CHAPTER XXII.
A FOURTH OF JULY “ORATION.”
It would be impossible to describe the dismay of Larry Little as he found that he was followed by Pluto Snyder and Lucy Howlitt, who was laughing and apparently enjoying herself.
Fortunately for Larry, he had prudently ducked down behind the wagon seat at the same moment he had looked around at the sound of the approaching team.
What could he do in that sorry plight?
He cried out to Old Jerry, but he knew the clumsy farm horse would prove no match for the spirited animal driven by his rival.
As if to add to his horror, the latter was driving at a smart gait, and he was rapidly overtaking him.
In vain he urged Old Jerry on.
He was in for it!
In his agony he thought of jumping from the wagon, let the consequence be what it might. But that would only add to the worst side of his foolish adventure. There was no escape for him!
In this horrible dilemma, while continuing to urge Old Jerry on, he caught up the oilcloth Mr. Howlitt had thrown over the load of produce, and wrapped this hastily about his form. Then, speaking coaxingly for Jerry to slacken his gait, he kept his arms concealed as much as possible, and waited desperately for the others to pass.
Larry’s awful suspense was of short duration, for in a minute Pluto and his fair companion came dashing alongside.
“Old Jerry seems to be wide-awake,” greeted Lucy, who did not seem to realize the real situation, “so I thought we should not overtake you. I think you must have lost a bundle out of your wagon, for I saw this by the wayside, and made Mr. Snyder stop and pick it up.”
With these words she tossed into the market wagon at Larry’s feet the bundle containing his new clothes.
He dared not stoop to take it up, and he was too confused and bewildered to make the grateful acknowledgment that he felt in his heart like doing.
“Father will soon be along,” said Lucy, as she and her companion rapidly left poor Larry behind. “I met Mr. Snyder in Middletown, and he wanted——”
The rest was too indistinct for Larry to understand, but it did not matter. The fearful ordeal was over, his new clothes safe, and he felt like shouting in his joy.
Now that he came to himself, he began to see how foolish he had been in throwing away so hastily his old clothes.
“I had no business to do it,” he said. “I’ve a mind to drive back and see if I can find them.”
He concluded to do this, but not until he had first arrayed himself properly, in case anybody else should come along. Then he retraced his course, and finding the discarded garments, went back into the woods, where he could put them on with less chance of being interrupted.
Upon reaching Mr. Howlitt’s, Larry could not help imagining that every one was thinking of his recent escapade, and he went about his work in a confused way. Somehow he did not dare to show his new clothes, so he carried them to his room when no one was looking. But he was not to keep his secret long, if it could be called a secret, for the next morning he was questioned in regard to them. It proved that his employer had given him the money in the way he had in order to see what he would do with it.
“I will tell you, papa,” said Lucy, “for I think Lawrence is too modest to do so. He has a new suit of clothes, and I think we ought to see how they look on him, don’t you?”
So Larry was persuaded to try on his new suit, and while he felt in a most uncomfortable frame of mind, the clothes were declared to be a good fit, and well worth the money.
“I see no reason now why you cannot attend the Fourth at Gainsboro,” said Mr. Howlitt, with a laugh.
“I mean to, sir,” replied Larry, though he little dreamed under what circumstances.
A few days later, as he and Job were at work in what was called “the further field,” on their way home they overheard some one talking in a loud tone in an old barn standing some distance from the road.
Drawn thither out of curiosity, they looked into the building through one of the cracks between the boards, to find Pluto Alexander Snyder there reciting a “piece” with all the gusto at his command.
“By gum!” whispered Job, “if he ain’t oratin’ his Gainsboro stump speech, he may hitch me up to draw the cultivator ’tween the corn rows to-morrer. Ain’t he a squelcher?”
Unconscious of his intent listeners, Pluto, the embryo lawyer, continued to practice on his “oration,” going entirely through the speech twice, and dwelling upon what he considered its finest points over and over again.
“If that don’t set out John Howlitt’s eyes I don’t know what will,” he said to himself. “When he hears this Fourth of July oration of mine he will think I am fit to associate with his daughter. As if the Howlitts were anywhere near as good as the Snyders!”
Job had hard work to keep from laughing outright while he listened, and as soon as they were a safe distance from the old barn, he lay down on the ground and rolled and roared until he was completely out of breath.
“Did you ever see th’ beat of thet, Larry. Say, my boy, if you could orate like that, your fortun’ would be made, ha—ha—ha!”
“I believe I can, Job. Now listen.”
Then, to the amazement of his companion, Larry Little repeated the “oration” of Pluto Snyder’s from beginning to end. He may have made some mistakes, but they were of small account, and Job listened with open-mouthed astonishment.
“By gum!” exclaimed Job, after a long pause, “how in creation did you do thet? Jess as Pluck Snyder had it, word fer word, even to the flourishes. Could yer do thet ag’in?”
“Of course I could, Job. It was always easy for me to remember.”
“If I had a hang-on to my memory like thet, I’d make my fortin’, see if I wouldn’t.”
As Larry and Job were working up that way the next day they took time to call at the old barn, to find Pluto Snyder already there going through his daily rehearsal. Nor was that the last time the amused twain sought their post to listen, for they continued to do this until they tired of it, and Larry could repeat every word and gesture. To prove this he went through the entire “oration” before Job the day preceding the Fourth.
Though Larry had got his new suit of clothes, he knew that Lucy had promised to go to Gainsboro with young Snyder, so he spared himself the humiliation of being refused.
In his disappointment he donned his best clothes, and though Mr. Howlitt had intended for him to ride along with the family, he went on foot and alone, “the same as the girl who went to get married.”
The day was pleasant, and he found a large crowd gathered in the grove, where merriment reigned supreme. A stranger among strangers, he held aloof from the rest, until he was both surprised and pleased to see Rob, Tom and Jerry there.
“Hello!” greeted the first, “you didn’t say you were coming over here.”
“Neither did you,” replied Larry.
“Say, Rob, don’t Larry look fine in his new clothes? Where’d you get ’em, Larry?”
“Bought them with money of my own earning,” retorted Larry, who was not disposed to do much talking even with his friends.
The truth was, he had been on the watch for Lucy and Pluto Snyder, but they had not appeared, though it was already past the time set for the speaking, and he knew they were waiting for the “orator” up at the grand stand. Then he saw Mr. Howlitt arrive, and Lucy was with him, so that his wonder increased.
He was about to go and speak to her, when Job touched him on the arm, saying, in a low voice:
“They want you up to the spouter’s stand.”
Larry was not more surprised at the words than he was to find that Job was present, as he had not expected him to come.
“What do you mean, Job?”
“Jess what I say, Larry. Pluck Snyder sent word by me that he can’t be here to-day, and he wants you to orate his speech fer him.”