Rosie and Jack would have been frightened had they not been safely held on Papa’s lap, and Aunt Gertrude, who had her arm tightly clasped about Charlie Leonard, had whispered some words which had made him quite ready to join the general clapping that followed, for was not the giant, gray puss, with long, black tail, our own “Ned,” his face covered with a fur mask, and body by an old fur cape, whilst the long tail was Mamma’s boa, which the saucy rogue had helped himself to. Sarah laughed till the tears run down her cheeks, as, seated upon the carriage-block, she tells Charlotte and Nan,
“How this werry night she had hunted for them glasses from Dan to Beersheby, and had she a had ’em she should have ’spied her Sunday stay-at-home-from-meeting cap was a-missin’. But if it gives them young uns a saffishfacthun, as is got such tender hearts allers, Sarah Jenkins’ll not say the first word if the cap be used up entirely. For if young folks can’t take their liberties on the Fourth of July, she’d like, for one, to know what freedom was fought for, anyway.”
Papa explained that Jem, the man so “tattered and torn,” had privately fastened pin-wheels on his hat, and sewed several packs of fire-crackers to the lining of the coat, and pussy-cat had taken good care that when he leaped over her, his coat-tails should brush against the lighted torch and give a voice to the many squibs.
CHAPTER XVI.
“The world of waters is our home,
And merry boys are we.”
At breakfast the next morning, Mr. Havens said, “Children, I have still another pleasure to announce to you!”
“Oh, what can it be! What can come next?” cried they.