“All right,” said Patty, “just wait till I tack up this ‘Merry Christmas’ motto, and I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll do that,” said Roger, “you infants run along and show off your patriotism, and I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
“You must be tired,” said Winthrop to Patty, as they sauntered out on the lawn. “You worked awfully hard with those evergreen things. Let’s go out on the lake and take our firecrackers with us; that will rest you, and it will be fun besides.”
The lake, so called by courtesy, was really an artificial pond, and though not large, it provided a great deal of amusement.
There were several boats, and selecting a small cedar one, Winthrop assisted Patty in, sprang in himself, and pushed off.
“If it’s Christmas, we ought to be going skating on the lake, instead of rowing,” said Patty.
“It isn’t Christmas now,” said Winthrop, “You get your holidays mixed up. We’ve come out here to celebrate Independence Day. See what I’ve brought.”
From his pockets the young man produced several packs of firecrackers.
“What fun!” cried Patty, “I feel as if I were a child again. Let me set some off. Have you any punk?”
“Yes,” said Winthrop, gravely producing some short sticks of punk from another pocket; and lighting one, he gave it to Patty.