The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-04

when cOmradS and friends should
visit them, hold appropriate services,
and adorn their graves with flowers.
Hence the thirtietn day of May was de-
signated, and has been since observed
throughout the nation, wherever the
remains of Union soldier is inferred
as Decoration or Memorial Day.
This fact of grateful recognition, by
the nation, of the priceless service
they and thousands of others as brave
and as pure, rendered their beloved
country in the time of it's greatest
need, teaches to succeeding genera.
tons the lessons Of undying patriot
ism.
This the cost Of human freedom
Weary hearts that long and wait,
Shadows on thousand households,
SanCiihcd but dcsolate."
"This the grateful pen hath written;
The Nation in it's homage bows,
And like myrtle weeps DER her fallen heroes,
And with laurel crowns the living brow"
Instead, therefore, of passing their
memories lightly by, or thinking that
they are wholly of individual impor-
fore us is constant reminder of our
own individual duty towards them.
And as we have already stated that
fifteen years have now passed since
the close of the war, and yet during
this long interval Of time Memorial
Day has never until this day been OBJ
served by the citizens of Mankato.
Possibly this neglect of it's observance
may be owing to the impression
among our people that there has been
no occasion for it; but single Incl
dent. which we will refer to ought
and will convince all Of the propriety
of our observing it. In yOnder Gene
terry lay the remains of Joseph Gilfl-
Ian, and were there "a tombstone, yea.
even slab to mark the spot where
he was buried, the inscription there.
on would read, JOS. Gilfillan, Co. +.
9th Regt. MINI. Volunteers. killed
by the Indians, near New Ulm, in
the Autumn of 1862. Were he the
only soldier buried in our cemeteries.
the noble mission Of trying to rescue
those in danger, that he was engaged
III when killed, would justify us hold.
ing these services. visiting his grave
and adorning it with our sweetest
flowers. But there are others whose
deeds were equally heroic and memo
ries should and are held in equal rev.
erence.
So go forth, comrades, fathers,
mothers, young men and maidenS, to
these silent cities. and select from
your numbers the Marys and Marthas
to place your floral offerings upon the
graves of our fallen comrads. And
if you find among the graves there
any that fought on the side of the
Lost Cause" let the same hands
place in equal profusion your floral
offerings on their mounds. For now
that the elements of national strife
are buried forever in the graves of
that cause, let us. counSeled by the
lesson Of our Divine Master, by our
example to-day, bury the dead past. !"
"when God 10 man n being gave,
4 Twas In garden fair,
The first sweet breath that no inhaled
Was from wave Of Odor waiting air"
If absolute loyalty is to be honor
ed /; if the love of country and abnega-
ton of self is to be approved and hon.
ored by us, then are the loyal moth
ers, wives and sisters of our common
country, deserving of our sincere
gratitude. For what sacrafice was
more dearly purchased than the life
of the husband who left his widow
desolate. And who can comfort the
heart of her whose only boy died that
the nation might live. Or who can
count the tears of her whose hope in
comm. years poured out his life blood
that the tree of our liberties might
be forever watered Herewith. If we
cannot fanthOm their griefs and share
with them the burdens they have
borne, We can preserve the free gov.
eminent, the rich legacy bequeathed
to us by our fathers, and now made
more precious by the blood Of our
fallen comrades, as an asylum for
them and their pOsterity forever.
And as we strew the graves of our
fallen comrades with flowers, let us
invoke the Masters richest and choic.
est blessing upon them, and that their
lives may ever be lovely and pleasant
| upon the hill he turned,
| To take II last fond look,
| Ofthe valley aud the village church
| And the cottage by the brook;
| lie listcn'd to the sound.
So familiar to his ear.
And The soldier leant upon HE sword,
| And wiped away a tear"
"Beside the cottage porch,
| A mother was on her knees,
| She held alOft u snowy scarf,
| Which huttered In the breeze:
| She bTeathed q prayer for him,
| Aprsyer he could not hear,
But he paused to bless her, as she knelt,
And wiped away the tears"
"Hs turned and left the spot,
Oh, do not deem lin weak:
For dauntless was that soldiers heart,
Though tears were on his checks;
Go watch the foremost rank,
| In dangers dark career.
BE sure the hand most daring th0re,
Has wiped away all tears"