
got sick at the last moment and the doc
tor said we'd be hanged if. we did. - And
then I'd say 'Good-by, from your sorrow
ful little boys. Jack and Ned and Sam
and Will.'" ' '
"Even If we did write to, him, how
could we send It,. I'd like to know?" ask
ed Sam. . : -'
- The Question was a bombshell:- It stag
zered Jack. v . -.
"I don't know," he answered blankly
"I never thought about it but say'.
have it We'U , tack the letter on the
cherry tree in the back yard, and when
he comes around at night to cut it down
with his little hatchet he'U find it and
read it and " ; "-. 4
. "How do you know he'U eome around
to cut it down?" interrupted 'Will. ' ; -,
"How do I know it? - Because every
Fourth of July he's a little ' boy again,
you ninny, and, of course, he'U want to
use his little hatchet Hurrah for George
Washington!". ' and the enthusiastic
spokesman tumbled off the fence in his
efforts to" wake the country echoes.
' Four pairs of sturdy legs dashed along
the road with lightning speed and noth
ing remained of the morning's conclave
but a battered rail and a cloud of dust
The blotted paper tacked so'conspicuously
I to the bark of the cherry tree was pa
THE FIRECRACKER.
thetically comic to the belated traveler
who discovered it while enjoying the soli
tude of the garden.
"Poor little chaps," he laughed, "their
mothers needn't have feared for their
eyes and their fingers, after all. Con
found Mrs. Reynolds, it's just as they
say. 'She's never sick on Sunday, when
little boys don't mind not shooting off
cannons.' .
"I guess George will have to come to
the rescue after all if he isn't 'the father
of his country.' But what the dickens
can we do that won't make a noise? I
guess I'd better consult Miss Hattie,"
and the belated traveler left the blotted
paper on the table, where he had carried
it to examine its contents by aid of the
solitary lamp burning in the farm house.
The - small head peeping out of the
farm house window at an early hour the
following morning raised a shout that
awakened instantly the three remaining
occupants of the tiny dormitory,
t "Hurrah for George Washington! What
did I teU you fellows? There's the an
swer, by jingo!" and Jack pounded the
floor rapturously with his bare feet.
There was a rush from three small beds
and a scamper to the window. A square
white patch conspicuously sealed with
scarlet wax adorned the cherry tree in
place-of the larger sheet the boys had
left fluttering in the moonlight-
Lets hurry up, kids, and see who'll
get dressed -the first," and Ned's order
was mstantly obeyed. Ten minutes later
four heads bent eagerly over the old
fashioned writing. -
My Dear Boys: I was just eolne to
chop away at your cherry tree and, in
fact had given it a single whack, which
hadn't amounted to much, as the blade is
rather rusty, when I discovered your let
ter tacKed to the bark, and I said to my
self: 'George, you must not touch this
cherry tree with your little hatchet, for,
behold, it has turned -over a new leaf.
So I laid aside my rusty steel and un
tacked the tack which bound it to the
bark and, behold,' your misery lay un
folded. - - , " -
'I've had my own siege with women.
boys, for the father of his country' em-
Braces all classes,- but I've learned mv
lesson-that the widow must ever go her
own way. So we'll allow the doctor to
manage Mrs. Reynolds and you and I will
have our ourth of July in the -woois
along the edge of the river.
'Leave the cannon behind and the fire
crackers and rockets, for we'll celebrate
in spite of them, as you'll see how if you
arrive at tne minute of 11 by the sun.
"To Ned, Sam,Will and Jack,
"From the Father of His Country,
v "G. Washington."
Do you think he really means it?"
asked Jack, breathlessly.
"Course he does," replied. Ned, indig
nantly, gasping witn nervous astonish
ment "Didn't you know the father of
his country couldn't tell a lie?"
Four frightened lads sitting on a fallen
tree at the edge of-the river jumped hur
riedly to their feet and bowed nervously
to the stately personage descending the
bank dressed in the buff and blue uni
form, with his white hair tied in a queue.
"Good morning, boys," said a strangely
familiar voice, "you're true to the. min
ute, I see. I'm afraid I'm a little late
myself, however. I was delayed a trifle,
hoping to induce Martha to come with
me," and the father of his country .peer
ed through the trees-as if 'to see if she
had changed her mind..
. "Martha is my wife,' you know," the
figure continued' smilingly. "Martha
Washington, the mother of her country.
She knows you all very well."
, The four lads looked at each" other in
amazement Ned cleared his throat very
hard - and-gazed at his boots, but at a
nudge from Jack whispered weakly:
.'Does she know our names, father of
your country?" "- .
"Oh. yes. and so do L You're Ned
and the tall boy Is Jack, and Sam is the '
smallest, though he's not very small, and
Will is the other one' who was going to
shoot off the cannon in my honor. Too
bad about that wasn t it? But come np
under the trees where it is shady until w
get acquainted with each other." -
W ashlngton threw himself down on the
grass and leaned his white head against
a huge trunk. .
"Let me see," consulting his watch, "it ? -
Is just five minutes of 12, so we'd better
start the balloon." ' -
Oh, are we really coins to have a bal
loon?" asked Ned excitedly.
Well, you see," answered Washing-
ton, "I thought that cannon bad to be
replaced somehow. mad as we couldn't
make any noise I wanted something in -
my honor and so I decided on a balloon.
They both end in smoke anyway. There
it is," he added, dragging the huge paper
structure from behind a tree. "Isn't it .
a beauty? Now each boy take one side
of it while I get it lighted."
There was no more formality in the
little company. The iada laughed aloud
in glee and when the fuse caught fire .and
the tissue globe slowly sailed away over .
the river each small voice added Its share
to the refrain started by the general.
t'Tku. 1. - a ,L.' j Li..
xuieu vun iur me rea, wuiie ana :
blue."
"There r exclaimed Father George with
satisfaction. "Now I feel duly honored
and at the same time hunger for more.
Somewhere in these, woods; boys,' Martha
has spread a lunch for us, and a hatchet
to the 'first fellow who finds it" There
was a general scamper through the trees,
quickly followed by a triumphant shout
from Ned and Sam, who had approached
the dainty feast from opposite sides. A
snowy tablecloth was spread upon the
ground and held in place by glistening
pebbles, while on it wan laid every pic
nic delicacy that could delight the heart
of the small boy. " - - -
"Hurrah!" -shouted Ned; "we've found
it"
- "True for you," answered the general,
appearing through the opening. ; "But
Martha herself has left us, I see. The
dear girl is rather nervous on the Fourth.
Eat what you like, fellows. " Every man
is his own master."
They needed no more urgent invitation .
and soon made sad havoc in the pretty
table arrangements. - George , Washing
ton was no longer a formidable myth,
but a flesh and blood personage, as real
as mey. t w nen uincueon was nnauy de
molished they lay down under the trees
and listened to thrilling tales of mad
wolves and encounters with the Indians
and the sufferings of the ragged conti
nentals in ' winter 'quarters . at - Valley
Forge.-' -'-J- '-;- - . ' . -,; . i
Toward the close of the afternoon
George caught a horse that was wander
ing at will through the woods and, jump
ing on his back, dashed " impetuously
down the rustic steps leading to an aban
doned cave, to exhibit practically the
escape of Mad Anthony Wayne.
That's how be did it boys, exclaim
ed the general, slowly mounting again.
He just brandished his sword aloft and
none of the British dared follow. I must
leave you now, he added, "for I prom
ised Martha to return at 6. Have you
had a good Fourth?" ,
The best I ve ever spent, shouted
Ned emphatically.
Me, too, chimed in Will, Sam and
Jack. - - '-
"What, . without fireworks?" queried
he general, incredulously.
"I've learned more patriotism;" an
swered Ned, "than I've ever learned , with
a whole box of firecrackers."
- "Good!" exclaimed the general, "that's
the right sort of a Fourth of July. Wait
a minute and i n row you to me eage ol
the farm. I have a boat down the stream
and we'll caU our trip 'Washington cross
ing the Delaware.' "
He hurried away and soon returned
with a light skiff, which he propelled
cleverly toward the bank.
. "Jump in, -boys, and away we go. Now
sing for all you're worth. Mrs. Reynolds
Mn't mind mnaip
And the star-spangled banner in triumph
shall wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of
. , . the brave. .
"Good-by, boys, he added, giving his
hand to each in turn at the farm landing.
"Watch for me next' Fourth' - of July
I around the cherry tree." And the brave
general rowed away in the sunlight to the
U - nf - - - - - - -
Three iheers for. George- Washington,
the father of his country-r-first in peace,
first in war and first in the hearts of
his little boys." -
-'"Why,' Uncle-George," -exclaimed Ned
in astonishment as the four lads entered
the supper room an hour later, "I thought
you weren't coming till next week."
"Is that why you spent the Fourth
away from the house, you rascal? What
have you been doing, I'd like to know?"
Ned looked at Jack and Jack looked at
his feet ; Then he turned to Sam and
Sam asked loudly for butter, while Will
was closely occupied in studying old
china. Seeing no help at hand Ned
coughed bashfully and muttered quickly:
"We've been in the woods." , ' " '
"Had any fireworks?" continued Uncle
George mercilessly. - .
"No," was the laconic -reply, -; '.
"Much fun?" supplemented Uncle
George.-? ' -:' V i '! ... - ' , -
"XV mnpL!' , . . . ' v - - .
A short 'ilence, was . brpken, by Miss-
TTa tno tflpRllltnrv remflrK! .
"The hero's " way is -as - hard as tha'
transgressor's." -: - J
' The society Lnoch Counter. -'m
,"l wonder what .makes-that homely
fTTfllro Jnnpfl HtwmnnlfirV
J , "Oh, she runs a Welsh-rabbitry."