The Independence Day Horror
at Killsbury
BOSTON HARBOR STYLE.
The Independence Day
Horror
At Killsbury
By Asenath Carver Coolidge
Author of “The Modern Blessing, Fire”
and many other short stories
and poems
Illustrated by
Cassius M. Coolidge
Watertown, N. Y.:
Hungerford-Holbrook Company.
1905
Copyrighted 1905
By Asenath Carver Coolidge
Published April, 1905
HUNGERFORD-HOLBROOK CO.,
WATERTOWN, N. Y.
Dedicated
To my Grandmother, Asenath Carver Townsend
a descendent of John and Mary Carver
who came to America to escape persecution
for their religious belief
which would not permit
them to countenance war
or its vain-glorious
celebrations
Preface
The world is a dangerous place to live in, especially for helpless andinnocent children. Wise parents are sadly aware of this fact and havealways been striving to make it less dangerous. That this was no smalltask even in the beginning is easy enough to be seen; for there werepoison fruits and reptiles and savage beasts to contend with; but it waslight indeed compared with the parental task of today, when the monstersof militarism and greed are abroad, planting their danger-traps in thepathway of unwary feet.
In our own country Independence Day has proved to be their golden harvest.The freedom given to small boys on this day makes them easy victims to thetempters’ wiles, who under the treacherous guise of patriotism have seizedupon them more and more every year, until the list of the dead and woundedhas assumed appalling proportions. Still there is little talk of doingaway with this hideous slaughter; while there is “big talk” about “racesuicide,” and an appeal to mothers to bring forth more sons to supply thenation’s need.
[Pg viii]The nation’s need! What need, we ask in God’s name, has this nation ofthree or four thousand boys to sacrifice annually on our country’s altar?Let the mothers answer. Let them demand that this country be made a fitplace for children to live in. That the ten million now spent annually fortheir destruction, be used for their benefit. If only one half of thisamount were used rightly what a change would come over the face of thiscontinent! Every town, however small, would have its pretty park for thechildren to play in without fear and trembling. There would be flowers andmusic—true and gentle music that takes the savagery out of the humanheart instead of filling it with savage impulses. Music that would notdrown the voices of the birds, but inspire them to sing their rarestsongs. Music that would not wound the ears of the tenderest babes but seemto them like a mother’s softest lullaby; to which it is easy to fancy thatGod’s birds, the angels, are delighted to listen.
Asenath Carver Coolidg BU KİTABI OKUMAK İÇİN ÜYE OLUN VEYA GİRİŞ YAPIN!
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