The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-05-11
For The Clarion
Decoration Day at IEaxIehursf-

The 18th of April, the day set apart for
decorating the graves of our honored dead,
was rainy and bad, and therefore the prep
arations made for dressing the graves of
those who died in the defense of their
Southern homes, came to naught, and the
ceremonies had TO be deferred until another
day. Thursday morning, the 9th. opening
bright and clear, with the birds warbling
forth their sweet notes in praise of the
Great | AN, and the flowers looking bright
and fresh, after the heavy rain that had
fallen on them the evening before, it was
noised about town that morning, that the
tribute of love would be paid to the ashes
of the sleeping dead; so 1 repaired early to
the Cemetery where found a great many
already assembled, anxiously awaiting the
coming of the school children with the
flowers, of which they had stripped all the
gardens in and around HaZiehurst.
Hush, they comet The sound of the
muffled drum, beating sad and solemnly
strikes the ear, and all anxiously look in the
direction from which the sound is heard.
They como; the head of the long column is
in sight, aHd those around flock to the
graves to get a good view of the proceed
iDgs.
First. at the head of the column is an
impromtu band, gotten up for the occasion.
Second. came prominent citizens and orators.
Third. were thirteen young ladies repre-
senting the thirteen Southern States. Then
came the two schools; and last came the
citizens.
The two schools numbered about $50 sehol
ars, and numbering children, teachers, ora
tors, prominent citizens and spectators all
togethers, there were about 500 people on
the grounds.
After the arrival of the schools on the
ground the ceremonies commenced with
prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Trawick. Then
speeches. suitable to the occasion, were
delivered by Judge w. A. Stone Rev. l.. Il.
Redding. Rev. Mr.. Pearson, Rev. Mr.. Ira
wick, and Rev. Mr.. Parrish. The speeches
ofeach one found an echo in each breast,
and brought tears to the eyes OF nearly ev
cry listener.
beautiful hymn entitled the soldiers
Decoration Hymn" Then toe children
went inside of the graveyard, place allot-
ted TO the remains of the soldiers of the
Lost Cause and formed a hollow-square
around the graves and as each State walked
out and took her place at the head of
grave she. sang verse appropriate to that
State, and as her verse was sung she planted
a boquet on the grave of the noble soldier,
sleeping in his narrow bed. After the
different States had finished their work of
placing the emblem of love over the re-
mains of him who sleeps beneath the sod,
the schools sang a verse to that noble hero,
Gen. Il. f. Lee, and while they were sing
ing it, verse that mentioned the name of
that noble man. the tear of regret that he
was no longer on earth was shed by many
of those who were standing around.
After this verse was sung the school
children arranged the flowers on the graves
until it looked like a large iower-bed ; and
after the flowers were arranged, and the
work of love finished. the Benediction was
pronounced by the Rev. Mr.. Pearson, and
then all repaired to their homes.
And now, to those who may have relatives
or friends sleeping beneath the sod at Ha-
ziehurst, can say. although they be dead
yet they live in the hearts of the Southern
people in that vicinity, and as each apniver-
sary rolls round, their graves will be
strewn with flowers. B.