the noon of the Sunday
before the Fourth of July
`` How long -- '' asked Mrs. Lathrop . `` I said three months , '' said Miss Clegg , `` an ' that takes it over the Fourth of July . My heavens alive , seems some days as if I could n't but just live , an ' the meanest thing about a man is , he 's so dead sure as he makes you happy , bein ' around the house . '' `` Well , Elijah seems to have hit the nail on its foot instead of its head this time , '' said Miss Clegg to Mrs. Lathrop on the noon of the Sunday before the Fourth of July ; `` that editorial of his in this week 's paper ai n't suitin ' any one a _ tall _ . I was down in the square yesterday an ' everybody as was there was talkin ' about it , an ' to-day after church everybody was still talkin ' about it , an ' gettin ' more mad all the time . '' `` What -- '' began Mrs. Lathrop . `` The one about the celebration as he printed in this week 's paper , '' replied her friend ; `` they was for discussin ' nothin ' else after church to-day , an ' one an ' all is dead set against the way as Elijah says .