The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-06-07

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mother, brother or sister, for one
whose hand will never again clasp
hers, whose low voice, to her SO must
cal and tender, will never again re-
peat the words she SO much loved to
hear him speak; Of the pale wan
checked wife who had suffered the
greatest loss of all, the loss Of him
who was to her more than her own
life, of him in whom was wrapped
up her very soul and all that is most
beautiful true and good in human ma
ture; and they also beheld the half
wondering, half doubling grief of chill
dren who could scarcely understand
why that dear, kind papa should new
er come back again to romp with
them, and bring them toys and make
time so jolly and nice.
Those things they remember and
these thing they beheld, and the
scenes of the past and Of the present
led them to join themselves together
as band of brothers, that the frater-
nal feelings engendered in the camp
and on the weary march might not
die out, and that the duties of the
future might not be neglected. Their
feelings were shared by all those
brave men, CROUCH but gentle and
true" whose experiences were like
theirs. From such seed grew Hp the
Grand Army of the Republic. It soon
spread to every village ahd hamlet
throughout the loyal North, and to
many places in the South. The deeds
of charity done by the Grand Army
have never been and never will be
told. Many a poor widow has knelt
in her silent closet to thank Him who
knows all things for the barrel of -four
or the ton of coal brought to her door
at time when only God could
know the anguish that wrung her
heart to see her little ones SILVER with
cold or to hear them plead for bread.
The Grand Army was organized for Il
noble purpose, and molly has it done
its duty.
Among the many things for which
We have to thank this noble organi-
zation is the beautiful custom of
strewing the graves of fallen heroes
with fresh, sweet flowers, by which
we acknowledge their service, their
yalor and their devotion. Yesterday,
the thirtieth day of May, was set
apart by the Grand Army as Decora-
ton Day, and gloriously have the
loyal people of the land responded to
the call Of the veterans to assist in
offering the sad tribute to the memory
of the dead who died that we might
be free men and free women. It is
not possible that the world should
forget such men or their deeds. It is
not possible that a freedom loving
nation should neglect their final rest
ing places.
Four miles west of the Capitol on
the opposite side of the majestic Po-
tomac is Arlington Heights. Nature
has here been lavish of her beauties.
Noble forest trees interlock their
branches and the MONDAY sun never
ventures more than a glance at the
modest wild flowers growing beneath
their shade. The air is always fra
grant with the sweet they give forth.
No wonder that the wealthy and arts
tocratic family of Lees should have
chosen this place for their home.
Now it has become a city, but city
so silent and void Of life. In its streets
no cry is heard. The visitor passes
through it with slow and noiseless
tread. Only the birds in the boughs
of the huge oak trees are cheerful.
They MARBLE forth their sweet tones
only to make us feel more keenly the
sadness that comes over us when in
the presence of the lifeless heroes.
On a high ridge overlooking Wash
ington City and the Potomac river is
the Lee mansion. In it's rear is the
National Cemetery, in which reposes
all that is mortal of fifteen thousand.
eight hundred soldiers. Of this num-
beT four thousand are colored. two
hundred and fifteen are confederates.
At the head of each grave is a plain
white board, on which is painted the