The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-09-29


t'adiction from one who knew him, thai
10 all Missouri there we're few.larger.
hearted men than this same Jim Carroll
But 1t was also true that in all that re
gion there we're not many who could be
less charitable to their enemies or, when
injured, longer hold resentment. s..
Carroll was q siugle man he looked
young, foe his years, for although be was
but four years short Of fifty one would
hardly take him to be forty.
He had fought bravely during the war
and Was bitter politician after the ser.
vice. After leaving the army he had di.
vided his time sbout equally between To-
eating long lines Of railroad In the fal
west and shorter ones nearer home.
just now be was on his way 10 q pre-.
liminsr5 survey which he, With olhers
wasrmskings near BY his assistants bad
preceded bin flew rode and be wasjhur
ryihg tofoverlake them when the woman
took his attention. - @ s-s -
The spot he was passing and Ia which
she stood was small inclosed opening
in the pines which served the purpose o
a country burying ground. Perhaps tive
dozen graves were in it, some neglected
some With bright flowers profusely grow.
ing above them, while others--a few only
were msrked with stones These we're
all Of . humble pattern, and near one oi
the plsinest was woman.
The grave by which she stood and the
one which the stone marked was long
one. moss-grown, and until very recently
neglected. Close beside it was little
grave, and just beyond 1t another, not 80
small as the second and. neatly as large
as the frst. = = = =
The womsn bad evidently been there
some time, for little hsndfals OF weeds
we're lying between the graves and along
the path near them. Besides q small
handful Of bright wild flowers lay evenly
along the center Of the earth.
just now she seemed busy rolling two
common stones to the head OF the un-
marked graves. One she had already
plsc d in position. or nearly so, and was
nov working at the other which was ap.
parently TOO heavy for her. When Car
roll saw this be at once laid down his
transit and stepped up to the fence.
"Can | help you any, madam ," he
asked, putting his hands on the top rail.
Tie woman started as be spoke snd
turned a half-irightened face toward
him.
81 thought maybe I could help you
with The stone," he continued. IL am
sorry II / startled you" ~
"Excuse me, sir" she replied. II
thought | was alone, but il you can help
me I shall be greatly obliged, though !
would not wish to trouble you.'
"Nothing could give me more pleas
ure, madam" and with this the warm
hearted man came up to the grave and
with ease tipped the stone on one edge
si the head of it.
What were you going TO do with
those Z" he asked pointing tasome small
ler ones. evidently freshly taken out OF
The ground, This be asked partly from
a desire to further assist her and partly
from an underlined something that made
him wish to know more of the humble
graves and their mourner.
"Thank you.sir, but i ! hasten think
shall have time. ! / wished to lay them
along the grass SO II never came again
twill show the palmer where they are
Psrhaps 'twould do no harm, sir, but It
seems hard to have them stepped upon"
"If your time be short allow me to
help you, please; shall be only too
glad,r and without waiting farther Car
roll picked up an old basket and hasten.
ed 70 bring the stones TO the grave. 10
q short time be had them all there and
together they laid them along the sides
Of the little graves and at the foot OF
them.. - -