the ground. Some
neighboring boys were firing a toy cannon. Every time it went off Mrs.
Peterkin started, and looked to see if one of the little boys was
gone. Mr. Peterkin had set out to find a copy of the "Declaration."
Agamemnon had disappeared. She had not a moment to decide about her
headache. She asked Ann Maria if she were not anxious about the
fireworks, and if rockets were not dangerous. They went up, but you
were never sure where they came down.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

And then came a fresh tumult! All the fire-engines in town rushed
toward them, clanging with bells, men and boys yelling! They were out
for a practice, and for a Fourth-of-July show.

Mrs. Peterkin thought the house was on fire, and so did some of the
guests. There was great rushing hither and thither. Some thought they
would better go home; some thought they would better stay. Mrs.
Peterkin hastened into the house to save herself, or see what she
could save. Elizabeth Eliza followed her, first proceeding to collect
all the pokers and tongs she could find, because they could be thrown
out of the window without breaking. She had read of people who had
flung looking-glasses out of the window by mistake, in the excitement
of the house being on fire, and had carried the pokers and tongs
carefully into the garden. There was nothing like being prepared. She
had always determined to do the reverse. So with calmness she told
Solomon John to take down the looking-glasses. But she met with a
difficulty,--there were no pokers and tongs, as they did not use them.
They had no open fires; Mrs. Peterkin had been afraid of them. So
Elizabeth Eliza took all the pots and kettles up to the upper windows,
ready to be thrown out.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

But where was Mrs. Peterkin? Solomon John found she had fled to the
attic in terror. He persuaded her to come down, assuring her it was
the most unsafe place; but she insisted upon stopping to collect some
bags of old pieces, that nobody would think of saving from the general
wreck, she said, unless she did. Alas! this was the result of
fireworks on Fourth of July! As they came downstairs they heard the
voices of all the company declaring there was no fire; the danger was
past. It was long before Mrs. Peterkin could believe it. They told her
the fire company was only out for show, and to celebrate the Fourth of
July. She thought it already too much celebrated.

[Illustration]

Elizabe