The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-31
For the in;eiiigencer
DECORATION DAY.

To-day, Thousands arc engaged in the
mouTniul yet pleasant task Gl decorating
the graves OF our dead heroes. II is r
mOufniul task, because il opens the old
wounds that time has partially hcalcd,and
calls into memory again the associations
that clustered around those days OF gloom,
when the sable clouds Of war hung heav-
lis over our sunny land. II is a pleasant
lack btcGuse We can thus best express
orr veneraIiOn Tor our gallant brothers
who SO molly gave their lives Tor our
c0uuiry's freedom. Flowers are the ST.
lent emblems Ol all pure and tender emo.
tious, and, therefore We scatter them up
Oh the MCunCS which
CoycF the faces that mott Inles' IL,
S4h fson iht Ol.C -! ths glCTo sEy;
Fac,sunCv d,cEr VITA the n lies Cfi,c gsy.
Pa.,s marked "! b IA GJw,rs Il Grciy.
Yes, 10 day many will weep, who fan
CID that the fountain OF their tears was
exhausted long ego, when grief and an
guisn hung like dark storm cloud over
their souls. the pearly tear drops will
come unbidden 10 the sisters eye, Us her
thoughts 90 back 10 days when, hand in
hand with her brave brother, she rOamed
over the fields andwOodlands Of her naive
home. But he iell upon the battle field,
and his bright eyes grew dim in death
and now he sleeps in the very valley
where so often his feet have walked.
The young wife will weep again IS she
gazes upon the marble slab which guides
so silently b. day and night, the mou!der'
ing form OF her Young husband. II is
well that the fountain Of tears can How
from her eyes, for the little relief that
these cleaning cmblems oil sorrow bring,
will often save the poor heart from break
ina lie was laid low in the pride Of his
manhood, and she was left with her blue
eyed infant to fight the battle Of lite. Yes,
weep on poor, lonely wife, while you scat
ter the beautiful flowers upon the lOwlY
grave OF the only man you ever loved
With wile's devotion. And among the
crowds that gather to-day in the green
graveyards OF our land, there are many
0gtd mothers, who, With haltiug steps and
bedding forms, find their way 10 the tomb
of a loved son. The noble boy upon
whom THEY had hoped TO lean in thCir &c.
CliniDg years, Is also wasting away in the
gloom VI the grave. He fell by cruel
Minnie ball away in the sunny southland,
and his old grey haired parents live alone
in their solitude. But soon they hope to
meet their idol in the quiet land where
the wild din OF battle never breaks the
holy stiffness that rCigrs around the eter-
nal hill. Watch and wait poor lonely pa
rents, Tor the golden gate is already swing.
ing open, TO admit youinIo tho presence
Of God and your loved one,
Another wCeps to day, US she twincs a
wreath OI sweet flowers to cast upon the
grave OF one with whom she had hoped
10 walk through life. But he did not
lead her to the bridal altar, Tor his hand
was still and rigid in death, when the
bright, hallowcd day came, when lie was
10 claim her US his vile. These happy
dreams OF peace and joy were unlul-
filled, and the once happy maiden is now
Il pale, silent woman, signing over the
faded flowers Of the past. Yes, yes, strew
their graves with the sweetest, iAirest
flowers OF the valley. Search the silent
woodland for these sweet GmOlems Of
love and purity, gather them by the gar
den walk, AID then as you twine them
into graceful garlands, place them rrvCr-
entity upon the cold, dead face Of the
slain. Gently and kindly perform this
token Of love and affection, aud then Nc
YOU leave the dead heroes 10 sleep in the
silence Of the grave, strive TO IdjOr Tor tue
iiriH9.
We have other heroes than those who
fell in the great rebellion, that ure now
sleeping in death. Perhaps you, reader,
would not call the poor, struggling In.
man beings that were slain by the rum
fiepd, heroes. No in one sense they aTe
not. Yet in another they are worthy OF
the honorcd name OF hero. They were
noble, they were ireehearted and brave,
and these usually are the qualifications OF
true hcToe. They died also trying TO
break the cruel chains that made them
slaves, They struggled robly and man
fully, ana only gave the contest wAen
they were beyond the reach OF hope and
mercy. Yes, they were noble men, and
some Of them gallant heroes; yet we do
not think OF covering their graves with
flowers. No, no, we pass silently by the
grave that is all ovCrcrown with bram-
bles and bushes Some might allow a
tear OF pity TO fall upon the neglected
mound, but not n flower would be cast
upon the drUnkdrdS Craze.
All yes, the rum reEd has destroyed
more irue men than did the HGr ,tsEd in
the late rebellion. There are thousands
Of these g:aves where never a flower is
ahnl In