Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5

n young folks sat chatting on Annie Hadwin's steps in the twilight th

idden, they are such a nuisance, burning holes in clothes, frightening horses, and setting houses afir

he old cannon will kick, and blow off some other fellow's arm, as it did last year," added Elly Dickens, the

folks are too tired to enjoy dancing, we can't have any, and I think it is too ba

re would have been an insurrection if they had," called out long H

jolly plan for the evening," cried Grace, who liked fun, and had just slipped a little

editation, then all suggest a plan, and the best one shall be ad

ken now and then by an exclamation of "I've got it! No,

roposal more or less original, and much discussion followed; but it was finally decided that Herbert's idea of flo

d then there would be no danger of running into our neighbors in th

t the other day, and can show you how to do it. Won't it be gay?" And Fred the bookworm nearly tumbled

various demonstrations of delight as th

race, and 'Deacon' can lead the boats, for I think it would be fine to have a procession on the river. Fireworks are an ol

and at once plunged into the affai

" said Julia, who

aud, thinking how well her long ye

nder the bridges," put i

so lovely to see them waltzing round like fire

ity folks think so much of such things," said Herbert the hospitable, for his house and barn were the f

, for Jack will go tagging after Grace and leave me to take care of them. Let's have

own picnic as we did once before. Let every one ask his or her mother, and s

sidered a large lunatic asylum. Wiser heads remodelled the wild plans, however, and more skilful hands lent their aid, so that only the po

ed to the Town Hall to hear the Declaration of Independence read by the good and great man of the town, whose own wise and noble words go echoing round the world, teaching the same lesson of justice, truth, and courage as that immortal protest.

judges. But our young party had their share of fun, and Fred and Herbert, who were chums in everything, won the race for the little flag yearly given to the lads for any success on the river. Then the weary heroes loaded the big dory with a cargo of girls, and with the banner blowing gayly in the wind, rowed away to the wide meadow, whe

, the young folks made table-setting and dishwashing a joke by doing it together, and the children frolicked to their hearts' content. Even the babies w

nd was stationed by the river-side, a pretty villa on the hill blazed out with lines of light, and elms and apple-trees bore red and golden lanterns, like glorified fruit. The clerk of the weather was evidently interested in this novel entertainment, for the evening was windless, dark, and

ches met about a rocky island, elves

ed, flower-shaped, golden, green, or variegated, as if a rainbow were festooned about the viewless masts. Up and down they flashed, stealing out from dusky nooks and

which was finer than its most enthusiastic advocate expected. All felt proud of their success as they looked, and even the children forgot to shout while watchi

ome artist, who was the pride of the town. Next a canoe holding three dusky Indians, complete in war-paint, wampum, and tomahawks, paddled before the brilliant barge in which Cleopatra sat among red cushions, fanned by two pretty maids. Julia's black eyes sparkled as she glanced about her, feeling ver

Jr., as skipper. Then a party of fairies in white, with

oat, with Jack for a droll little Harper, twan

he well-known skull and cross-bones on the flag flying at the masthead, produced a tremendous effect as the crew clashed their arms and roared the blood-thirstiest song they could find. All the boys

mud-scow), with a party of Mandarins, rich in fans, umbrellas, and pigtails,

dwarf sorrowfully rowing her down to Camelot. Every one recognized that, for the master of the revels got it up as no one else could; and Maud laughed to herself as the floating tableau went und

truly beautiful, especially when they all congregated below the illuminated bridge, making an island of many-colored light. An enchanted isl

ds pelted the pirates with water-lilies; the gallant gondolier talked art with the Venetian ladies; and the jolly little tars danced horn

patriotic airs, the pretty villa shone like a fairy palace, and the sky was full of dazzling met

ing through the crowd toward the river. Then great was the scampering, for shops stood thickly all about the post-office, and distracted merchants hastily collected their goods, while the firemen smashed windows, ran up and

ed dry. Then every one went home, and, feeling the need of refreshment after their labors, had supper all over

he knees, having landed in hot haste. Poor Cleopatra had been drenched by the hose, but though very damp still sparkled with unextinguishable gayety. Elaine had tied herself up in a big shawl, having lost her hat overboa

ccess of the day's delights, and it was unanimously agreed