146 LILLIAN'S FLAG 



The next morning Lillian was quietly study- 

 ing in n rustic arbor in the garden. A rough 

 man driving a poor old white horse came along. 

 Just in front of the flag he halted and with 

 an oath called out, "I will never go under that 

 flag. It's got to come down !" 



Lillian looked hastily about, hoping to find 

 some one who would help her preserve the flag 

 and the honor of those names it bore. Alas ! 

 there was no one in sight, not even her brother, 

 who was seldom absent from her side. 



The child, with Fido at her heols, ran to 

 the street to plead for her banner, but already 

 the angry old man was clambering up one 

 of the trees, jack-knife in hand, to cut the 

 rope. 



Quick as a flash Lillian saw a way out of 

 her trouble. Chirruping to the old horse, she 

 touched him gently with the whip, and off he 

 jogged straight under the flag and toward 

 home. 



Down the tree scrambled the old man, faster 

 than he had climbed up, and away he ran after 

 his horse and wagon. 



"Three cheers for our country, and three 



' 



cheers for you, my star spangled banner!" 



