There were some not so ragged,--some in dainty white dresses and shining jackets; but they went down and mingled with the others,--brothers and sisters for that night at least,--and were all, oh, _so_ happy! How they _did_ dance and laugh and scream around that fountain, and snap torpedoes and fire-crackers, and shout with wild delight when the rockets shot up into the sky, or the burning wheels span round and round, scattering showers of real fire right in among the crowds of children! Well, the evening hasted away; the very last rocket took its bright, rushing way up into the blue sky; and Mr.Minturn gathered his company around the piazza with the words,-- "Now, children, Mr.Holbrook has a few words to say to you, and after that, as soon as we have sung a hymn, it will be time to go home." Mr.Holbrook was the minister; many of the children knew him well, and most of them were ready to hear what he had to say, because they knew, by experience, that he was old enough and wise enough not to make a long, dry speech after nine o'clock on the Fourth of July.
Only Tip, as he turned longingly away from the last dying spark of the rocket, muttered, "Bother the preaching!" Mr.Holbrook came forward to the steps, as the boys and girls gathered around him.
"Children," said he, "we have had a good time, haven't we ?" "Yes, sir!" came in a loud chorus from many voices.
"Yes; I thought you acted as though you felt pretty happy.

Now this has been a busy day, and we are all tired, so I'm not going to keep you here to make a speech to you; I just want to tell you, in as few words as I can, what I have been thinking about since I stood here to-night.

I have watched you as you frolicked around that fountain,--so many young, bright faces, all looking so happy,--and I said to myself, When the time comes for us to gather around that fountain of living water which is before the throne of God, I wonder if _one_ of these boys and girls will be missing--_one_ of them?
Oh, children, I pray God that you may _all_ be there, _every_ one." Just a little speech it was,--so little that the youngest there might almost remember the whole of it,--yet it meant _so_ much.
Tip Lewis had wedged his way in among the boys until he stood very near the minister, and his face wore a sober, thoughtful look.

It was only two days since his long talk with himself at the pond.

Fourth of July, with all the merrymaking and mischief that it brought to him, had nearly driven sober thoughts from his mind, but the minister's solemn words brought back the memory of his half-formed resolves, and again he said to himself he believed he would reform; this time he added that if he knew about _how_ to do it, he would begin right away.