human
Does Keineth know how we spend the Fourth of July?
gpt
I hate firecrackers! Keineth shuddered.
human
We always went away over the Fourth to a little place out on Long Island.
gpt
We just have balloons and Roman candles in the evening because they are not dangerous,
human
And then on the Fourth we always make our visit to Grandma Sparks.
gpt
Who is she?
human
Father calls her a page out of history.
gpt
Every man that had ever lived in her family has served his country--
human
She isn't really our grandmother. Just a dear friend.
gpt
She has the most interesting little old home about two miles from here. Part of it is over one hundred years old! She lives there all alone. And her house is filled with the most wonderful furniture--queer chairs and great big beds with posts that go to the ceiling and one has to step on little stepladders to get into them, only no one ever does because she lives there all alone. She has some plates that Lafayette ate from and a cup that George Washington drank out of--
human
And the funniest toys--a doll that belonged to her grandmother and is made of wood and painted, with a queer silk dress, all ruffles! She always lets me play with it.
gpt
And her great-great-grandmother, when she was a little girl, held an arch with some other children, at Trenton, for Washington to pass through when he went by horse to New York for his first inauguration. They all wore white and the arch was covered with roses. Grandma Sparks loves to tell of it and how Washington patted her great-great-grandmother on the head! If you ask her to tell you the story she will be very happy, Keineth.
human
I like her guns best-- cried Billy.
gpt
She's got all kinds of guns and things they used way back in the Revolution!
human
And she has a roomful of books and letters from great people that her ancestors collected. Why, Father says that she would be very rich if she'd sell the papers she has, but she will not part with a thing! Mother says she just lives in the past and she'd rather starve than to take money for one of her relics!
gpt
I'd rather have the money, you bet,
human
I wouldn't--I think it must be wonderful to have a letter that was really written and signed by President Lincoln himself,
gpt
I'm awfully glad we're going there,
human
Let's ask her to tell us about how her brother dug his way out of Andersonville Prison! She'll show us the broken knife, Ken!
gpt
Why, Billy, she's told us that story dozens of times--let's ask for a new one! To Keineth:
human
After she gives us gingerbread and milk and little tarts she tells us a story while we all sit under the apple tree!
gpt
And say, she can make the best tarts! interrupted Billy.
human
Oh, I wish the Fourth would hurry and come! echoed Keineth. It did come--a glorious sunny morning! Billy's bugle wakened them at a very early hour. Before breakfast the children, with Mr. and Mrs. Lee, circled about the flag pole on the lawn, and, while Billy slowly pulled the Stars and Stripes to the top, in chorus they repeated the oath of allegiance to their flag. Keineth--her eyes turned upward, suddenly felt a rush of loneliness for her father. A little prayer formed on her lips to the flag she was honoring.
gpt
Please take care of him wherever he is!