the Fourth of July spirit mixed in
with it," said Winthrop, "but I suppose it would spoil the harmony. But
we really ought to use a little gunpowder in honour of the day. Come on,
Patty, your work is about finished, let's go out and put off a few
firecrackers."

"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.

"But how can I set them off?" said Patty, "I'm afraid to have them in the
boat, and we can't throw them out on the water."

"We'll manage this way," said Winthrop, and drawing one of the oars into
the boat, he laid a lighted firecracker on the blade and pushed it out
again. The firecracker went off with a bang, and in great glee Patty
pulled in the other oar and tried the same plan.

Then they set off a whole pack at once, and as the length of the oar was
not quite sufficient for safety Winthrop let it slip from the row-lock
and float away on the water. As he had previously tied a string to the
handle so that he could pull the oar back at will, this was a great game,
and the floating oar with its freight of snapping firecrackers provided
much amusement. The noise of the explosions brought the others running to
the scene, and three or four more boats were soon out on the lake.
Firecrackers went snapping in ever