Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-06-20
POLLY'S DECORATION DAY.


Decoration Day. Shall you 60 with
flowers"
Shall I 60: Indeed, Kate, did you
but know how my heart clinSS to that
little spot of earth, you would not ask
me-
And shall YOU take Polly:"
Yes, indeed want her earliest re
membranes to be those OF love ana
honor for her soldier father" The sweet
tacc under the widows cap beamed with
tenderness as she thought of the dear one
who had given his life to his country.
now waiting for her in heavenly home;
and she did not speak again until
childish voice recalled her thoughts.
Mamma, is l a-goin' to Dec 'lation
Day."
Yes, darling; we are going to put
~ume beautiful flowers on papas grave.
An may Z'rusha 60, too:'
Mamma smiled. Yes, dear; if it Will
please my little Polly, Z'rusha many go
too.
And away ran Polly to communicate
the news.
Decoration Day dawned bright and
teautiful-the very heavens seeming TO
send their blessing down upon the fowel-
decked graves Of soldiers.
Rlithe little Polly sat in the carriage,
with .Jerusha in one hand and a fragrant
bunch of lilies vf the valley in the other,
waiting for mamma. Soon she came,
with q basket of pure white blossoms,
and they drove off. The SUI shone warm
and bright, and the air was SO still that
even robins note from the branches OF
the sweet-scented apple trees seemed out
OF tune; and mammals face was SO peace
full III its thoughtfulness that even Polly
kept quiet, only chatting in whispers to
Jerusha The ride was not very long,
and soon the beautiful cemetery. with its
little hills and valleys, lay spread out be-
tore them. They drove through one OF
the pretty winding paths, past MANY
towet-coyered graves, until at last the
carriage stopped, and mamma stepped
out, Polly following, with wide-open eyes.
Is papa down there in the ground,
mamma - asked the wondering child.
NO, darling answered the sweet
voice, as the hands busily arranged
the pretty flowers. Papa is away up in
the blue SKY. where the dear Jesus liv es
And by and by Polly and mamma will
20 up there too and live with him.
But, mamma" and the blue eyes were
full of wonder, s. if papa is way up inc
sky, how can he get'e pity flowers!
Will he fly down out O heavenl"
NO, Polly, papa will not get the
lowers at all, and he does not want
them. But we put them where he is
buried to show how much we loved him.
Do you understand, dear?"
Polly did not answer. She was look
ing far away at the skies and mamma did
not try to recall her attention, thinking
10 herself: 'Ncver mind. If she does
not understand now, she will sometime, y
But Polly was not satisfied, and she
crept away, and, taking up Jerusha, she
whispered in that young lady's ear;
hrusha, don't see how papa can Diet
pit ty Towers way up IN e sky. / fink
ed h. ito come way, way down, and be
ely t. Il. What you fink bout it,
Zrusha?"
Jerusha appeared not to have any
decided opinion, and, after a little more
lingering among the grassy hillocks
mamma, Polly and Jerusha drove slowly
home ward, mamma thinking CT the dear
lost one. Polly of the mysterious question
which puzzled her SO much-how papa
was to come down out of heaven for the
flowers they had brought him.
Once at home, mamma went to lie
down. for the morning had been a hard
one for her; and Polly and Jerusha were
left alone in the yard. But something
was on the childs mind. She could moi
play and even her beloved dolly failed tc
awaken any interest and lay neglected on
the ground.
Suddenly Polly seemed TO have new
thought, and, snatching her favorite from
the ground, she said, in an exultant
voice:
"Z'rusha Zane! l know what I'll do!
My papa wants all e pity towers we
taxed to him, and he hasn't dot any little
dirl up in heaven to send down after 'em
an I'm a-doin' to take 'em to him. I
see place way off, where can step right
into heaven; an you an me, We'll 90 an
sprize papa wiz the pity things. Won't
he be glade Want to go, Z'rusha?''
Of course, Jerusha did want to 60. So
Polly tucked her snugly under her arm,
and, putting her little straw hat on the
back IF her curls, the pair started off.
Now" said Polly, first, we'll 60 an
Diet all e towers dat mamma had in e
morning, an take 'em wiz us. fink
this is e way"
And off she ran way up to the north
road.
The May sun was very warm and bright
and the small feet, trud ging through the
dust, were very hot and tired. But their
patient owner went bravely on, until
nature could endure no more; and, with a
weary little sigh, she sat down on the
grass by the roadside, and remarked to
her companion that ut was such velly
long walk where the towers were, she
fuked they'd better take some yellow
ones right here, an papa d like it jes as
we'll"
Jerusha, being an obiging young lady,
thought it would probably suit quite as
we'll. So Polly gathered her plump lit
tie hands tuu Of .buttercups and dande-
lions, saying with a satisfied air Of relief
"Tbere, now, we can Diet there velly
soon Scatse + see "a place where ! can
step right up, an I dess maybe there'll
he an angel to help me an Z'rusha up e
STEP"
So, with smiling face and happy Wis
ions, the little dusty figure battered along
the sunny road.
o. - IL. os'
The Afternoon rays of the clear May sun
were SAILING aslsnt in the pleasant front
vard-sfalling on several articles Of Miss
Jerusha's wardrobe, which that careless