I oft times remember what we boys used to do
On the night before the Fourth. We would trick quite a few!
There would always be three or four meet at the store.
When you're out for deviltry, you don't want any more!
Of course ringing the church bell at midnight was due,
And we had lots of fun playing tricks on folks, too.
It was Fourth of July, and a neighbor had proof,
If his buggy was found on the ridge of his roof!
Back then lumber by wagon was hauled a long way
Up Tannery Hill every other day.
With an afternoon trip there would be a full load
Before starting for Westfield away down the road.
Well, one Fourth at night, a half load we found
All tied up with chains with the twister around.
On the Fourth of July boys are s'posed to have fun,
So we got on one side, lifting hard, every one!
What a tussle to lift those two wheels off the ground!
But we pushed and we tugged, and at last it did bound.
And instead of a wagon with a load on the top,
The load balanced sideways, and then didn't stop!
Of course this was really a mean trick to do
On one of our neighbors that all of us knew,
But on Fourth of July with temptation so near,
Many boys or young men will play tricks that are queer.
There were many out-houses tipped over, I'd say,
Just for fun, and all done in a spirit of play.
As I've said, we would ring the church bell as a rule,
But on one Fourth the minister thought US to fool.
So he left the bell rope from the window to swing.
As we grasped it, of course, there came forth not a ring.
So a couple climbed up to the window above,
And then in the dark up the long steps did trudge.
As they thought, the whole tongue was removed from the bell,
So they groped in the dark till they found it, as well
As the bolt and the cotterpin. Then, I am told,
They had to light matches, to make it all hold.
It had been a hard climb up that long winding stair.
They were glad to return to the window back there.
They slid quickly down on the rope to the ground.
What a shock for the preacher to hear that bell sound!
There once was a man bought up land in the town,
And built roads of gravel both up hill and down.
In front of the store on each side he built piers.
But no one in town liked to see them appear.
So the night of the Fourth some folks came to that place
With rope and with chains those piers to erase.
With a chain round a pier and one tied to a tree,
The rope fell between, and one pier toppled free.
A short distance away by the side of the road
Somehow or other a telephone pole stood,
And by using the tactics that worked as before,
Soon the other pier fell. None were left as before.
The man who had built these did good for the town,
Sold fine building lots and raised houses around.
The carpenters of Blandford had work for some years,
But in business this man was quite shrewd, it was clear!
Of course we bought firecrackers when I was a boy.
But in those days we had little money for joy.
On the Fourth you might have fifteen cents or a dime.
So I bought some black powder, a quarter pound, with mine.
Then I'd go where some stumps stood where trees were sawed down.
With an auger I'd drill out a stump all around.
It was hard work to drill down six inches, clear through!
Then from Father I'd get fuse and blasting caps too.
I'd pour in an inch and a half, I would say.
Of powder to make a good blast on that day
Some newspapers tamped with a rod made of wood.
And then sand or brick dust tamped in tight and good.
One minute per foot the fuse burned, that I knew.
After filling the hole with damp dirt, packed hard, too,
I'd leave one foot at least of the fuse sticking through.
This I'd light with a match, then run fast it is true!
Sometimes it exploded, sometimes it went out,
But I kept making holes till my powder ran out.
Now Father bought sky rockets to set off after dark
Roman candles were fine, too, for having a lark!
About 1918 I saw a real fireworks display.
We all went in a car to Forest Park one day.
Narrow roads and large crowds made it hard to get there.
Not used to such crowds, Father drove with great care.
Sky rockets and other lights shone in the clouds
But I could not enjoy them for Betty yelled loud!
I guess she yelled more as each bomb burst in air.
I've seen fireworks but once since my trip over there!
On the night before the Fourth. We would trick quite a few!
There would always be three or four meet at the store.
When you're out for deviltry, you don't want any more!
Of course ringing the church bell at midnight was due,
And we had lots of fun playing tricks on folks, too.
It was Fourth of July, and a neighbor had proof,
If his buggy was found on the ridge of his roof!
Back then lumber by wagon was hauled a long way
Up Tannery Hill every other day.
With an afternoon trip there would be a full load
Before starting for Westfield away down the road.
Well, one Fourth at night, a half load we found
All tied up with chains with the twister around.
On the Fourth of July boys are s'posed to have fun,
So we got on one side, lifting hard, every one!
What a tussle to lift those two wheels off the ground!
But we pushed and we tugged, and at last it did bound.
And instead of a wagon with a load on the top,
The load balanced sideways, and then didn't stop!
Of course this was really a mean trick to do
On one of our neighbors that all of us knew,
But on Fourth of July with temptation so near,
Many boys or young men will play tricks that are queer.
There were many out-houses tipped over, I'd say,
Just for fun, and all done in a spirit of play.
As I've said, we would ring the church bell as a rule,
But on one Fourth the minister thought US to fool.
So he left the bell rope from the window to swing.
As we grasped it, of course, there came forth not a ring.
So a couple climbed up to the window above,
And then in the dark up the long steps did trudge.
As they thought, the whole tongue was removed from the bell,
So they groped in the dark till they found it, as well
As the bolt and the cotterpin. Then, I am told,
They had to light matches, to make it all hold.
It had been a hard climb up that long winding stair.
They were glad to return to the window back there.
They slid quickly down on the rope to the ground.
What a shock for the preacher to hear that bell sound!
There once was a man bought up land in the town,
And built roads of gravel both up hill and down.
In front of the store on each side he built piers.
But no one in town liked to see them appear.
So the night of the Fourth some folks came to that place
With rope and with chains those piers to erase.
With a chain round a pier and one tied to a tree,
The rope fell between, and one pier toppled free.
A short distance away by the side of the road
Somehow or other a telephone pole stood,
And by using the tactics that worked as before,
Soon the other pier fell. None were left as before.
The man who had built these did good for the town,
Sold fine building lots and raised houses around.
The carpenters of Blandford had work for some years,
But in business this man was quite shrewd, it was clear!
Of course we bought firecrackers when I was a boy.
But in those days we had little money for joy.
On the Fourth you might have fifteen cents or a dime.
So I bought some black powder, a quarter pound, with mine.
Then I'd go where some stumps stood where trees were sawed down.
With an auger I'd drill out a stump all around.
It was hard work to drill down six inches, clear through!
Then from Father I'd get fuse and blasting caps too.
I'd pour in an inch and a half, I would say.
Of powder to make a good blast on that day
Some newspapers tamped with a rod made of wood.
And then sand or brick dust tamped in tight and good.
One minute per foot the fuse burned, that I knew.
After filling the hole with damp dirt, packed hard, too,
I'd leave one foot at least of the fuse sticking through.
This I'd light with a match, then run fast it is true!
Sometimes it exploded, sometimes it went out,
But I kept making holes till my powder ran out.
Now Father bought sky rockets to set off after dark
Roman candles were fine, too, for having a lark!
About 1918 I saw a real fireworks display.
We all went in a car to Forest Park one day.
Narrow roads and large crowds made it hard to get there.
Not used to such crowds, Father drove with great care.
Sky rockets and other lights shone in the clouds
But I could not enjoy them for Betty yelled loud!
I guess she yelled more as each bomb burst in air.
I've seen fireworks but once since my trip over there!