“And it has got only twenty-nine stars, when there ought to be thirty-two,”[[2]] continued Marcus.
[2]. Thirty-two is the number at the time this is written, but there is a prospect of an early increase of our family of States, which happy event will of course add to the ever-enlarging galaxy of stars on our national banner.
“Well, nobody would have noticed that if you hadn’t told us,” added Ronald, somewhat vexed at these free criticisms of his flag.
“One star for every State in the Union, is the rule—I shouldn’t suppose such a patriotic boy as you would ignore three of the States in the confederacy,” added Marcus.
Ronald felt the force of these criticisms more than he was willing to admit. The purchase of the flag was his own individual enterprise. He gave in exchange for it sundry articles of personal property, and flattered himself that he had made a good trade. And so, in fact, he had, for flags cost more than Marcus imagined, and Ronald’s, though somewhat dilapidated, was worth all that he gave for it. But Ronald did not feel quite at ease about his bargain, after what Marcus had said. He soon after had a conference with Jessie, and the result was apparent in the evening, when that young lady undertook the task of making the flag over new.
Jessie was somewhat at a loss where to begin upon the novel job she had undertaken, and neither Ronald nor any of the family could give her much light upon the subject. Marcus soon came in, however, and his advice was sought.
“What do you propose to do with it?” was his first inquiry.
“I want to make it smaller, for one thing—you said it was too large,” replied Ronald.
“Well,” said Marcus, surveying the flag quite calmly, as it lay spread out upon the floor, “I’m afraid Jessie wont get much sleep to-night, if you intend to have it ready to hoist in the morning. She will have to rip the stripes apart, and make them all narrower; and then the blue field and the stars will be too large, and they must all be altered; but I don’t see exactly how that is to be done, for you can’t very well make the holes for the stars any smaller.”
“But why can’t we take off one or two stripes, and cut a piece off the length, and let it go so?” inquired Jessie.