Aunt Jos Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5 | Page 9

miles. The consul and owners of the steamer wanted to
see the adventurous young lady who had come so far alone, and
neighbors and strangers made quite a lion of her, for all kindly hearts
were interested, and the protective charity which had guided and
guarded her in two hemispheres and across the wide sea, made all men
fathers, all women mothers, to the little one till she was safe.
Her picture lies before me as I write,--a pretty child standing in a chair,
with a basket of toys on the table before her; curly hair pushed back
from the face, pensive eyes, and a pair of stout little feet crossed one
over the other as if glad to rest. I wish I could put the photograph into
the story, because the small heroine is an interesting one, and still lives
with the good aunt, who is very fond and proud of her, and writes
pleasant accounts of her progress to the friends in America.
So ends the journey of my second small traveller, and when I think of
her safe and happy in a good home, I always fancy that (if such things
may be) in the land which is lovelier than even beautiful old England,
Maggie's mother watches over little Annie.

III.

A JOLLY FOURTH.
Door-step parties were the fashion that year, and it was while a dozen
young folks sat chatting on Annie Hadwin's steps in the twilight that
they laid the plan which turned out such a grand success in the end.
"For my part, I am glad we are to be put on a short allowance of
gunpowder, and that crackers are forbidden, they are such a nuisance,
burning holes in clothes, frightening horses, and setting houses afire,"
said sober Fred from the gate, where he and several other fellows were
roosting socially together.
"It won't seem a bit like a regular Fourth without the salutes three times
during the day. They are afraid the old cannon will kick, and blow off
some other fellow's arm, as it did last year," added Elly Dickens, the
beau of the party, as he pulled down his neat wristbands, hoping Maud
admired the new cuff-buttons in them.
"What shall we do in the evening, since the ball is given up? Just
because the old folks are too tired to enjoy dancing, we can't have any,
and I think it is too bad," said pretty Belle, impatiently, for she danced
like a fairy and was never tired.
"The authorities didn't dare to stop our races in the morning. There
would have been an insurrection if they had," called out long Herbert
from the grass, where he lay at the feet of black-eyed Julia.
"We must do something to finish off with. Come, somebody suggest a
new, nice, safe, and jolly plan for the evening," cried Grace, who liked
fun, and had just slipped a little toad into Jack Spratt's pocket as a
pleasant surprise when he felt for his handkerchief.
"Let us offer a prize for the brightest idea. Five minutes for meditation,
then all suggest a plan, and the best one shall be adopted," proposed
Annie, glad to give a lively turn to her party.
All agreed, and sudden silence followed the chatter, broken now and
then by an exclamation of "I've got it! No, I haven't," which produced a

laugh at the impetuous party.
"Time's up," announced Fred, looking at "the turnip," as his big
old-fashioned watch was called. Every one had a proposal more or less
original, and much discussion followed; but it was finally decided that
Herbert's idea of floating about in boats to enjoy the fireworks on the
hill would be romantic, reposeful, and on the whole satisfactory.
"Each boat might have a colored lantern; that would look pretty, and
then there would be no danger of running into our neighbors in the
dark," said Annie, who was a little timid on the water in a wherry.
"Why not have lots, and make a regular 'feast of lanterns,' as they do in
China? I was reading about it the other day, and can show you how to
do it. Won't it be gay?" And Fred the bookworm nearly tumbled off his
perch, as an excited gesture emptied his pockets of the library books
which served as ballast.
"Yes! yes!" cried the other lads, with various demonstrations of delight
as the new fancy grew upon their lively minds.
"Fred and Annie must have the prize, for their idea is the most brilliant
one. Nan can give the flag to the winner of the race, and 'Deacon' can
lead the boats, for I think it would be fine to have a procession on the
river. Fireworks are an old story, so let us surprise the town by