River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-20
POLLY,s DECORATION DAY.

POLLY's DECORATION DAY.
Polly sat on the doorstep, dressing
Miss Jerusha Jane in Der pink party
dress.
"Now, Z'rusha. you mus be dood
girl and not tear cor dress. tause | velly
tirded and tant mend it. Will oo2'
suppose Miss Jerusha must have re-
piled yes for her little mistress SEEM
cd perfectly satisfied; and presently the
young lady was taken off into the corner
of the yard, where the party was to
take place, and the little sunny haired,
rOsy-cheeked child came trottiDg back
to her home, on the broad, old-fashioned
doorstep. In the cool, quiet sitting room
looking out upon this step, sat mamma
aud Aunt Kate, talking together. Pres
emily Polly was attracted by what Aunt
Kate was saying:
q Helen, suppose you don't need to
be reminded that tomorrow will be
Decoration Day. Shall you go with
fowers2"
Shall I gol 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. | want her arllest re
membranes 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 heavenly home !;
and she did not speak again until a
childish voice recalled her thoughts,
Mamma, is l a goin' to Dec'lation
Day2"
" Yes, darling; we are going to put
some beautiful flowers on papa's grave"
i" AN may Z'rusha go, too2"
Mamma smiled Eyes, 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
beautiful-the very heavens seeming to
send their blessing down upon the flower
decked graves of soldiers.
Blithe little Polly sat in the carriage,
with Jerusha in one hand aAd fragrant
bunch of lilies of the valley in heother,
waiting for mamma. Soon she came,
with a basket of pure white blossoms,
and they drove off The sun 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 in its thoughtfulness that even Polly
kept quiet, only chatting in whispers to
Jerusha The ride was not very long,
4 10 f,1Ic with
little hills and valleys, lay spread out be-
fore them. They drove through one OF
the pretty winding paths, past MANY
flower covered graves, until at 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.
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
go up there too and live with him"
"But, mamma" and the blue eyes were
full of wonder, " if papa is way up inc
sky, how can he get'e pity flowers:
viii he fly down out o. heaven"
No, Polly, papa will not get the
flowers 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
to herself "Never mind. If she does
not understand now, she will sometime,
But Polly was not satisfied, and she
Crept away, and, taking up Jerusha, she
whispered in that young ladys ear;
hrusha,I don't see how papa can Diet
pl ty Towers way up IN e sky. l fink
ed Il. to come way, way down, and be
ellv n d. What you fink bout it
Zrusha2'
,Terusha appeared not to have any
decided opinion, and, after a little more
lingering among the grassy hillocks
. mamma, Polly and Jerusha drove slowly
homeward, 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 ne
down. for the morning bad been hard
one for her; and Polly and Jerusha were
left alone in the yard. But something
was on the childs mind. She could not
play and even her beloved dolly failed te
awaken any interest and lay neglected on
the ground.
Suddenly Polly seemed 10 have new
thought, and, snatching her favorite from
the ground, she said, ia an exultant
voice:
Zrusha Zane, l know what I'll do
Ny papa wants all e pity towers We
taxed to hum, 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.
see place way off where can step right
INTO heaven; an you an me, We'll go an
sprize papa wiz the pity things. Won
he be glad3 Want to go, z 'rushaf'
OF course, Jerusha sid want to go. Sc
Polly tucked her snug = under her arm
and, putting her little straw hat on th'
back f her curls, tine pair started off.
Now" said Polly, first We'll go an
Diet all e Towers dat mamma had in
morning, an take EN- wiz us. tinh
this is e way
And of she ran way up to the nortl
road. -.
The Nav sun was very warm and brigh
and the small feet, trudging through tbs
dust, were very hot and tired. But thei
patient owner went bravely on, unit
nature could endure no more; and, with
weary little sigh, she SAT down on TN
H. ha vOo.3asdo ov,d ram arIra1 2