learn. Sometimes a boy would ask a foolish question,
which would make the rest laugh; but then Mr. Harrison would say it was
better to be laughed at for trying to learn, than to grow up a dunce.

In this way the boys would improve so much, both in mind and body, that
their parents left them with Mr. Harrison as long as he could keep them;
and both the boys and their parents were very sorry when the time came
for them to leave, for Mr. Harrison would not take any boy after he was
fourteen years of age.

One afternoon, after school, the boys were all busy weeding in their
gardens, when one of them suddenly cried out, "Phil, do you know how
long it is to the Fourth of July?"

"To be sure I do," answered Philip; "it is just four weeks and four
days."

"So it is, I declare," said Thomas, the first boy who had spoken. "Boys,
I'll tell you what we will do. Let us all write to our parents, for an
immense lot of fireworks; then, we will club together, and keep all,
except the crackers, for a grand display of fireworks, in the evening."

"Oh yes, yes," cried all the boys, "that is an excellent idea."

"I will ask Mr. Harrison," said Phil, "to help us fix the wheels and so
forth, for all I ever fixed myself, stuck fast, and would not go round
at all."

"I mean to write for lots of Roman candles," said Frank, "they look so
beautiful going up. They look like planets with wings."

"_I_ will go largely into the snakes and grasshoppers," said another
boy; "it is such fun to see the boys cutting round to get out of the
way."

"We'll make some wooden pistols, to put the crackers in," said another
boy.

"Yes, and I will send for a little brass cannon that my uncle Major
Brown gave me," said another.

Just then the bell rang for tea, and the boys, putting their little
rakes and hoes into their tool-house, ran in to wash their faces and
hands, and brush their hair. Then they took off their overalls or coarse
pantaloons, which they wore when at work in the garden, and hung them up
in the play-room. They had a nice large play-room for playing when the
weather was unpleasant.

It was astonishing what large quantities of bread and butter, and
apple-sauce, these boys consumed for their supper, for working out of
doors in the fresh country air, is sure to make people hungry, and boys
especially are always ready for eating. After supper Mr. Harrison made a
prayer, while all the boys knelt at their chairs around the table. Then
they