Bab also longed to join in the fun, which suited her better than "stupid picnics" or "fussing over dolls;" but her heroes would not have her at any price; and she was obliged to content herself with sitting by Thorny, and watching with breathless interest the varying fortunes of "our side." A grand match was planned for the Fourth of July; but when the club met, things were found to be unpropitious.

Thorny had gone out of town with his sister to pass the day, two of the best players did not appear, and the others were somewhat exhausted by the festivities, which began at sunrise for them.

So they lay about on the grass in the shade of the big elm, languidly discussing their various wrongs and disappointments.
"It's the meanest Fourth I ever saw.

Can't have no crackers, because somebody's horse got scared last year," growled Sam Kitteridge, bitterly resenting the stern edict which forbade free-born citizens to burn as much gunpowder as they liked on that glorious day.
"Last year Jimmy got his arm blown off when they fired the old cannon.
Didn't we have a lively time going for the doctors and getting him home ?" asked another boy, looking as if he felt defrauded of the most interesting part of the anniversary, because no accident had occurred.
"Ain't going to be fireworks either, unless somebody's barn burns up.
Don't I just wish there would," gloomily responded another youth who had so rashly indulged in pyrotechnics on a former occasion that a neighbor's cow had been roasted whole.
"I wouldn't give two cents for such a slow old place as this.

Why, last Fourth at this time, I was rumbling though Boston streets on top of our big car, all in my best toggery.