INSANITY OR EXILE.
Forweeks and weeks after the terrible death of Laurens Cornwallis, the life of his sister Ruth hung on a thread. She was delirious. She cried out incessantly. “O Laurens! Laurens! beautiful angel! Come back! come back! Speak to me Laurens! Kiss me, Laurens!”
They feared her brain was going.
“If we could only make her think hehadcome back,” said the perplexed doctor—“create a sort of counter delusion.”
They tried it each in turn with no effect—the mother at last.
“Oh, she does not even hear me,” sobbed the mother. “Her sense of hearing must be already gone, only her sight remains. Her eyes were fixed on the door in the far end of the room, as though she expected to see him come through that door, when she calls.”
This gave the doctor a new idea.
“Then we musthavesome one that looks likehim come through that door, in response to her call—some one that knew him and loved him and would be in full sympathy with her in regard to his death.”
“Ralph Norwood!” exclaimed Mr. and Mrs. Cornwallis in the same breath.
“And he must have the kite in his hand,” said Mr. Cornwallis.
“Yes, and I must make him a George Washington cap and whole suit if necessary” said Mrs. Cornwallis. “Ralph is older but he is small of his age and Laurens was large. Besides he is resourceful. He might make himself look younger than he is.”
Ralph was sent for at once. He too, had been ill from the shock of Lauren’s death but he aroused himself and came to the rescue. He dressed himself in the George Washington suit. He donned theCan’t-tell-a-lie capwhich Mrs. Cornwallis had made the crowning glory, by adding to it Lauren’s beautiful curls, which had been clipped from his head by the thoughtful undertaker.
He took the kite in hand and waited by the door until Ruth called out:
“Laurens come back! Come back! Speak to me angel! kiss me!”
Then he opened the door and responded to the call. The effect was magical. She fancied it was Laurens. She talked and laughed and slept in that belief. When she awoke, she took her foodand medicine from his hand. She did whatever he asked her to do. She was finally saved, brain intact.
But this was not the end of little Ruth’s misery and the anxiety of her parents. She was in a state of nervous wreck that required fully as much watchfulness, if not quite so much solicitude as that of the mental stress. Sudden noises, especially those of an explosive nature, such as the firing of a gun or pistol, would cause a nervous shock, from which it would take days and often weeks to recover. But worse than all was her horror of Independence Day. She looked forward to its coming with a dread, akin to terror.
“O whatshallwe do now, Doctor? Whatcanwe do?” asked her mother.
“Take her away out of sight and sound of it,” replied the doctor, “and give her immediate assurance that you will do so.”
“But where to go, Doctor? This terrible thing is everywhere more or less.”
“Out of the country. To Europe or Canada, where they don’t pretend to have an Independence Day,” replied the doctor, smiling grimly.
“O Doctor! What cruel mockery is this—this being compelled to go away from our home! It seems such a shame—a positive disgrace!”
“They are not to be weighed in the balance,” said the doctor seriously. “It is a matter of life or death, nerve or no nerve, to your child. If youwill begin promptly and continue to take her away every year as long as the present symptoms remain, she may get well in time. Otherwise I will not answer for the result. Another Independence Day as full of racket and accident as the last, would be likely to bring on a mental lapse, for which there would be no hope. The only really safe thing to do is to take a month’s vacation—that is, go out of the country three weeks before Independence Day and stay until two weeks after. That would cover the time which is usually seized upon by the independent and ignorant boys and hoodlums of the community, to put the rest of the people in chains and agony—or exile.”
“O! O! Doctor! Is there no better way? Could we not go among them and talk to them and tell them just how it is with us and ask them to be quiet?”
The doctor shook his head. “I have tried that without effect more than once in the case of very sick patients. It will take years of talk and legislation and education to silence the loud-mouthed monster—and you can’t wait for that.”
“Lord help us to do it then and bring us out of it with health and strength to fight against this terrible evil!” sobbed Mrs. Cornwallis. “O, it seems to me there is no place in this world for the sick, the helpless, and the afraid.”
“Not even in your beautiful new world,” said the doctor. He was a German but he was honestand the reply struck home with double force. She held a long consultation with her husband that evening and they decided to carry out his instructions faithfully. Consequently every year before the Independence Day racket began they sought out a quiet spot on the Canadian border—or rather a place where the American citizen freighted with children and firecrackers was never known to come. It was not always an easy or an agreeable task, to find just such a place; but it had to be found, else the going away would be of no avail.
Ralph was invited to go with them at first and did go as a matter of course, until one fateful year when the parents suddenly awoke to the fact that Ralph was growing a mustache and Ruth was developing into a rather shy but pretty young maiden. The next year they went without him; and the next. Then the unexpected happened. Ruth was disinclined to go, to begin with; but the doctor shook his head and they went. They had been there only a few days, however, when the long avoided American family made a descent on the boarding house.
“Yes, here they are at last,” said Mr. Cornwallis, as soon as he had given them a thorough looking over—“the pestiferous boys, the rackety firecrackers, the indulgent mamma and the blindly patriotic papa, if I mistake not. I fear we shall have to move on.”
“No! no, papa! Let’s stay. I’m sure I can endure it now. I’m so much better and perhaps we can talk to them and tell them about our experience with the dangerous things and make them more careful. Let’s try it, papa. I hate the idea of running away from our own people. I begin to think it isn’t quite right.”
“It’s far safer to stay here than to go home,” remarked Mrs. Cornwallis, “where there are hundreds of armed boys to the four that are here.”
Mr. Cornwallis gave it up and they stayed.
Ruth lost no time in making the acquaintance of the American family, at least of Mrs. Bearington and the boys, nor any opportunity of impressing upon them the danger of playing with fireworks. She gave her own experience as proof. She told them of the terrible accidents that had happened in her own town and of her little brother’s mysterious death that had wrecked her health, broken her father’s and mother’s hearts and made them fugitives from home.
“Do you hear that, Robbie,” said Mrs. Bearington to her oldest son. “You know that mamma has always been afraid you would get hurt, handling those dreadful things.”
“Papa bought them for us and I want mine now,” said the boy bluntly. “I know how to handle them.”
“Have a care my boy. You may not know as much as you think you do. If you should havean accident, your papa would never buy any more for you, and mamma would never forgive herself,” said Mrs. Bearington in her soft-hearted, unreasoning way.
“But the accident!” gasped Ruth. “How can you risk it? It might be of the kind that could never be repaired—the loss of a hand or an eye!”
“Oh! dear, dear! it’s too horrible to think of,” exclaimed Mrs. Bearington, nervously.
“Perhaps if you should think of it, you would see your way out,” persisted Ruth. “There are so many beautiful things made for children now-a-days.” Then, she turned to the boys and asked:
“Can’t you tell me of anything you would like better than those evil looking, nasty smelling, dangerous fire crackers and things? Something that you could keep instead of burning up?”
The three older boys maintained a dubious silence while Teddy the youngest cried out: “O mamma! I’d rather have a bugle! A real nice big bugle!”
“He makes me think of little Laurens,” said Ruth turning to Mrs. Bearington with a sob. “He asked mamma ‘why they didn’t have a bugle instead of a cannon on Schwarmer Hill,’ the very morning before he was killed.”
They looked at each other for a moment in sympathetic silence. Then Mrs. Bearington turned quite bravely to the boys.
“See here, boys, mamma is going to ask papa notto buy you any more fireworks. Mamma is going to hunt the city over next year and find you some things that you will like better—bugles! tambourines! trumpets! bicycles!”
THE FUNNY FOURTH RACKET ON ENGLISH SOIL.
Ruthhoped that her talk, painful though it had been to herself, would have a good influence with the Bearingtons. She would have been quickly undeceived, had she heard a conversation that occurred later on when Mr. Bearington came in from his “smoke walk,” as his wife called it.
“Papa,” said Mrs. Bearington, “I wish you hadn’t bought the fireworks! Miss Cornwallis has just been telling me the particulars of her little brother’s terrible death. I begin to be awfully worried for fear the boys will hurt themselves.”
“O nonsense, Tishy! You needn’t worry. I will attend to that racket. The Cornwallis’ are cranks on the subject, you may set that down. I have heard Cornwallis talk. He thinks because his little boy got killed other boys should be denied the privilege,” laughed Bearington.
“Privilege, papa!” gasped Mrs. Bearington,looking at him in a way as helpless and childish as her style of addressing him warranted.
“O, you nevercantake a good round joke, Tishy; but you can stop worrying and you must. You must remember that I paid for this vacation and I am bound you shall not take it out in worriment.”
“Perhaps you could dispose of the fireworks papa—then I couldnotworry about them.”
“No, he won’t!” shouted Robbie bristling up. “He bought them for us and we are going to have them.”
“Down there! Young America!” said Bearington. “And you Tishy! You forget that we are on English soil. There isn’t any demand here for Independence Day jubilators.”
“Nor for Fourth of July celebrations either, papa. There’s Colonel Jordan. I know he wouldn’t call for one.”
“He can’t help himself though. That’s where the fun will come in. I reckon we will teach this English boarding house that if they have us and our money, they will have to take us, Fourth of July racket and all.”
“But the Cornwallis’, papa. I know how I should feel if we should lose one of our boys in that fearful way.”
“That boy didn’t know how to handle fireworks, you bet,” put in Robbie.
“He may have been a natural born idiot foranything we know,” remarked Bearington. “He was too good and beautiful to live anyway, according to their account.”
“Papa, howbu’fuldo I have to be to be toobu’fulto live?” asked little Teddy coming up and laying his curly head lovingly on his father’s knee.
“Like a lamb for the slaughter,” thought his mother. She broke out afresh:
“Powder and dynamite are always more or less dangerous, papa.”
“Never you mind, Tishy. They are safe enough if rightly handled; and right enough, too, when they are put to the right uses.”
“What’s the use of powder and die-a-mite except to celebrate the Fourth with, papa?” asked Joey.
“Die-a-mite!do you hear that Tishy?” laughed Bearington. “Well sonny, they are good to blast the rocks with and the English too and send them flying up hill and down, if they should meddle with our affairs as they did before the revolutionary war and have tried to do, two or three times since.”
“Keeo!” shouted Robbie. “Skippetty hop! Hoppetty skip! Bow-wow! Bow-wow!” In response to his call, the three other boys joined him and they went “skippetty hop” into the back yard to worry Colonel Jordan’s English terrier.
Query. Was it the inward cussedness of the boynature that led them on to this species of brute torture, or was it their father’s injudicious talk?
Mr. Bearington had been all suavity when talking with Mrs. and Mr. Cornwallis about the coming celebration. He even intimated that they might go over to a neighboring island and have their little picnic all by themselves.
“One day is enough for my boys,” he added. “I make them do all their celebrating on the identical day. I don’t believe in drizzling along in such matters more than in others.”
Whereupon Mr. and Mrs. Cornwallis thanked him heartily and rested in the belief that he would not allow his boys to indulge in any annoying demonstrations on their daughter’s account, even during Independence Day; but they like Ruth were greatly mistaken. The day had scarcely dawned when the racket began; and a big racket it was for four small boys to make. But that was not all of it. When they sat down to breakfast they found a firecracker under each plate and the boys were not in evidence, which showed that more mischief was brewing.
“The good for naught imps!” exclaimed the landlady as she cleared away the stuff; “they have been trying to be funny all the morning—throwing torpedoes under my feet and snapping firecrackers in my face. I am glad I don’t live in an independent country if that’s the independence of it.”
There were twenty firecrackers, one for each boarder. She put them into the cupboard to get them out of the way and thanked her stars that she had been able to do so before the rest of her boarders came in—especially Colonel Jordan who inclined to be violent if anything went amiss. He had cursed her roundly once upon a time, because a spider had invaded his napkin. What would he have said had he found that insolent reminder of the American victory over the English, underneath his plate?
Colonel Jordan was the last to make his appearance. He was in a ferocious mood, but he softened a little as he took his accustomed seat opposite Ruth.
“A beautiful day Miss Cornwallis—that is right here, but I perceive they are having a right smart thunder shower on the American side. A volcanic or patriotic eruption so to speak. The killed and wounded will not all be brought in before tomorrow, possibly.”
Ruth made no response. Mr. and Mrs. Cornwallis looked anxious. The Colonel felt that something was amiss.
“Beg pardon, this ridiculous Independence Day racket has cost me my morning’s nap; but I ought not to be in a rage I suppose. I fancy you have not enjoyed it either, Miss Cornwallis, although it is one of your country’s choicest exports.”
Ruth began to show signs of nervous distressand Mr. Cornwallis hastened to explain as well as place and time permitted, their attitude on the subject and the sad experience that made them fugitives from home. He closed with a significant look at Ruth, which would have been sufficient for a more impressionable man—a civilian rather than a soldier. Not so, however, with Colonel Jordan. He thought it was the mother’s health that had been effected by the loss of her son, as very naturally it would be. There was nothing in that which appealed especially to his sympathies. Besides, his sympathies were tough. He turned to Ruth as though he had discovered a good joke.
“Beg pardon, Miss Cornwallis; but it would appear from latest advices that the American victory over England is being turned into a most ridiculous defeat. If the Mother Country had only known her wayward children’s fondness for the firecracker and toy pistol all that she would have needed to have done when they turned against her, would have been to have furnished them with a generous supply of those dastardly things and they would have destroyed themselves.”
“The London Pyrotechnist is shrewd enough to take advantage of the situation,” laughed Admiral Larkins. “He has surrounded the country with his manufacturing tents and is said to have sold $10,000,000 worth of Independence Day fireworks to Americans to celebrate their victory over the English, last year—American casualties for thatday footed up to about 3,500 in killed and wounded. It’s a good scheme from a financial point of view.”
THE FUNNY FOURTH RACKET ON ENGLISH SOIL.
Another Englishman who had still less understanding of the Cornwallis matter, but was aware of the annual higeria of Americans to foreign lands to escape the noise and danger of their national day, remarked: “It’s a providential thing though for the Americans of today that their forebears did not push their victorious hordes up to the north pole, else they would have no near-by place to fly to, while their own country is being made too hot for them.”
How long this conversation would have continued it is difficult to say had it not been for the distressful barking of Colonel Jordon’s English terrier, who rushed in with a long string of firecrackers tied to his tail.
His first dash was toward Ruth, probably for the reason that she had taken his part one day when the boys were tormenting him. He would have leaped into her lap had she not warded him off with the vacant chair by her side. He leaped into the chair, however, then across the table toward Colonel Jordon and down on the floor and off to the lower end of the dining room where the landlady was cowering in mortal terror, as well she might; for she had on a thin muslin dress and was completely cornered. By that time the firecrackers were in flame and the result was inevitable. Theyset fire to the poor woman’s dress and pandemonium reigned. The boarders rushed to the rescue with cups of tea and coffee, pitchers of water and milk, rugs and top-coats. She was finally saved with only one leg burned; Colonel Jordon’s dog was so badly hurt that he had to be shot to end his misery. Little Teddy Bearington who came in unobserved while the confusion was at its height and was trampled down by hurrying feet, barely escaped death by suffocation.
But the Bearington boys had enjoyed their celebration. Mr. Bearington paid the bill the next day and the whole posse beat a retreat across the Canadian border. They showed signs of disorganization during the remainder of the heated season; but when the fall political campaign came on, they were in high feather again—at least Mr. Bearington and the three older boys. Hardly a day passed that they did not tell how they had celebrated the Nation’s Glorious Day on English soil.
THE DOUBLE ENGAGEMENT.
Ruthand Ralph were alone on the cosy little veranda of the Cornwallis cottage. It was a beautiful evening in June—full of moonlight, star-light and rose-fragrance and so heavenly still that they could have heard the beatings of each other’s hearts; and very likely they did, for they were sitting side by side in lover-like proximity. There was an indefinable but easily understood something about their movements and attitude that said as plainly as words could have told it: “We are engaged and are going to be married before many a day goes by.”
“O, these perfect June evenings!” exclaimed Ruth in a voice of soft rapture. “But how swiftly they are flying! Only think of it, Ralph! a week from next Tuesday will be the Fourth of July! The dreadful, horrible Fourth! I heard the first shot today. It went straight through my heart. O, the fright and agony! How I wish itwere all over with and yet I dread its coming as I would that of a monstrous bloodthirsty army.”
“Where shall we go to be rid of it, Ruth, and celebrate our own independence? To Star Lake, Moon Island or Canada?”
“Never again to Canada, Ralph! I haven’t told you our experience there last year—that is, not all of it.”
“You told me about the Bearington boys and the fireworks that were not funny.”
“Yes, but I did not tell you the talk at the breakfast table before the fracas began. Papa begged me not to talk about it, but I feel as though Icantell you now, and will.”
“Of course you can, and you will tell me everything,” laughed Ralph. “We are all one now, that makes a delightful difference.” But she had no sooner told him of Jordan’s joke at their expense than he exclaimed angrily:
“Ridiculous defeat! O the brute! How I wish I had been there to answer him. He insulted you and the country at the same time.”
“But you were not there, Ralph, and I don’t know but I’m glad of it; for there is something ridiculous about it. Only think of it, Ralph! Fighting for freedom—and then deliberately turning the day that commemorates it over to careless children and irresponsible criminals, and flying away from it as though a legion of devils were let loose! You see, Ralph, it hurt me more to thinkthat it really was ridiculous, than because Colonel Jordon said it was; but I had to keep it to myself.”
“You could have talked to me, if I had been there, to your heart’s content, you know you could, Ruth, and I would have talked to the insolent Colonel tomyheart’s content. He must have had the epidermis of a rhinocerous or he would have known better.”
“Papa had a long talk with him after the Bearingtons left. I don’t know what was said, but his manner changed entirely and for the worse—that is, I mean, he was more disagreeable to me than before—in a way—”
“I understand,” said Ralph in a passion. “He pitied you and made love to you! The impudent rascal!”
“Yes, Ralph; but I will say this to his credit. He had the good sense to retreat when he saw that his attentions were disagreeable.”
“Humph!” said Ralph.
Ruth knew that “humph” was a sign that his jealous wrath was effervescing and that she might continue to pour out the feelings which had been shut away from him for three distressful years. She had a whole heart full of them now.
“Do you know, Ralph, I begin to think there’s no use of going away any more to get rid of the horrible Fourth. It goes with me or comes to me, wherever I go—this terrible monster to which my little brother was sacrificed. Every year countsthousands of victims and every year more and more! O, how many homes will be made desolate on the day that is fast coming! How many beautiful and precious mothers’ sons will be defaced or disfigured for life? Between three and four thousand was the death and accident roll last year. How many will it count this year and who and how many of our little circle will be among the hurt or slain?”
“The Lord only knows, Ruth; but I mean to know something about the why and wherefore of the increase of the Independence Day death roll inthistown. I have been looking it up and it is something appalling.”
“O Ralph! Ralph! let us stay right here then and see if we can’t do something to prevent it—something to stay this cruel, cruel slaughter. It seems to me we might talk to the boys and watch over them and save now and then one at least.”
“You are right, dear. Wecoulddo it if we could go to work hand in hand, with nobody to hold us back. Itwouldbe better and braver to stay here and wrestle with the monster than to try to hide away from it; and please God wewilldo it—after, you know when. We can’t hope to accomplish much if we go to work single-handed, eh? We will be doubly armed for it before another year comes around.”
The hand that lay in his gave a quick pressure in response and he went on manfully:
“We have been fools and blind in this matter long enough. Something is going to be done about it before long. I have talked with a great many with regard to it since Lutie had his fingers shot off, and I have gathered some astonishing statistics—statistics that ought to set us to thinking and acting too.”
“O Ralph! Ralph! Tell me all about it! Tell me everything! I will work for it night and day. Bless you, Ralph. O, how good it is to hear you say that wecando something andwill.”
Ruth was fairly wild with joy. She kissed his hand and cheek and brow, over and over again with a fervor that was new to him and very, very delightful. The betrothal kiss was nothing in comparison. Compliments on her grace and beauty had failed to call forth any such expressions of love.
“To begin with,” he said at last, “I have found out that we have more Independence Day accidents in this town than in any other town of its size in the state. What do you think the reason is?”
“O! I know, Ralph. It’s because Millionaire Schwarmer comes every Fourth and distributes a carload of fireworks. I know it is; and I believe he gave Laurens the package that cost him his life, though he tried to make it appear that he did not. How does he know who he gives to when he is distributing his death-dealers right and left!” sobbed Ruth.
“He doesn’t know,” said Ralph, “and he doesn’t care or think about it; but he ought to be made to think. We know he gave Lutie the box of cartridges that tore off his finger. He ought to have been prosecuted for it and I am going to tell him so some day. I am not afraid of his millions. The trouble with people here is that they have got in the habit of bowing down to him and worshipping him—the golden calf! and being a calf instead of a wise man he fancies that he owns us all—body and soul—and may do anything he chooses with us.”
“I believe it, Ralph. He has taken it into his stupid head to pat my shoulder and call me Miss Pretty when he sees me of late.”
Ralph was furious again and threatened dire things. After he was sufficiently molified Ruth continued seriously: “O Ralph! Ralph! How can a man of mature years—a man like Mr. Schwarmer—put such dangerous things into a boy’s hands? If he were young and thoughtless and dazed by custom; but a man of his age and experience! How is it that this Independence Day saturnalia has been let to grow into such enormous proportions? If all the fiends of the lower regions had been employed to make a plan for the destruction of the youth of our land, they could not have done worse. Only think of it, Ralph, taking powder and dynamite, the most dangerous of all substances and making them into attractive forms for children to play with—play with as freely as though theywere carts or doll babies! O! O! what are we coming to? What idiocy—worse than idiocy—how Satanic!”
“Yes, Ruth, and it does seem to be growing worse and worse every year—as though we were sinking down to the level of the brute. As though Satan had gotten a lease of a thousand years and was trying to see how many children he can destroy—yes, and young men, too; for there are the deadly games for the finish. Another century of such brutal sports and celebrations and there would not be a sound man left in the community. We would be as hideous as the brutal, battle-scarred Saracens. But I cannot think we shall have another century of it. The climax will come before that and there will be a turn in the right direction.”
“What makes you think so, Ralph? As I see it we shall have no homes—sweet homes with happy healthy families. We shall have hospitals instead—hospitals and hospitals, full of the crazed, crippled, idiotic and beastly. If anything can be done to prevent this dire calamity, why don’t we begin at once.”
There was silence for a few moments. The full moon sent its searching rays through the veranda vines. The stars twinkled brightly and a pair of eyes brighter than stars were looking into Ralph’s face appealingly.
“Let us begin now, Ralph—this very Fourthand see if we can’t do something to save our boys from this terrible King Schwarmer. He’s a worse king for us than old King Herod was for Israel. Let’s dethrone him.”
“We will,” said Ralph in a voice of quiet determination. “You have given me an inspiration. The time is ripe for action. Our new President is a Golden Rule man. A professed follower of the original Golden Rule Mayor. He comes of the same good old Quaker stock. He sings the same songs. He has the Golden Rule in a frame of silver, ornamented with apples of gold, hung up in his office, and he practices that rule as nearly as any man can.”
“Let us go and see him, Ralph; he will help us if he believes in that rule.”
“Yes, Ruth, and if we can manage to steer our own Fourth of July craft so no one is hurt this year, we shall have done something that will make you happier than you have ever been since Lauren’s death; shall we not?”
“Yes! A thousand times, yes, Ralph.”
“One thing more, Ruth—one more sacrifice for the cause. Can you guess what it is?”
“Tell me, Ralph! Tell me quickly.”
“We must be married before that frightful Independence Day monster comes. We must be married at once.”
“Go ask papa and mamma, Ralph. They are in the west room with Dr. Muelenberg. I knowwhat they are talking about and I want you to promise me one thing.”
“A thousand if you like, Ruth.”
“No, Ralph, only this one. Promisemethat you will not promisethemto take me abroad for a wedding trip.”
“Remember,” she added, as she turned laughingly away, “if you do I will break the engagement.”
DR. MUELENBERG’S PRESCRIPTION.
As Ralphentered the west room, Mr. Cornwallis was saying:
“You see how it stands, Doctor. We can’t afford to go to Europe; and Canada, the poor man’s abroad, is no longer effective.”
“Here’s Norwood,” said the Doctor, looking quizzically at the young man. “There was a time when he helped us out splendidly with Miss Ruth.”
“Yes, indeed,” said Mrs. Cornwallis, “and she has always felt so grateful and wanted to do something to repay you, Ralph. She thinks now if she had been here instead of in Canada when your little brother was hurt, she might have entertained him and kept him out of Schwarmer’s way.”
“Bless her heart; but I am the one that ought to have kept him out of the way of that superb idiot,” said Ralph with a glow of feeling. He was thinking that Ruth’s objection to going away might be grounded in a desire to be near himself, although he was aware that she had not been consciousof it, so quick had it been to expand and reach out into more generous motives.
“Now she thinks she might be able to save others by getting up picnics and things of that sort;” said Mr. Cornwallis shaking his head, “but we fear she is not strong enough for that yet—that it would bring on the old terror and do no manner of good. She doesn’t realize what it would be to fight against such a custom—a custom that was inaugurated when our New World began. It has grown to be a monstrous evil, but like many another serpent it has become so mixed up with business interests that it will be almost impossible to eliminate it. I have talked with more than one manufacturer, feeling there was no other way to rid ourselves of the vile Fourth of July abominations than by stopping their production and importation, but they will not give in. They will employ noted scientists to analyze their wares with the understanding that no germs oftetanusare to be found. They will throw dust into the eyes of the governing powers. They resent fiercely the least intimation that they are responsible for the killing or maiming of three or four thousand boys per year. They charge it to parents and teachers. One man swore at me when I approached him on the subject and asked if I didn’t know that there were danger traps all over God’s world and that a boy should not be let to plunge into the river until he knew how to swim. You see how it stands,Doctor—the powers of light against the powers of darkness. It’s a thing for the strong hand of government to take hold of instead of our frail little Ruth. It will take a long pull, a strong pull and a pull all together to accomplish anything of consequence. You remember the efforts made last year. They began with the Decoration Day slaughter. The ‘Divine alarm’ was sent all over the country and yet the list of the dead and hurt was beyond all precedent.”
“And this good old Quaker state,” replied the Doctor, “consecrated by the good old saint, William Penn, exceeds all others in Independence Day accidents, and this town appears to be the storm center of the whole. The gentle ‘Friends’ he left to carry on his work must be asleep and the fierce spirit of the ‘Lord’s Committee of Colonies’ must be awake and armed with the explosives which he tabooed with such good effect. The cases oftetanusI had here last year nearly drove me mad. I wanted to throw anti-toxin to the winds and turn mayor or missionary myself and take this beastly and idiotic custom by the horns. Call it patriotism! It’s bad enough to bring children into this dirty world, but to furnish them with instruments to introduce the worst kind of dirt—the baccili oftetanusinto their sweet young flesh is deviltry or insanity, at least. It’s of no consequence so far as results go whether the wads in the blank cartridge areboiledor not. It is a fiend incarnate.No instrument could be more cunningly devised for the injection of poison into the human system. The flat head is like the head of a serpent. The small boy gives it a starter. It hisses and carries everything before it—pieces of flesh or clothing, soiled or unsoiled, but usually soiled. It buries and burns them deep in the flesh. The gash shuts up and they are left to fester there. Mien Gott! These are the things that are invented, manufactured and sold for innocent boys to play the deadly game of patriotism with. They are good for no other thing—they nor the toy pistol; and the wretch who invented them ought to be put into a house of correction and be kept there and preached to until he learns to set his wits at better things. The people ought to see to these matters. There are laws and laws shut up in your statute books. They want the spirit of flame put into them and the spirit of enforcement back of them.”
“I was advised when I first came to this country, to take lessons in American patriotism. Mien Gott! The lesson I have learned is that missionaries are needed in all the fields around about. I should say let Miss Ruth turn missionary—that is, if she has no longer a fear of that dreadful work.”
“Her fear of going away seems to be greater than the fear of the Fourth itself,” said Mrs. Cornwallis. “That’s the perplexing thing about it. That’s why we doubt the expediency of goingat all. Whether the evil we fly to is greater than the evil we fly from, is the question. She is all we have left and we have been so very, very careful—afraid to mention the subject almost.”
“I have been expecting this puzzle in Miss Ruth’s case and I incline to take it as a healing sign,” said Dr. Muelenberg looking keenly at Ralph. “To engage in the work of stamping out this monstrous horror would be far better than ominous silence and the annual flight from it, for you, for her, for the people of the town and for the world, no doubt! But it will not do for Miss Ruth to go out alone. She must have some one with her, in heart and hand.”
“Here am I,” exclaimed Ralph, rising to the occasion and making his errand known. Mrs. Cornwallis was affected to tears when he promised to try to be a good son. She was thinking of her beautiful boy. Mr. Cornwallis gave a dignified consent and Dr. Muelenberg grasped his hand vigorously, saying:
“O! I suspected you, young man! I suspected you and I am glad my suspicions have proven true. I believe it will be for the betterment of all concerned.”
And so it happened that Ruth’s engagement proved to be a relief in more ways than one. It was a relief to herself because she could talk freely to Ralph. She could let her enthusiasm have full rein on this subject without arousing his fears forher sanity of mind. Any nervous symptoms that she might betray in so doing would not cause him the undue fright and solicitude that they did her father and mother. He would know that they meant she must be doing something for the cause so near her heart. It was certainly a relief to her father and mother, who had begun to admit at least to themselves (especially after Ruth’s disaffection for Canada) that the annual going away from home was taking the form of a cruel necessity. Yes, and it continued to be a relief in spite of the little flurry into which they were thrown a few evenings later on when Ruth and Ralph appeared before them hand in hand with the Rev. Dr. Normander smiling benignly in the background. They knew what it meant, although there were no wedding garments and the wedding feast was not prepared. Ruth pleaded that there was important work to be done. Ralph declared that he was “following Doctor Muelenberg’s prescription in not allowing her to go forth single-handed.”
It was enough. The two hands were joined then and there and before another morning dawned the bride and bridegroom had planned their Independence Day campaign.
THE BRIDAL TRIP.
Witha roll of statistics in hand and Ruth on his arm Ralph proceeded to the Golden Rule President’s office the next morning after the marriage.
As they entered the hall they heard some one singing in a deep, melodious voice.
“That’s the President,” whispered Ralph, crushing Ruth’s arm to his side. “It’s his morning matin. I think he composes it as he goes along. Sometimes he sings the Golden Rule mayor’s songs.”
“Did you ever hear anything so quaint and touching, Ralph?”
“Never, Ruth, outside of ‘Friends’ Meeting,’ where I used to go with Grandma when I was a kid. They sang their sermons and sometimes they were very touching.”
“O, listen! He’s singing plainer now, Ralph!”
“As long as you please, dear,” said Ralph. The rascal was only too glad to listen, with Ruth’s pretty head leaning against his shoulder and her faircheek within kissing distance, while the following words came rolling forth in a heartful voice:
“Co-workers with God! What a mission for men.What a promise! What glory awaits us then,When once we awake and our destiny see!The angels I’m sure might envious be.All hail to God’s workers! Our race they will saveFrom the foul name of ‘master,’ or ‘idler’ or ‘slave.’”
“O, I like that, Ralph,” whispered Ruth, after the singing had ceased. “It sounds so hearty and helpful—better than cathedral music for poor mortals like ourselves. I know he will help us. Let us go in now.”
Ralph was in no hurry; but Ruth pressed him eagerly forward. She would not wait even for the proffered kiss. She rapped at the door.
“No need of ceremony here,” laughed Ralph. He opened the door and they walked in.
The President was at his desk swinging his pen as vigorously as he had been using his voice a moment before. He did not stop until he came to a period. Then he arose quickly and extended both hands.
“Glad to see you, Norwood, and twice glad to see—”
“My wife,” stammered Ralph—the words were new to him and the sound was new to Ruth. They both blushed and the President asked as he shook a hand of each:
“How long since, Norwood? I didn’t know youwere married. It must be newly. I see you haven’t gotten used to saying ‘my wife?’”
“Only since last evening,” replied Ralph.
“And you brought her to see me early this morning,” said the President, slapping his shoulder while he retained Ruth’s little hand in his powerful grasp. “Bless you! You are a good fellow, Norwood. You are giving me a rare treat. It’s seldom a man brings his wife to call on me and never a newly-wedded one. I like the idea, though. It shows you are thinking of others’ pleasure as well as your own. That’s the right kind of love to have even in the beginning.”
“She chose it for her wedding trip,” laughed Ralph confusedly. Then he recovered himself and added seriously: “She was very anxious to see you and speak with you, and she would not wait a moment longer.”
“Come and sit down,” said the President. “We will talk. We will reason together if need be.”
After they were seated Ruth took a little miniature from her pocket and handed it to him.
“Please look at the picture so you will understand exactly how I feel and why I appeal to you,” said Ruth.
“That’s right! just right! People don’t half understand each other. That’s the reason why they often seem so hard and unsympathetic.” Then he put on his glasses and looked at the picture.
“What a beautiful face! How spiritual! Italmost seems as though I had seen one that looked a little like it.” He gave her a keen glance.