Pike County Democrat, Volume 30, Number 8, Petersburg, Pike County, 30 June 1899 — Page 7

rt i> 6 GLORlOUSj/, FOURTH.f

. 1 t T L, E Adelbert arose at four And crept downstairs to the big front door. And down the walk to the garden gate. And there he started to celebrate.

with bursting cracker and roaring gun Be waked the neighbors, every one; He scared the eat out of ail her sense. And blew the slats off the picket fence. And came to breakfast with one black eye. And said:'. “Hooray, for the Fourth of , July!" He ate with hurry and frantic haste. * For never a minute had he to waste; Then out again to the fray he sprang * --* turned things loose with a mighty “hang!" fizzed and spluttered and boomed and crashed. While dishes rattled and windows smashed; And when, ail grimy and sore and lame. Torn and tousled, to hiach he came. On his swollen lips was the Joyous cry: “Ain't 1 glad it's the Fourth of July!” All that day. till the twilight's close. The powder-smoke from the garden rose; All uay long, in the heat and dust. Little Adalbert “banged” and “bust.” Till, Just as the shadows began to creep. He blew himself In a senseless heap. Burnt and blistered and minus hair. They brought him in^Tor the doctor’s care; But late that night, he was heard to sigh: “I wish every day was the Fourth of July!" Lincoln, in L. A. W. Bulletin.

“ / PS going to be the meanest kind of a Fourth of July. No balloon on the common and no fireworks. They’re not even going to ring the church

vcti—ucvttuac uiab uiuc uiu ocaiuu, Bandy MeVie, is too lazy, I suppose.” Truman Bluford, generally known among his comrades as True Blue, whs excitedly announcing this dismal news to Rob Tripp and Tenney Cole, in his father’s store. ' “There’s no patriotism in Cherryfield. 1 They’ve all forgotten how our fathers* fought and bled,” said Rob Tripp, who' liked to read nothing but stories of battle, and meant to tight something when he grew up, if it were only Indians. “It will be as still as Sunday, I know. What is the Fourth of July, without a racket?” said Tenney Cole, dejectedly. “1 tell you, boys, something ought to be done!” said True. That was what the boys liked about True. He was always ready to do something. Older people were inclined to think he was a little too ready to dc mischief, but the boys were generally ready to follow where True led the way. “We might ring the church bell,” said True. That wasn’t much to do, Rob thought; it sounded rather tame. Still, it would be fun to wake the stupid Cherryfield people out of the naps which they had no business to be having on Four th of July morning, and startle the selectmen, who had decided that there should be no ringing of bells. “How could we get into the church?” asked Tenney Cole, who was of a practical turn of mind.

“Break in, of course,” replied True, coolly. “You can’t expect to have all that fun without—well, without hearing something about it afterward.. We could break a window in the porch; and when we once got hold of the rope, wouldn’t we make people think the bell was bewitched! They’d blame Sandy McYie for not being on the watch, toa It would be a good joke on the old rascal. He’s got us into enough trouble by telling of us.” . True’s father was coining from the back part of the store, so the boys lowered their voices and walked quietly out at the door; while behind the counter, from the stooping posture in which he had been measuring for himself a gallon of molasses, arose Sandy McYie. He looked after the boys, with all the shrewd little wrinkles in his face drawing themselves up into hard knots. “A good joke on the old rascal, eh?” he muttered. “There’s never any knowing how a joke may turn out, my fine fellows! You’re fixing a Fourth of July celebration for yourselves that’ll be more than you bargained for, if I’m not mistaken.” The boys went on, all unconscious that Sandy McVie had been a listener to the conversation that was certainly not intended for his ears. “It would be a good thing if we could get into the church without breaking a window,” said Tenney Cole. “There’s little Rose McVie now. Bet’s ask her where her father keeps the key.” “Hanging on a nail in the closet, under his coat,” replied the little girl, on being questioned. “Couldn’t you get it for us, Rosy, and not let anybody know it, if we gave you the greatest lot of candy you ever saw, and a bunch of torpedoes for to-mor-row?” Rosy was a very small person, with a *ery large appetite for candy, to say nothing of a strong desire to celebrate with the proper amount of noise the anniversary of her country’s independence. Her eyes grew big and round at the alluring prospect, and she nodded emphatically her willingness to undertake the errand. So it was settled that she should bring them the key that night, after her fkther had hung up his coat in the closet, so there would ^ ... ■ _

tie do danger that he would go there again and discover the absence of the key. That afternoon Sandy McYie and his son, a stout lad of IS, paid a visit to the church.. Archie, the son, came out, looking very warm and tired. “Better hare let them do it. and then make them smart for itw than to take all that trouble,” he grumbled. "Or just give their fathers a hint of what they jure up to.” “9in.ce they are so fond of jokes. I’m willing they should have a bit of a one,” said the sexton, rubbing his hands, gleefully. “They’ll catch it fast enough for breaking the, church window.” , Rosy MeYie stole out of the house that night after dark and delivered the church key into True’s hands, receiving in return an amount of candy and torpedoes that had cost a large share of the boys’ Fourth of July savings. Bat they were all satisfied that it was money well spent, for they had learned from sad experience that the results of breaking windows were never amusing- I It was about half-past four o’clock on the morning of the Fourth when the three boys unlocked the church door. It was very quiet for a Fourth of July morning. Now and then came the banging of a gun, the feeble popping of firecrackers and torpedoes, and the dismal shriek of a fish horn; but there were very few people astir. “This stupid old town will get a waking off in a minute now. And people ought to thank us. It’s a burning shame to have it so still. You may be sure they’re making things lively over at Borrowsville by this time.” Borrowsville was a town on the other side of the river, where the boys meant to assist in the celebration after they had waked up Cherryfield. “They won’t thank us, you know,” said Tenney Cole. “Boys never are appreciated.” “I don’t expect it will be just exactly thanks that we shall get,” said True, drily, as he turned the key in the lock behind them. “Anybody that’s afraid had better back out now.” Nobody backed out. Si± hands seized the bell rope. There was “a long pull, a strong pull and a puil all together.”

here to look," replied True. “And my i mother said 1 might stay all night with I my cousins over a j^Borrowsville. She won’t expect me home till to-morrow, | and your folks will think you’re stayed ■ with me. Anyway, they would never think wo were up in the church steeple.” “But when she knows we’re lost, j Rosy McVie will tell, if she hasn’t already,” said Tenney. ;“She won’t.. She’s too much afraid of her father to tell that she gave us the key,” averred True. “But he’ll find out that the key is gone, and then he’ll suspect that we are here,” said Tenney, who was determined to look on the bright side. “Next Sunday, maybe! We shall be starved to death before then!” Said Hob, who was not proving himself as brave as his desire for fighting had led his comrades to suppose. “Somebody must have got wind of what we meant to do, or the tongue wouldn't have been taken out of the bell,” said Tenney; “and no one could be mean enough to keep us here for long on the Fourth of July.” “Sandy McVie is mean enough for anything,” declared Rob; “and perhaps they have only taken the tongue out to repair it, or something of that kind.” Sandy McVie meanwhile arose at five o’clock and took a walk around the church. There was no broken window. “So they gave it up, the young rascals, and have probably gone over to Borrows ville-to do their celebrating,” said the sexton to himself, and felt a disappointment that he should be denied the grim satisfaction of bringing the young rascals to justice. “Well, Cherry field will be th§ quieter for their being out of it to-day,” he added, to console himself. If not exactly out of Cherryfield, they were certainly too far above it to interfere with its quiet. A faint echo of distant Fourth of July noises came tantalizingly to their ears now and then. The minutes dragged along heavily. They had no means of telling time, and an hour seemed like a day; but night finally came, the dimness deepened to utter darkness, and, stretched upon the floor, they all fell asleep. Being boys, they could sleep, although the floor was

1 » \ - I • • • II] sandy stvie had-been a listener.

But no sound followed. They looked at each other in silent amazement and tried it again. They could feel that the bell swayed backward and forward; but it did not ring. What could be the reason? “Somebody must have muffled it!” exclaimed Bob. “We’ll go up and see what’s the matter, anyway,” said True. A long, long flight of steep and narrow stairs led to the first landing in the church steeple. Beyond that was a ladder leading to the bell loft. There was a trap door which they pushed open, and all scrambled up to the loft. “If here isn’t a got The tongue is gone from the bell!” cried True. “Now who do you suppose did that?” “Bosy must have told on ns. I just wish we hadn’t given her all that candy,” lamented Tenney. The great bell hung there empty, powerless to arouse any Fourth of July enthusiasm, and looking as sad as if it realized its dumbness. v “I should just like to catch the fellow that did that,” said Bob, flourishing his fist at an imaginary foe, as he did so, unfortunately striking the trap door with his elbow, and causing it to fall with a crash. It was somewhat dark in the loft, now that' the trap door was closed, the only l,ight coming from a little round window, like a porthole in a vessel, far above their heads. “Lift up the door. Bob. We may as well go down. Whoever took that tongue out wouldn’t leave it where we, could find it, you may be sure,” said True. But when Bob tried to lift the door, lo and behold! it stuck fast. The iron ring which had once served as a handle was broken off, and there was no way by which they could get a sufficiently firm hold to pull with any considerable’ amount of strength. They tried to pry it open with their knives, but only succeeded in breaking them. And time was wearing away, and the Borrowsrille celebration must be getting toward its liveliest. “It’s of no use to holler. Nobody could hear us,” said Tenney, despairingly. “It’s a pretty place to spend the Fourth in!” said Rob, with a groan. “Eow long do you suppose it will be before they miss us at home and come to look for usT* ‘Why, they’d never think of comtesr

I hard and keen gnawings reminded them that they-had gone breakfastless, dinnerless and supperless. When True awakened, a little shaft of sunlight shone through the small window, away up in the dimness of the steeple. It danced upon the cobwebs that covered the dusty beams until they looked as if made of gold thread. A great, long-legged spider was dragging a hapless fly into his web. The spider’s web had been partially torn away, and the dus£ had been brushed from the beams in the eorner near it. There was a little scaffold in the corner covered with shavings and chips, evidently left there when the last repairing was done. But somebody had been up in that corner lately. How otherwise could the dust have been brushed away and the spider’s web broken? True wondered idly what anybody could have , been there for, and then a sudden thought struck him that sent the blood rushing to his head, and made him for adnoment feel faint and dizzy. In another moment he was climbing up those beams nimbly as only a squirrel or a boy could climb. He put his hand under the heap of shavings and chips, and it touched something very hard and cold. He dashed off the chips and shavings with which it was covered, and disclosed the bell tongue. True wanted to shout for joy, but he knew that he needed all his strength just now, and restrained himself. He rcould not have lifted the bell tongue, even if he had not been obliged to cling to a beam with one hand, but he could draw it along to the edge of the scaffolding, and then with one mighty effort, he pushed it off. It came to the floor with a crash that seemed as if it might arouse all Cherryfield, and certainly did effectually arouse the two sleeping boys, who sprang to their feet, Rob with a vague impression that it was the report of a cannon, and that his time had now come to fight something. It was a happy moment when they realized that the bell tongue was found, though Tenney did grumble that they “ought to have been smart enough to find it yesterday.” True thought that if he hadn’t been awake when that sunbeam struck the corner, they never would have found it, for who would have thought that anybody would carry it away up there to hide it? It was no email undertaking to rethe tonne in the bell, but, after

Modi lifting and struggling, it was done, however. Then they all pulled with s will, and s clang that almost deafened them came from tue Sleeping Cherryfield was aroused in a very few minutes, and asked, in amazement, what was the matter. The new fire engine was taken out with a rush and clamor. But where was the fire? People ran wildly about and nobody seined to know. The most mystified man was old Sandy. Me Vie. who ran out of the house in a maze of bewilderment, and declared that the bell was bewitched. Uow else could it ring without a tongue? And how coaid any human being get into the church when the door was securely locked, and no window broken, as anybody could see? And still the , bell rang wildly and clamorously, as such a sober-minded old church bell was never known to ring before. The spirit of half a dozen Fourths of July seem to possess it. People on the outskirts of the town began to think that the selectmen had repented of not celebrating the Fourth, and were making amends by celebrating the 5th, and they came hurriedly driving into the village to see what was the matter. At length somebody more courageous than Sandy McYie insisted upon going into the Church to investigate, and Sandy went to get the key. The discovery that it was gone put a new face upon the matter, and Sandy's suspicions reverted to the boys whose plans he had overheard, and he volunteered to break open a window and lead the search. Rosy McYie at that time was pulling the bedclothes over her head; and wondering what would become of her, and resolving never again to touch a key or anything else that she had no right to, for all the candy in the world. Candy was good, but, eh, how bad was the terror she was suffering now! And Rosy is not likely to forget her resolve, although she was never found ont. The boys agreed that they would “never be so mean as to tell on a girl, anyway," and they were always supposed to have stolen the key from Sandy McVie’a closet themselves.

tvucu UICJ UCUIU (lac iwisicps QX their rescuers the boys ceased to ring the bell. Xt was easy enough to open the trapdoor froifl beneath. While the boys were wondering anxiously whether it ever could be opened, Sandy McYie’s head popped up out of it like a jack-in-the-box. Rob’s father came next, and Rob—who meant to light Indians—threw his arms around his neck and'—cried. Rob’s father had suffered some anxiety about him, but thought he had stayed at Borrowsville with True. Everybody agreed that the boys had been sufficiently punished by their imprisonment and the loss of their Fourth of July fun. Even Sandy Me Vie said “he guessed they wouldn’t be apt to do it again.” But he may have been somewhat softened by the compliments whfch True paid him on his skill in hiding the bell tongue. The boys didn't care to say much about their adventure. They felt as if the trick they had tried to play had been turned upon themselves. When True’s Borrowsville cousins asked him what kind of a Fourth he had had, he replied, carelessly: “Oh, a sky-high one!” Which was certainly truer than the cousins, who had their own opinion of Cherryfield celebrations, believed. But those three boys will never ring another church bell without leave.— Sophie Swett, in Golden Days. ' Independence U»y. Fling out the flag, the starry flag. The banner of the free! The symbol of the land we love. The land of liberty! Our fathers with their willing blood Baptized that banner gay. So let it stream, its stars agleam. On Independence day! From brave New England's rugged shore Washed by Atlantic's waves. To western lands whose pebbly strands The fair Paciflc laves— From Minnesota's swamps and swales To southern hummocks gay. Fling out afar the stripes and stars On Independence day! Fling out the flag, the dear old flag. The flag our grandsires won! The emblem of the land we love. The land of Washington! The blood of heroes thrills our hearts And bids us haste away. To consecrate with fitting state Our Independence day! -Helen W. Clark, in N. T. Ledger. Why He la Happy,

Why does the kid look proud and smile, As to the woodshed he retires? Because since early daws he’s been Responsible for eighteen fires. —Golden Bays._ “The Night Before the Fourth.'* He sleepless lies with swearing tongue Because the old church bell Is rung By some mischievous elf. Nor thinks he of that olden time When, just as midnight’s stroke would . chime, ▲down the lightning-rod he’d climb To ring that bell himself. —I*. A. W. Bulletin. Taklag Bis Bevesge. . Rafferty—An’ wux it th’ Choineaa thot in v in ted foirecrackers? Wun Lung (proudly)—Lessir! Rafferty (smiting heavily)—Thin take thot, yer Mongolian brute! CM aot down on a lighted bunch ay thim fiat* tardav.—Golden Days.

Ihot 1 All the Latest Fattens sad Styles to Stii M, $16 sud up. Pants, $4 and up. »> Call sod See our Piece Goods sod Trimming *. V* £3 | C. A. Burger & Bro., Merchant Tailors. Looisville, Evans\ ille & St. Lois C. Railroad Time tabf in effect Not. M, mfgg —— ....lii i .. .1111, i ■U — Bt Lcmiu E*p? SrOO k.m. 10:4.5 a,m. UM a.ru 11 :2t a.m. 11:38 a.m. •:JU p.m. St.Louts Limited. Stations. 9M p.m. Leave..: Louisville 11:40 p.m. Leave.*....Hantingborg 12811 o.m. Leave..Veipen ..... 12:14 am. Leave ...Winslow ..... 12:30 a m.)Leave -Oakland City 7:12 a m.; Arrive.. — St. Louis* . .arrive ......^fgjtTtve ......... arrive .vv; Louisville Loutsvlllo Limited. 7810 a.m. 4:23. a m 488 a.m. 3:32 a.m 3:37 a.tu 0:13 p.m. Fast Exp. 5:43 p.m. 2:35 p.m. 2:30 p m. 2-l« P-l 1:57 p.t rdti Night trains stop at Winslow and Velpes <m signal only. R. A. Campbell. Q.P.A., St. Louis. J. F. Hurt* agent, Oakland (Sty.

RICHARDSON A TAYLOR, Attorneys at Lam. Prompt attention glw» to all business. A Notary Public constantly In the office. Office to Carpenter building, Eighth and Main-sts.. Petersburg, Ind. Ashby a cofpey. q. b. Asbby, C. A. Coffey. Attorneys at Lam, Will practice in alt courts. Spe* lal attention given to all civil business. Notary Public constantly iu the office. Collections made and promptly remitted. Office ever W. L. Barrett's store, Petersburg, Ind. g O. DAVENPORT, Attorney at Lam, Prompt attention given to all business. Office over J. R. Adams A Son’s drag store, Petersburg, Indiana. —-g— . . S. “'*c: L. HOLCOMB. Attorneys at Lam. Will practice in all courts. Prompt attention given to all busi ness. Office in Carpenter block. first door on Eighth-tt-, Petersburg. K. WOOLSEY, Attorney at Lam. All business promptly attended to. Collections promptly made and remitted. Abstracts of Title a specialty. Office In Frank's building, opposite Press office, Petersburg, ind. R. RICE, Physician and Surgeon. Chronle Diseases a specialty. Office over Citizens' State Bank, Petersburg, Indiana If. BASINGER, Physician and Surgeon. Office over Bergen A Oliphant’S drag store, loom No. P, Petersburg, Ind. „ A.11 calls promptly answered. j Telephone No. 42, office and residence.

w H. STONECIPHER, Dental Surgeon. Office In rooms 8 and 7, in -Carpenter buildin gr, Petersburg. Indiana. Operations first' class. Alt work warranted. Anaesthetics need for painless extraction of teeth. Q CMTTRPH Y, \ Dental Surgeon. Parlors in the Carpenter building, burg, Indiana. Crown and Bridge Work a specialty. All work guaranteed to give satisfaction. NOTICE Is hereby given to all persons Interested that I will attend in my office at my residence EVERY MONDAY. To transrct business connected with the office of trustee of Marion township All persons having business with said office will Dlease take notice. T. C. NELSON. Trustee. , Post office address: Winslow. VJ'OTICE is hereby gi ven To all parties con1> cerued that I will attend at my residence EVERY WEDNESDAY, - To transact business connected with the office ef trustee of Madison township. t- Positively ho business transacted except on office days. J. D. BARKER. Trustee. Postoffice address: Petersburg, Ind. N'OTICB Is hereby given to ail parties interested that I will attend at my office in Stendat, EVERY SATURDAY, To transact business connected with the office of trustee of Lockhart township. Ail persons having business with said office will please take notice. J. L BASS, Trustee. NOTICE is hereey givea to all parties concerned that I will be at my office at Plenaantville. , ¥ MONDAY AND SATURDAY M each week, to attend to business connected with the office of trustee of Monroe townships Positively no business transacted only on office J. M. DAVIS, Trustee address Sporcm NOTICE Is hereby given to all persons concerned that l wilt attend at my office EVERY MONDAY To transact business connected with the effice of trustee of Jefferson township. L.B TRAYLOR. Trustee Postoffiee address: Algiers, Ind.

C. A. SNOW & CO.

THE Short Line TO INDIANAPOLIS CINCINNATI. PI rrSBURGH, WASHINGTON BALTIMORE, NEW YORK, BOSTON, I AK» ALL POINT* EAST.

No.Si,south ...Y:... . 6:45tun No. 38. uorth ... 10:65am No. S3, south .. 1:35 pm No. 34, north ... 5:QL Ftr sb-eping cur reservation*, maps. ra:«c •nd further inflation, call on yom near** ticket a^ent. orerfitres^ „ . , EH, a. P. A T. 4.. H. R. GR1SWOLD.A.O.P.4 T.A. >y> Evansville, lad. B- »* QOCKKl. Agent. Petersburg, lad. B.&0.SW. RY. ... Siffit a.: 12:4hp. mi ... 1:42 p.m .. ll:«ip.mf Trains leave Washington as follows for SAST BCtrjth. west Borso. No. ft 2:48 a. m* No, 3 1:21 a. No. 12 ... ft:l?a. rnf No, IS, Pres ft :00 a. at No. 4 ... 7:2?hi in* No. No. 2.Vm& ra* No. 7 . No 8 l:lS ft. nif K4 1 . No. 14. arr. U:4Up. inf No. » . -f Daiiy except Sunuay. For detail information regarding rates, time on coobe^itng Hues, sleeping, parlor ears, etc., actress TUCS. DONAHUE. Ticket. Agent, B. A O. S-W. Ry.. ' ■ -X'yx- ’ Washington, lad, 2. W. CHEHBROUGH, :.:~Oiaeral Passenger Agent, :M:-r »t. Louis, Mo ILLINOIS CENTRAL Ry. tHNKOBB. A n.-? w 1898,edition.entirely rewritten, and giving facta and condition*, brought sj down to date, of the Central’* Southern Homeseekers’ Guide, fete just been Issued. It ia n " Illustrated paniphl" —... a large number tetters from northern farm now prosperously located on the tine of Itlihois Central railroad In the states ofK™tucky. Tennessee. Mississippi and Lontsiana, and also a detailed write-up of the cities. BOMESEEKERS GUIDE S£| towns and country on and adjacent to that line. To hcaneseekers or those tn search of a farm, this pamphlet wilt furnish reliable information concerning the most accessible and prosperous portion of the South. Free copies can be had by applying to the nearest of the undersigned. Tickets and fall infoi mat ion aa. to rates In connection with the above can ha had of agents of the Central and connecting lines. Wm. McRRAT.Div. Pass. Agt.. New Orleeaa. Joh> A. Score- D»*. Pass. Agent, Memphis S. O. Hatch, Dlv. Pass. Agent, Cincinnati. F. rt. WHEELER. O. P. A T. A.. I.C, IBB., Evansville, lad. A. H, H ax sox, G. P. A.. Chicago. W.A. Kto,hOND. a.G. P. A., LouisviUa

80 YEARS* EXPERIENCE 'ATENTS Scietffic Am aim ▲ handsome!.*' mastratod »*e«kiy. eolation of any scientific JoartuiL year: four months, XI. Soldbyi.il 361 Broadway, " wear: four months. »1. Sold by an newadeaiwra — Skis Diseases. For the speedy and perman ent cure of tetter, salt rheum and ecxet xa, Chamberlain’s JBye and Skin Ointment is without an equal, j It relieves the itching and smarting almost inst antly and its continued use effects a permanent cure. It also cures itch, barber’s Itch, scald head, sore nipples, itching pi chapped hands, chronic sore (yea granulated lids. Dr. Cfcdr* Condition Pow* >rs horns pre the best tonic, blood and vermifuge. Price, S3 cents. ■%; 5- ,q • ....<