The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-06-08
POLLY'S DECORATION DAY.

8 Miss Jerusha Jane" in her pink party
dress.
g Now, Zrusha, you mus be dood
girl and not tear cor dress, tause |
velly tired and tant mend it. VIII oo?"
| suppose Miss Jerusha must have re-
piled Eyes," for her little mistress
seemed perfectly satisfied; and pres
emily the young lady was taken off
into the corner of the yard, where the
party was to take place, and the lit
tie sunny-haired, rosy-cheeked child
came trotting back to her home, on the
broad, old-fashioned doorstep. In the
cool, quiet sitting-room, looking out
upon this step, sat mamma and Aunt
Kate, talking together. Presently Polly
was attracted by what Aunt Kate was
saying:
Helen, | suppose you don't need to
be reminded that tomorrow will be
Decoration Day. Shall you go with
fOwers?"
"Shall 60? Indeed, Kate, did you
but know how my heart clings to that
little spot of earth, you would not ask
me-"
"And shall you take Polly?"
Yes, indeed. l want her earliest
remembrances to be those of love and
honor for her soldier father" The
sweet face 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 a
! heavenly home; and she did not speak
again until childish voice recalled her
thoughts.
Mamma, is 1 a-goin' to Dec'lation
Day?"
Yes, darling; we are going to put
some beautiful flowers on papa grave. -
AN may Z'rusha 90, too?n
Mamma smiled. Yes, dear; if it
will please my little Polly, Z'rusha may
90 too"
And away ran Polly to communicate
the news.
Decoration Day dawned bright and
beautiful-the very heavens seeming to
send their blessing down upon the
tlower-decked graves of the soldiers.
Blithe little Polly sat in the carriage
with Jerusha in one hand and fra
grant bunch of lilies of the valley in the
other, waiting for mamma. Soon she
came, with basket of pure white bios
SONS, and thew drove off The SIM
shone warm and bright, and the air
was so still that even the robins note
from the branches of the sweet-scented
apple trees seemed out of tune: and
mammals face was so peaceful in it's
thouohtfulness that even Polly kent
quiet, only chatting in whisnerS TO .Jp-
rusha. The ride was not very lonc
and soon the beautiful cemetery. with
its little hills and valleys, Law spread
out before them. They drove throuoh
one of the pretty windino paths mast
many fower-covered oraTas MIL Of
last the carriage stopped, and mamma
stepped out, Polly following. with wide
open eyes.
"Is papa down there in the ground.
mammal" asked the wondering child.
mo, darling" answered the sweet
voice, as the hands busily arranged the
pretty flowers. papa is away ND in
the blue sky, where the dear Jesus
lives. And by and by Polly and mann
ma will 90 up there too and live with
him."
but, Mammal and the blue ewes
were full of wonder, eff papa is way
up in 'e sky, how can he oct e pity
flowers? viii he fy down ont q
heaven?''
"No, Polly. papa will not oct the
| flowers at ali, and he does not want
them. But we put them where he is
buried to show how much we loved
him. Do YOU understand. dearP''
Polly did not answer. She was look
inc far away at the skies and mamma
did not try to recall her attention
thinking to herself; Never mind If
she does not understand now. She will
sometime
But Polly was not satisfied and sbo
crnnt oway and taL;mor ~, Jon,'s Iia0
She wbisnered in tbat voi or 1odr',
ear: "Z'rusba. Tdon't see how nana
can Diet g nittv Towers wav nm in So
skv. fink he'd hat to come way wav