The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-31

Then the mother thought OF the days
Two stalwsrt boys from her riven;
HOW they'd kuelt at her side and lspint:ly
sOur Father which art in Heaven
How one the gray ana the other the bluei-
How they passed away from her sight,
And had gone TO the land where the blue and the
Are merged into colors of light"
The siivery notes OF huge rang out clear
and sweet upon the balmy air OF lovely
spring morning-calling together the me.n-
bers OF Geo. r. Thomas Post of the G. AR.
to prepare for the solemn services of Memo.
rial Day on the 30th day of May 1ss-.
Business houses were closed, the city
schools were suspended and bright-faqsd
boys and girls passed to aud fro in hot hate
for there was TO be grand parade in WHICH
the pupils of the graded schools we're to take
. prominent part upon the programme.
Near the city in one OF the cemeteries lay
siee ping many of our Nations dead, whose
graves were to be covered with flowers on
this Decoration Day. Many of them wSre
unknown, or namelsss graves, but we called
them al "our boys and scattered flowers
apon their graves year after year for the
sake of the absent wives sisters or mothers.
Old battle-stained, weather beaten flags
floated over the headquarters of the army
post, while the leading public buildings and
many private residences were appropriately
oscorsted with painting.
OH ,ers of the day in full uhi-
form and mounted upon spirited
horses uere swiftly pacing between
the City Hail and an Old camp ground nsnr
to the cemstery-which had been selected as
the most suitable place for holding the
memorial services There where loyal thou
sands had met and passed through their first
experience upon the tented field, had learned
their first lessons in military TACTICS
promptly spsiuging at the sound of reveile
and PATIENTLY needing and 0beying the drill
so stranse and new until with choking sabs
or silent tears they had been marched away
10 the 'front.' up TO the jaws OF death. VIVA.
place more fit for memorial offerings?
Several distinguished army men were the
guests of the city, and were expected to ad.
dress the vast concourse of people who were
to unite in faying tribute to those who had
fallen in the late war. On one of the princi.
palstreets and in the heart of the city stood
building over which foated not only the
flag of our Union. bu. banner bearing the
initials w. r. O. in great letters which pro-
claimed it to be the headquarters of the
Auxiliary TO the Grand Army, q society oil
wives, sisters and mothers or daughters of
Union soldiers who under this nams were
hepded together under solemn obligations
widows tie sick or afflicted, or any such as
are helpless and IN distress
Here since early morning two score of
women had been gathered together, bQsily
engaged In preparations for the day. Down
the centre of the long hall lunch tables were
beautifully spread with abundance of food
for hundreds; while In the room beyond
loads CT flowers we're being manufactured
into lovely designs aud signifi cant embiems
or simple ooousts for such as might wish to
purchase for decoration purposes Flowers
arc food we're all the donations of the gen.
-srous public. aud the proceeds OF sales were
to go to swell the fund kept tor benevolent
work done By this organiz atom.
The incoming trains brought members OF
army posts and their friends from the neigh
boring towns or country, and as the hour OF
noon approached the sale OF flowers became
immense, keeping the yonng lady clerks ct
The counters down the sides of the hall, busy
ss bees IN clover field, while the white
sproned walters at the tables were equally
active in filing orders for the hungry men.
women and children who locked in frorn
everywhere apparently. When the great
town clock tolled forth the hour of high
noon-tbe lady President, who sat at her
desk near the door-turned 10 one of her as
sisfsnts ing: II wonder where our two
old ladies are TO day; have you seen them?'
No. madame" laid she, they have not
been here yeti
II miss them; they have never failed to be
here since our organization until now. Bat
OF course the time was bound 10 CONS VIII an
we should miss them forever, for they were
growing feeble noticed last year I won
der who they are, and often think there is
romance connected with their history No
doubt they are sisters, and judge them
10 be Southern ladies"
Even while the President was yet speaking,
bright fscsd young lad of apparently
twelve or fourteen years accompanied by a
delicate and daiDtily dressed little girl OF
five or six years walked into the hall and
Dtood for few moments as il uncertain
what next to do. Only for few moments,
however: then quickly doffing his hat hs APP
preached tue lady ~ the desk with . defer
entail bow Sc he handed her q box, saying:
My grandmother sends her regrets that she
can not come and buy flowers of you to-day.
She bees you 70 accept these instead aud de.
ssires you TO be 50 kind IS Co have the M placed
upon some OF the unknown soldiers graves.
Grandmothex'e sister died at an early hour
this morning. and IL was her dying request
that We should keep memorial day Just IS IL
she were with us."
Tskipg the box from his hand while he was
speaking the President had lifted from 1t e rst
msenifcant shield made CT choice white
fiowers for the background. on which was
outlined two clasped hands In immortelles
above the word love, while from each end of
Of the box she Drought forth bouquet Of
white lilies tied with soft gray ribbon. AMI
one OF roses tied with blue. "Beautiiull'