The Baldwin Library Vaiversy Rm B Plerida h and hung on.’? 1s teet. ff, but he set h: im 0: 1 to shake h 1Ec The mare tri rr GALA DAY BOOKS. II. A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO : A FINAL SURRENDER PHIL KELSEY:S FIREWORKS BY FRANCES ISABEL CURRIE Author of “A Tiff with the Tifins” ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK: HUNT & EATON CINCINNATI: CRANSTON & CURTS 1894 Copyright by HUNT & EATON, 1894, Composition, electrotyping, printing, and binding by Hunt & Eaton, 1so Fifth'Ave., New York, ILLUSTRATIONS. A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO, - - ‘““The mare tried to shake him off, but he set his teeth and hung on.” A FINAL SURRENDER, —- - = - 7 “He did not think of his classmate lying stunned and bleed- ing upon the ground.” PHIL KELSEY’S FIREWORKS, — - - - ‘* His eyes were dark with excitement when he entered the great house and told his story to Mr. Kelsey.” PAGE 30 50 A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO, A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO. HE boys in the Springfield Mili- tary Acadeniy were fond of proces- sions. Their teachers declared that they would run a mile to see three men walk behind a fife and a drum. All they wanted to make them happy was a band of music, a broad street to march through, and a line of spectators to gaze upon them. There had been no procession in town for six months, and they deter- mined to have one in honor of Washing- ton’s Birthday. As Springfield is a Revolutionary town it is all alive when the 22d of Feb- ruary arrives. It hangs a flag from the spire of the church, and rings the vil- 10 GALA DAY BOOKS. lage bells. The town folk talk of the country’s independence and of King George as if they were a century behind the times. Washington’s Birthday was always a gala day to them; but on the ‘occasion of which I write they decided to have an unusual celebration, and the . boys in the Military Academy were to ~have considerable to do with the affair. They were to have a sham fight on the - Revolutionary battle ground, and to beat the English over again. Half of their number were to dress as the American soldiers dressed one hundred years ago, and half were to wear such uniforms as were worn by the Hessian yagers of that period. In the year 1780 the American army at Springfield was commanded by Gen- eral Greene, and the British by a Hes- sian named Baron Knyphausen. It was A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO. 11 decided that two boys on horseback should impersonate those great officers. Of course all the boys wished to be American soldiers, and not one was will- ing to don a red coat and call himself a Hessian. It became necessary to call the teachers in to settle this difficulty, and they wrote the words “ American” and “British” upon a great many slips of paper, turned them face downward in a _ box, and invited each boy to draw one. Everyone who drew an “American” ticket went into the Jersey regiment, and everyone who drew a “British” “ticket joined the Hessians. Then the teachers decided that Barry Cartwright and Herbert Fleming should act as generals. Both boys could ride, and they knew more of military maneuvers than any other boys in the Academy. They were each fourteen years old, and 12 GALA DAV BOOKS. it was astonishing how much informa- tion they had obtained about artillery, cavalry, infantry, gunnery, etc. They seemed to know just how to attack an _ enemy, how to rout him, and all about it. Barry had drawn an “American” ticket, and Herbert a “British” one; therefore Barry was entitled to repre- sent General Greene, and Herbert was expected to impersonate the Baron Knyphausen. Unfortunately for the day’s pleasure Herbert declined: to act as British gen- eral, and declared that he wanted to command the Americans. He said that Barry had lived in Springfield for only one year and was, therefore, not entitled to the highest honor. that the town af- forded. Herbert said that he did not care to stand up and be beaten even in play. He swelled himself out, and strut- A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO. — 13 ted and swaggered considerably over his importance, The Flemings were prominent people in Springfield, and when Herbert’s father heard that his son wished to play the part of General Greene he sent word to the teachers of the Academy that Herbert’s wish must be granted, or he would no longer patronize the school. Barry Cartwright had been in an ecstasy of delight when he realized that he was to lead the American army on to victory. He had fancied himself rid- ing his father’s horse into battle, and had imagined that staid old animal transformed into a gallant charger seeth- ing with foam and prancing to martial music. He had fancied himself, with sword in hand, shouting his commands in warriorlike fashion. He was a poor boy. His father had lost an arm while 14 GALA DAY-BOOKS. fighting for his country, and had to work hard to support and educate his family. Barry had been obliged to wear a suit of clothes that had been awkwardly re- modeled from his father’s old uniform. Herbert had ridiculed the cut of these garments, and Barry had been stung by the ridicule. I am afraid that he had cherished a grudge against Herbert ever since. When he discovered that he was to be the hero of the sham battle he took considerable satisfaction in think- ing that Herbert would like to be in his shoes on that occasion. Poor Barry was not to realize his triumph after all. The teachers in the Military Academy did not dare offend Mr. Fleming, and they decided that Herbert should have the coveted gen- eralship. Barry was told that he must command the Hessians. A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO. 15 Nobody knew what his disappoint- ment was. Nobody knew how he shut himself: in his room and fought a battle with his ugly feelings toward his school- fellow and with his own disappointment. The boy's pride was wounded and he felt that he had been defrauded. He had taken his chances with the other boys and had honestly drawn the ticket that entitled him to the favorite general- ship. Why should he be forced to give it up? He would have refused to take any part in the sham battle ifit had not + been for his father. Barry did not want him to share his disappointment. He said ~ nothing about the affair, and consented to represent the Baron Knyphausen. It was a bright spectacle—that little parade that marched through Spring- - field on the 22d of February. The women folk had taken an interest in the 16 GALA DAY BOOKS. affair and ‘had made the boys’ uniforms. The band played, and, bless me! what an impartial band it was. It played “Vankee Doodle” and “God Save the Queen” with equal enthusiasm. The two generals made a- gallant ap- pearance—Herbert upon a spirited black mare, and Barry upon his father’s sedate old sorrel. The march was to Academy Green, where the principal, Mr. Dinwid- die, made a speech and astonished the town with his eloquence. He told of the battle that had been fought and won in Springfield in the year 1780, and how the stout hearts of the Jerseymen were shaken when they discovered that. they had no more wadding for their guns. There was an American minister in the thickest of the battle, and he was nained James Caldwell. He was a great soldier as well as a great preacher, and some- 11S A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO. 17 times he was called the “Rebel High Priest.” His wife had been shot by a Hessian soldier, and the terrible news of her death was brought to him while the battle was in progress and at a time when the want of wadding was discovered. Mr. Dinwiddie said that the good man did not stop for a mo- ment to vent his grief. He did his duty first. A poem by Bret Harte tells ex§ actly what he did: 4 AS .‘* They were left in the lurch For the want of more wadding. He ran to the church, | Broke the door, stripped the pews, and dashed out in the road = With his arms full gf hymn books, and threw down his load . At their feet. Then above all the shouting and shots Rang his voice: ‘Put Watts into’em. Boys, give ’em Watts!’” 18 GALA DAY BOOKS. And they did. Mr. Dinwiddie declared that the British soldiers were driven out of Springfield thoroughly demoralized and astonished at their own defeat. After the oration the band played “ Hail to the Chief,’ and the sham battle began. Were I a soldier I would give all the details of that bloodless war. I would tell how the scouts came out to discover exactly what the enemy was doing. I would tell how both armies advanced and retreated. I would tell how the old cannon boomed away on the hill, and how the rifles were loaded and unloaded with harmless blank cartridges. I would tell all about the real smoke, the real racket, and the real enthusiasm that accompanied this pretended battle, but I am no soldier and, therefore, I could never do the subject justice. A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO. Ig On the occasion of which I write both generals were unhappy, and this illus- trates the fact that greatness does not always bring contentment. The Baron Knyphausen found himself envying Gen- eral Greene and thinking bitter thoughts of him. Herbert’s uniform was very handsome, and he rode the _ spirited black mare like a little warrior. Why, he actually wore spurs, and when he pricked the beautiful animal she cur- veted and pranced in true martial fashion. Poor Barry could not feel sat- ished with the patient old sorrel after that. Herbert was secretly conscious that he had treated Barry unfairly, and his conscience made, him uncomfortable. He knew that he had been selfish, and he was certain that Barry despised him. This thought made him so wretched that he gladly would have changed 5 2 20 GALA DAY BOOKS. places with the Hessian officer now. But their uniforms were on and the battle begun, so it was too late to suggest an exchange. The battle proceeded. The two ar- mies had advanced simultaneously and both officers had given the command to “Fire!” when something occurred that was not down on the program. The black mare was struck by the wad of a blank cartridge and ran away. She had never heard the din of war before that day, and she ran like a mad thing away from the smoke and uproar. She took the bridle bit between her teeth and ran down the road at a pace that. horri- fied beholders. The boy and the animal were enveloped in a cloud of dust, but it could still be seen that he clung to her back. The battle was forgotten. Soldiers and spectators ran forward and A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO. 21 shouted, -but the black mare only ran the faster. Now she stumbled and nearly fell; now she regained her foot- ing and tore away again; now her sad- dle had slipped around and hung on her side. The boy had lost the bridle rein and was clinging to her mane. He was crying. out for help and momentarily expecting to be dashed under her iron- shod feet. Barry Cartwright tried to save his schoolfellow. For days he had been harboring angry feelings against Her- ‘bert Fleming, but now they were for- gotten. Almost as soon as the black mare had taken flight Barry was urging the old sorrel in pursuit. Barry knew that he could never overtake the fleet ~ black mare, but that he must try: to: head her off. He rode the sorrel across: the fields, urging him to jump fences 22 GALA DAV BOOKS. and ditches, and thus take a shorter route than the mare was taking. The old horse made a mighty effort and traveled faster than it had gone for years. Everyone shouted to Barry to come back, that he would surely be killed, but he heeded no warnings. His father prayed for him and was proud of him. When Barry reached the road it was at a point in advance of the black mare. Herbert was still clinging to her back, and she came on frothing at the mouth and in a frenzy of fear. Barry caught her bridle as she tried to rush past him and was dragged from the saddle. The mare tried to shake him off, but he set his teeth and hung on, the veins in his forehead swelling almost to bursting, and his head swimming until he could not see. His feet did not touch the ground, A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO. 23 and his weight was so light that though she slackened her speed she did not © cease running. She was furious at his interference. She reared upon her hind feet and tried to strike him with her fore hoofs. She even tried to bite him in her frenzy, but he held on with wonder- ~ ful courage and endurance. He realized that she was gradually becoming sub- dued ; that Herbert was safe! Then he ' fainted. ‘Barry Cartwright was the hero of the day after all) He was a somewhat dam- aged hero, for his shoulder was dislo- cated and his hands were terribly bruised ; but then a warrior must expect some bodily injuries. The boys flocked about him and praised him until he was overwhelmed by his sudden increase of popularity. The teachers spoke to him and-called him a hero, and that confused 24 ; GALA DAY BOOKS. ~ him all the more. Then Mr. Fleming himself thanked him so fervently that Barry scarcely knew the proud man in his sudden humility. The battle was never finished. Baron Knyphausen was too much used up to fight, and there wasn’t a soldier in Spring- field Military Academy who would have been willing to stand up against him even in play. Herbert went home with Barry and stayed with him all the rest of the day. “Barry,” he said, “I have felt like a thief, for I séole your generalship. You had it fair and square till I got it away. I’ve been awfully miserable about it. I saw how mean I had been, and I knew you must despise me. And you saved my life! You will never want me near you, and yet I’d be proud if you only would let me be your friend.” A SHAM BATTLE AND A REAL HERO. 25 Barry held out both his hands and smiled. “ The war is over,” he said, “and we will have no more hard feelings. I think we shall like each other better after to-day’s battle.” And peace was declared. A FINAL SURRENDER. Ba Sp 3 “yy Zu; « Nas ya i pattie ws x “He did not think of his classmate lying stunned and bleeding upon the ground,” ® ‘A FINAL SURRENDER. O one could have sailed down Hamp- ton Roads on the twenty-ninth day of May, 1893, without being impressed by the beauty of the day. The sun shone upon water and shore. The sun shone upon Fortress Monroe, It shot bright rays across the massive walls, the level parade grounds, the grassy ram- parts. Nothing about this beautiful for- tress suggested discord or hostilities. Its cannon were mute, and it was as if it had never been disturbed by war. And yet on this twenty-ninth day of May it was the scene of a bitter war of words. The contestants were boys whose ages ranged from twelve to sixteen years. 32 GALA DAY BOOKS. Many of them were Virginians, but a number of them came from the North. They were all students of the Phoebus Military Academy. +e . : The dispute would never have arisen if the fortress had not been there. It wasa favorite resort of everyone in the vicinity. Pedestrians in that section of country turned to the fort’ as surely as the pro- verbial needle turns to the pole. But on the day specified the Northerners and Southerners went to the fortress and quarreled. They called each other rebels as glibly and hotly as if the great civil war had not been ended more than twenty years before. The quarrel began at the door of Mr. Jefferson Davis’s prison. A Boston boy, named Howard Grant, spoke in uncom- plimentary terms of the Confederate ex- president. The Southerners were up in A FINAL SURRENDER. 33 arms in an instant, and before anyone. had fairly realized what was going on the quarrel had become personal, and a great many offensive things were being said. It was very unfortunate that they should quarrel at all, but it.was an awk- ward circumstance that they should do so on that particular day. They had expected to celebrate Decoration Day together before they separated for their summer vacation. A procession was to be one of the features of the celebration, and the academy boys were invited to participate in it. They had all been very enthusiastic about it. They had been drilled in marching and counter- marching until they were certain they should make a fine appearance in the parade. But now the Northern and Southern pupils absolutely declined to march in company with each other. 34 ' GALA DAY BOOKS. This division was unfortunate. If only one half of the school turned out people would get the impression that it had run down, had few scholars, and was not the flourishing academy that it had pre- viously been. There were two societies in the school. The Southerners called themselves “ The Magruders.” The leader was Lee Morris. He was given precedence because he was named Lee, after the Confederate gen- eral. The Northerners were called “The Rip-Raps,” and they made Howard Grant their leader. These two lads, who should have been like brothers, imagined now they were assuming the réles of those great commanders who fought and suf- fered, and finally sheathed their swords at Appomattox. What could those foolish children know of the pathos, dignity, and magnanimity of that great surrender, A FINAL SURRENDER. 35 when Lee yielded the palm of victory at last to his magnanimous foe? Lee Morris and Howard Grant had once been excellent friends. Howard was not a robust lad, and had been sent to Fortress Monroe from Boston because the New England winters were too severe for him. He had been very ill at first, and I am sorry to say that some of the boys in the military academy had spoken rather contemptuously of him because he was weaker than they. Lee Morris was not one of them. When young Grant lay tossing upon his sick bed, wasted with lung fever and raving with delirium, Lee had constituted himself head nurse, and never left the sick room. He had been as tender as a woman, had smoothed the sick boy’s pillow, moist- ened his parched lips, administered his medicines, and had done a thousand use- 4 36 GALA DAY BOOKS. ful and kindly services. He had never once thought of his own fatigue, nor re- laxed his attentions to the patient. Day and night he had been a faithful sentinel, until the doctor had said all danger was past and Howard Grant would live. Then Lee’s lips had been tremulous, and his eyes blurred with thankful tears. Howard Grant was manly and gener- ous, and to such a nature as his it was not easy to forget his comrade’s kind- ness, even though the accident of their names and birthplaces had made them leaders of opposing factions. But neither the patriotic “Rip-Raps” nor the unre- constructed “ Magruders ” would tolerate any softening or relenting on the part of their commanders. They required them to be as stern and inflexible as old Ro. mans, A FINAL SURRENDER. 37 As the Northern and Southern boys would not walk together in the proces- sion, it was a nice point to settle which should be lucky enough toget in. They could not have a real battle to decide the matter. It must be settled by arbitra- tion. There was a committee of arrange- ments for the parade, and it was mutually agreed that the two leaders should lay the matter before these persons. Each leader was required to argue the case of his party. Lee said that the Virginia boys certainly should be given the place in line because they were natives of that community, and their fathers owned the soil. But the Northerners contended that Decoration Day was a national holiday, that the Southerners would have belonged to a separate government if . they had had their way, that their buried soldiers had fought against the Union, 38 GALA DAY BOOKS. and that therefore no special considera- tion should be shown them. And when they had argued and wrangled until they were tired they took the matter to the committee. The committee heard both sides with judicial impartiality; but one man told the boys that he “reckoned the State was big enough for the whole school,” and that they could all turn out without being crowded. He said he “couldn't see why they could not quit quarreling and walk together. In his opinion they were very much behind the times, since their fathers had clasped hands in re- newed and lasting ee twenty odd years before. Each division in the line shoul be assigned a place and given a permit for that place. The committee said that the permit should be given to the boy A FINAL SURRENDER. 39 who came there earliest for it on the morrow. They would éarry out the old rule of “first come, first served.” Meanwhile, Lee Morris and Howard Grant were advised to forget their quar- rel, and to have the whole school in the parade. : Of course the committee of arrange- ments did not know it, but the question of who should be in the procession and who excluded must be settled by a foot race. No one would be allowed outside the academy grounds before nine o’clock in the morning. Then a bell would be rung, the gates thrown open, and the scholars would be free for the day. At the very instant that bell rang young Grant and Lee would dart out of doors, across. the fields, over sandy roadways, over fences and ditches to the head- quarters of the committee. And the 40 GALA DAY BOOKS. “Rip-Raps”’ realized that it was likely to be an uneven race, since Howard Grant, with his delicate frame and weak lungs, would almost certainly be left be- hind. Still both boys meant to try hard to win the race. The bell rang, and they were off. No fleet-footed Mercury could have been swifter than these two lads striving for the permit. For a little while Howard Grant led, then his breath grew short, and Lee Morris shot ahead of him. All the “Magruders” yelled with triumph. And then—how it happened he never ex- actly knew—Lee’s feet were entangled in a mass of blackberry vines; he fell, strik- ing his head against a stone. There he lay, very still, his head bleeding, his face white as the gulls that circle over Hamp- ton Roads. Howard Grant did not stop. For a A FINAL SURRENDER. 4t moment he thought of nothing but the advantage he had gained. He did not think of his classmate lying stunned and bleeding upon the ground. He ran faster and faster, while the “ Rip-Raps” shouted and urged him on. Five min- utes later he had the permit in his hands. He came back in time to seé Lee Morris lifted from the ground and car- ried into the schoolroom. The sight shocked and sobered him, and killed all the triumph he had felt a moment be- fore. He remembered what Lee had done for him when he was ill, and now he could not go near him, could not try to aid him while he held that wretched permit in his hand. His heart smote him. He was fast forgetting that quar- rel under the ramparts. The Decoration Day procession had lost all charms for him. He could think of nothing but his 42 GALA DAY BOOKS, noble-minded schoolfellow who was in- jured ; and he was ashamed to go to his assistance. “You couldn't help what happened,” one of the “Rip-Raps” said. They had -all grown serious when Lee was picked up and carried away. “You won the permit honestly.” “T could not have won it if he had not fallen,” Howard replied. “I don’t like this way of winning, and if you will agree to it I should like to give the permit to the ‘Magruders. Suppose we were in their shoes, should we like to have strangers take the lead while we looked on? We are going to leave this place day after to-morrow. Would it not be better to make them feel more kindly toward us before we go? They don’t feel gracious toward us now, but would we feel so toward them if they had A FINAL SURRENDER. 43 ‘beaten us? If you will agree to it I will give Lee Morris the permit. Perhaps it will help him to get better.” . - At first some demurred. It is difficult ‘to detach a boy from a, procession. And then it was decidedly at variance with their knowledge of history for a Grant to surrender to a Lee. But Howard pleaded well, and the pathetic, white face in the schoolroom was another power- ful argument. Lee Morris was not greatly injured after all, and was on his feet when How- ard offered him the permit. “We don’t like the way we won it,” Howard Grant said, “and we are willing to give it up. We are only visitors here, and we think you have a better right in the parade than we have.” Lee’s face was flushed, and he took the hand that offered the coveted permit. 44 GALA DAY BOOKS. “Boys,” he said to the “ Magruders,” “we know how we ought to treat our guests. Let us bury the hatchet, thank the ‘Rip-Raps’ for their generosity, and then make them walk in the procession with us. We are ashamed of the quar- rel, and we want to be friends.” And so it actually came to pass, after all, that every boy from the Phcebus Mil- itary Academy was in that. procession. Even Lee with his wounded head was equal to the occasion, and he walked with young Grant. Everybody said the boys marched like experienced soldiers. And the good fellowship between the “ Ma- gruders” and the “ Rip-Raps” seemed warmer and stronger after that quarrel and final surrender. The great procession came up the street, With clatter of hoofs and tramp of feet; There was General Jones to guide the van ; A FINAL SURRENDER. 45 And Corporal Jinks, his right-hand man ; And each was riding his high horse, And each had epaulets, of course ; And each had a sash of the bloodiest red, And each had a shako on his head ; And each had a sword by his left side, And each had his mustache newly dyed ; And that was the way We kept the day, The great, the grand, the glorious day ! PHIL KELSEY'S FIREWORKS. ae rs 7 eML Bias > * BiG om Zz ty =. 4 et Z ed Capes cA =. Gre, Zz ry i») i ; iy fh 4 Me RRR Lape a { \) [24 Ziti Sa q “His eyes were dark with excitement when he entered the great house and told his story to Mr, Kelsey,” © PHIL KELSEY’S FIREWORKS. HE people of Cottonville were in a state of profound disturbance. Men wore sullen faces and held long dis- cussions on the street corners and in the grocery store. Women went from house to house and gossiped as they never did before. Children sat on the river bank and held grave confabs that lasted for hours. Everyone looked: serious and troubled. There had been a general strike among the “hands” at the Kelsey Cotton Mills, and, as the proprietor had not yielded to the demand made for higher wages, every- body was out of work. No wages at all came into the homes of Cottonville, and 4 52 GALA DAY BOOKS. the gaunt wolf, Poverty, was looking in at the windows. The strike had lasted for weeks and the mill hands were growing restless. They began to wonder where their bread was coming from, and they could not put the thought of imminent want out of their minds. Almost every- one who was old enough to work had been employed in the great cotton man- ufactory. Now engine-tenders, scutchers, piecers, spinners, reelers, warpers, and doublers were idlers together. They had expected Mr. Kelsey to surrender at once, and yet time-dragged on and he showed no symptoms of yielding. Now it was rumored that he was look- ing for new workmen, with an excellent prospect of finding them. | There had been a great many speeches made in the town of Cottonville about the beauty of independence. Luke Slater PHIL KELSEV’S FIREWORKS. 53, had mounted an old loom in front of one of the warehouses, and declared that it was the duty of every workman to put his heel down very hard upon the cap- italists. “The Fourth of July is near at hand,” he said; “the day of our national inde- pendence is near. ‘Let us be independ- ent by sticking to our motto, ‘big wage or no work” Men, let us stand like rock and shout: ‘Down with cheap labor, or down with capitalists.” The orator and his hearers were not more concerned about the issues of the strike than was a party of boys who had met on the river bank to discuss the Fourth of July. It had been discovered that not one of them had a penny in the world. The few coppers that they had possessed had been gathered in by their parents to keep hunger from their doors. 54 GALA DAV BOOKS. The boys were absolutely bankrupt, with no prospect of better circumstances and no fireworks for the annual celebration. Think of a Fourth of July without one skyrocket on its horizon! Think of an Independence Day without the noise of gunpowder! The boys were appalled at the prospect. Cottonville would appear like a place in some foreign kingdom. Uncle Sam would seem to be forgotten, and for once the American eagle would fail to flap and screech in honor of the day. Poor little men! They sat in a dismal row, and wished that the strike had been postponed until after the Fourth had been appropriately celebrated. It is difficult to feel independent with empty pockets. Philip Kelsey was the only boy in the town who was able to buy fireworks. He was the son of the much-condemned cap- . PHIL KELSEVS FIREWORKS. ge italist. He indulged his fancy by pur- chasing a pyrotechnical supply that in- cluded everything from pin wheels to rockets. He had fire ballons, Roman candles, and fiery serpents galore. Besides, he had a nervous mother, who could not bear to have these inflammable articles in the house. On the third of July, when he brought them home, she insisted that he should take them away, out of doors, somewhere where they would not endanger life and property. He went out of doors with his arms full of them. If he left them upon the ground the dew at nightfall would ruin them. He had no boy friends to take | into his confidence and to help him out of his dilemma. Since the strike began the boys had avoided him. While their elders waged war against the capitalist they were at enmity with his son. They 56 GALA DAV BOOKS. -had an undefined feeling that Philip was -a young aristocrat, who was growing fat upon the good things that ought to be divided among them. Philip had re- sented this criticism. He had come to regard the workmen’s sons as so many young anarchists, who were conspiring against men industrious enough to save money.- _ There was at least one boy in the vil- -lage whose friendship Philip had valued. That was Grant Murray. He and Philip had been much together, although their positions in life had been very different. Grant’s father was a “steam engine tender.” He had worked in the mill for twenty years, and had been the last man to join the strikers. Mr. Kelsey had spoken to him when he was going. - “So you are against me, too, Ethan,” he had said, PHIL KELSEV’S FIREWORKS. 57 And Ethan had answered a little shamefacedly : “ Aye, sir. I like a good wage as well as my fellows.” It was this man’s son whose compan- ionship Philip Kelsey missed. Before the strike the boys had been almost in- separable, and as Grant had a good head and good principles the Kelsey family had encouraged the friendship. But Grant’s sympathies were with the strik- ers, and the two boys ceased to be friends when the cotton mills closed. Philip regretted this greatly on the morning when he went to seek a hiding place for his fireworks. Grant knew every nook and cranny in Cottonville. ’ He could have hidden them in a minute, and he would have stood guard over them all night before he would have al- lowed any harm to come to them. Philip 58 GALA DAY BOOKS. would have given the world to know that Grant would be with him on the morrow. There would be very little pleasure, he thought, in blazing into enthusiasm over the nation’s independence while no one saw him do it. The very word “union,” the national password, was at variance with such a celebration. Still, Philip could not ask any of the boys to join him while they considered his father a tyrant and blamed him for their own lack of fireworks. Philip did a very foolish thing; he stored his fireworks in the cotton mill. The doors were locked and there were iron bars over every one of the lower windows. Without a key no one could enter the building. He dropped his fire- works softly upon the floor. “If T leave the window open a little way no damage will be done,” he thought. PHIL KELSEY S FIREWORKS. 59 “There won’t be heat enough to set any- thing afire, and no one will be in the factory and find them there. Nevertheless, he was a little bit uncom- fortable about the situation. He hada conviction that his father would disap- prove of his action, . However, he put this thought away from him and started homeward. On his way he passed Grant Murray, who had been loitering about the mill, and who had witnessed what he had done. Usually Grant was a very good boy, but on this occasion he was in an ex- tremely ugly humor. The spirit of envy had taken possession of him. He told himself that it was all wrong that Philip Kelsey should have such a wealth of fire- works while all the other boys in Cotton- ville had not so much as a single pack of crackers. 60 GALA DAV BOOKS. - “You can’t be right in your head,” he said, with withering insolence, “or you'd know enough to keep gunpowder and cotton away from each other. Maybe you don’t care, though, if the mill does burn down. A mill without workmen ain’t of any use.” “Nobody asked your opinion,” Philip answered, loftily. “I have heard of peo- ple getting on right well by minding their own business. Perhaps you had better try it.” And after this exchange of incivilities these two former friends parted company, feeling more unhappy than before. All day Grant harbored a discontented and envious spirit. He kept thinking resentfully of the morrow. He went over to the grocery store, where several of the strikers were lounging, and where Luke Slater was lamenting because no PHIL KELSEV S FIREWORKS. 61 one in Cottonville except the Kelseys would be able to celebrate the Fourth. “Tf-we had fireworks we'd know better than to store them in the cotton mill,” Grant Murray said, warmly. “That’s where Phil Kelsey has put his. I saw him dropping them in one of the north windows.” ‘Assoon as he had spoken he regretted having done so. A certain look of cun- ning and malice crept into Luke’s face, and: it made the boy shrink from him. When Grant was going away Luke called him back and questioned him. “ Are the fireworks directly under the window?” ees. “That’s a good bit of news, Phil Kelsey is crowing to-day to think he is the only boy in town who has any fire- works, but he won't crow long.” 62 GALA DAY BOOKS. “What do you mean?” The man had evidently a covert mean- ing which he would not explain. He had been drinking liquor or he would have been more careful than he was of ex- pressing himself. He chuckled and looked so foxlike that the boy was dis- gusted and went away. Some of the strikers were losing con- fidence in their leader. One man went so far as to say that he thought that Luke had been a bad adviser. To tell the truth the strikers were growing tired of being fed upon oratory. There was a rumor afloat about Cottonville that Luke had been discharged from the mills for bad behavior, and that he had not left because of his alleged dissatis- faction with his pay. One or two of the men were bold enough to say that the proprietor of the Kelsey mills had not PHIL KELSEV’S FIREWORKS. 63 , been a bad man to his employees, and that he had always been ready to listen to their grievances. Luke Slater’s words and his ugly ex- pression haunted Grant all day. What had the man meant? Did he intend to pour a bucket of water over the coveted fireworks so that they would be useless ? Well, if he did it was no affair of Grant Murray’s. Philip had advised him to try minding his own business, and he would take the advice. Still, as the day drew near its close Grant grew more and more restless. He reflected that Philip could not help being born rich any more than he could help being poor. He remembered that Philip had always been generous to his play- mates, and eager to share his pleasures with them. Once or twice Grant was tempted to go and tell him that his ar- 64 GALA DAY BOOKS. senal was threatened with destruction, but his pride held him back. Grant's heart was heavy, for he believed he was doing wrong. He knew that his own in- solent words had provoked Philip into saying what he did, and still he was un- willing to do his playfellow a service. Ethan Murray was an upright man who gathered his family about him after supper for prayers. But first he read a chapter in the Bible. Since the strike began he had read aloud several of the psalms in which David triumphs over the downfall of his enemies, The tenth psalm had been a special favorite. When he read, “ The wicked in his pride doth per- secute the poor,” he thought of Mr. Kel- sey. But on the third of July Ethan read Christ’s wonderful sermon on the mount, which no divine has ever equaled, and which every child can understand. PHIL KELSEV'S FIREWORKS. 65 Grant listened while his heart beat tu- multuously. “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which de- spitefully use you.” The words rang in the boy’s ears and appealed to his con- science. He had considered Philip Kel- sey his enemy, and now he determined to “do good” to him. Perhaps it appears like a trivial way of doing good for a boy to save his en- emy’s fireworks, but it certainly was practical Christianity. Grant slipped out of the house as soon as the chapter was read and started for the Kelsey man- sion. No fleet-footed Mercury could have traveled faster than did this bare- footed boy. He would not give his res- olution time to waver. He had to pass the mills on his way to the house, and as he approached them 66 GALA DAY BOOKS. he saw something that set his heart to beating wildly. A man was skulking about the north side of one of the build- ings and furtively trying the windows. The boy tealized that Luke Slater was there before him, and he fled like a mad thing toward the Kelsey mansion. A new fear had taken possession of him; per- haps Luke meant to burn the mill. Grant Murray was hatless and coatless, his curly hair had been tossed by the sum- mer wind, and his eyes were dark with excitement when he entered the great -house and told his story to Mr. Kelsey. Ordinarily he would have been too shy to speak to the great manufacturer, but to-night he had no thought except his desire to save the mill. He was out of doors again in a min- ute followed by Mr. Kelsey and Philip. Grant’s agile legs carried him faster than PHIL KELSEV'S FIREWORKS. 67 they could follow. As he ran he blamed himself bitterly for his long silence. O, why had he been so obstinate? Why had he not warned Philip before? If the mills burned he would blame himself as long as he lived. ae They were too late. A loud report of gunpowder smote the air, and a flash of light burst from one of the north win- dows. Roman candles shot in all direc- tions, and rockets and fire bombs ex- ploded on the floor, Then a human voice was heard—the voice of Luke Slater. He had thrown a bale of burning cotton upon the fireworks, intending to fire the mill, and his punishment had come with ap- palling swiftness. The flash of powder had forever destroyed his sight! But the mill was burning! Mr. Kelsey unlocked his office, and rushed in to try to save his books and papers. He had 5 68 GALA DAY BOOKS. no hope of doing more. There were no fire engines at Cottonville. The mill was provided with numerous buckets, hose- pipes, and fire extinguishers, but these would be useless so long as the work- men were angry and unwilling to employ them. , The cotton was blazing in all direc- tions. It was dangerous beyond measure to enter the building, but Grant Murray darted up the mill stairs in spite of Mr. Kelsey’s commands for him to return, and in spite of Philip’s strongest protests. Grant believed the men would try to save the mill if they could be summoned to the spot. He wanted to get at the rope of the great factory bell and to ring it as it had never been rung before. The strikers were holding a meeting in the town hall when they heard the fac- tory bell. Instantly a rush was made for PHIL KELSEV’S FIREWORKS. 69 the windows, and a cry of “Fire!” r rans sharply through the house. “Let the mill burn!” said the malcon- tents. ; But Ethan Murray was on the platform and was speaking in public for the first time in his life. “Men,” he said, “the mill has given us and our families bread and shelter for many years. We owe it something. Let us save it. We are honest men; don’t let the capitalists say we are incendi- aries,” And they ad save it. Bucket after bucket of water fell upon the blazing cotton. Men plied their axes upon burn- ing looms and casements, and every hose in the factory was put into active service. It was late at night when the last spark of this famous bonfire was extinguished. The men and boys who had labored so 70 ‘GALA DAV BOOKS. hard wiped the soot and perspiration from their faces and gave three rousing cheers, for the mill had been saved and the strike was over! The boys of Cottonville had their fire- works on the Fourth after all. When Mr. Kelsey learned of the envy that had kept Grant Murray morose and silent for so long he resolved that every boy in town should have all the fireworks that heart could wish. He sent for such a supply as Cottonville had never seen before; and at nightfall had old and young assem- ‘ble on the village common to witness the spectacle. All the strikers were there ex- cepting Luke Slater, who would never see again. Mr. Kelsey had met the men and thanked them for their work in saving the mill, and they had come to a satis- factory agreement concerning their wages. PHIL KELSEV’S FIREWORKS. 71 The boys were wild with enthusiasm over the fireworks. They were more en- thusiastic still when Mr. Kelsey made a little speech and told of Grant Murray’s bravery, and how he had risked his life to ring the bell and save the mill. Grant and Philip had shaken hands some hours before.. They were better friends than ever now for the experience they had endured. And after the fireworks and cheers and speeches the American eagle seemed glad to fold its wings and go to sleep. | THE END.