He and Laddie did, and Mun Bun did not mind it very much, though he did
shut his eyes and jump when a big cracker went off.

Rose, Margy and Vi didn't like the fire-crackers at all, though they
didn't mind tossing torpedoes down on the sidewalk, to hear them go off
with a little bang.

Mrs. Bunker was afraid some of the children might get burned or hurt with
the fireworks, and she wished they hadn't had any; but Daddy Bunker
promised to stay with the little folk all day, and see that they got into
no danger. And he did, firing off the big fire-crackers himself.

The wooden cannon Russ made didn't work very well. The first fire-cracker
that was shot off in it burst the wooden affair all to pieces.

"But I don't care," said Russ with a jolly whistle. "It made _one_ awfully
good noise, anyhow."

"To-night we'll go down to the Square and see the big fireworks," said
Daddy Bunker, for the town of Pineville was old-fashioned enough to have a
Fourth-of-July celebration.

"And you said we could have ice cream and cake this afternoon," said Rose
to her mother.

"Yes, I did," agreed Mrs. Bunker. "Norah is freezing the cream now, and
she made the cake yesterday."

"Oh, goody!" cried Laddie, clapping his hands. "Ice cream and cake. Is it
chocolate cake, Mother?" he asked.