The Indiana State sentinel., 1886-01-20

Owondrous heart of patience
Within the breast of God.
j. n DANA.
The Boys Memorial Meeting for General
Grant.
Margaret Sydney in Christion Union.
1t was boy who spOke-John Clampitt.
Scene, barn in the outskirts of town in
upper New England mot down on the map,
however, Briarlv. And the audience was
made up of fourteen other boys of all ages
and sizes. The occasion was their own mem
orial meeting in honor of General Grant.
OF all the heroes in the world these boys
very own was the man who saved their
country for them. Him they worshipped
with love that was exceeded by none save
that of the bronzed and sacred soldier who
went into battle ''under Grant" And now
that he has gone out OF life, they crept off
shocked and disheartened, to have their
grief all alone by themselves.
"He was the greatest man." said John.
standing before the boys drawing up in a
semi-eIrcle around him, "who ever lived.
Washington was big enough; Lincoln was
bigger; but Grant was biggest. And we
boys ought to do something to honor bis
memory"
There was a dead silence Only a grass
hopper who had wandered into the barn
TO see what it was all about, hoped rest
lessly on its long legs back and forth from
from an inverted peck measure to an cd
empty grain bag giving out its ''tchick on
each spring; and a little seciable cricket, to
keep him company, chirped briskly under
the cover of the edge of the door-sill.
At last BODY Fassett p;ped out: II spose
We might wear black strings on our arms,
sames the men of Compans B., Briarley
Guard"
John turned square about to Boby's bench.
That isn't what l meant. We ought to
do something"
Another boy, who was little Fassett's seat
mate, broke in: what can We do? None
OF US fellows can play anything but lively
tunes on the fife, and there amt a soul of us
who knows how to speak. That's all the
men are going TO do"
John liked him with his brown eve.
"And | didn't mean that" he said.
What in thun-" began Boy No. .,
then stopped When the man they ali
loved so dearly lay dead before a sorrOwing
country, it was no time to utter impatient
words. well, what do you mean, he began
again.
John started hurried walk in the open
space of the semi-circle on the old barn floor.
Not looking at the boys. he rapidly revolved
thoughts crowding for utterance upon his
busy brain.
If tell them they'll think me muff;
and though they won't chaff openly, for we
all feel pretty bad. it will stick in their
minds one long spell. Yet-here goesn
He cleared his throat with long them" F"
prised, and then at each other What was
the matter with ClamPitt. usually so direct
OF purpose?
"It's Just this, fellows" said John in
burst, "aDd I'll have it out before you or l
die in the attempt. j think General Grant
would say if he were here, Just as that other
man did in poetry in the school reader you
know, DO good things, not dream them all
day long Now you know what's on my
mind"
John stopped suddenly in his walk and
threw himself on the pile of hay left for his
seat as master of ceremonies. If the boys
manifested surprise before, they started now.
This was different from any memorial meet
ing they had ever heard of; and certainly
there was no reason for entertaining the be-
lief that the company of men occupying the
town hall this very afternoon, for this pur-
pose, were proceeding on this basis.
Besides how were they to be good; and
who would have the temerity to be the
leader? 1t was trifie embarrassing and one
or two began to wish they had not come.
At last. TO break the oppressive silence,
JACOB Belts broke out, "What do you mean
by good?'
And then each boy found his tongue.
"If you mean to put in an appearance at
/ Sunday-schOOl regular, count me out.
Il wouldn't do 1t, even for General Grant" I"
II won't stop cutting parsing lessons: you
| can't ask that, Jack"
1t means for you to trot out General
| Grant. As if he'd take away what little fun
fellow had / saw him once, and he looked
| like he'd do all he could for boy to have a
royal time
If you mean to go to prayer-meeting ev-
cry Friday night, and hear Aunt Phebe sing
through her nose, l amt there" declared a
loud, decided voice.
And no one could take care of baby Sat
urday mornings. Phewl General Grant him
4 al how hxrh lie
The barn was iD ferment
Now, you fellows" cried John. springine
10 his feet, and throwing back his flushed
face so that every boy could see the fire Ol
the brown eyes, "did / ever ask yo to dc
anything / wouldn't try myself; tryp
No; they couldn't truthfully say he had
And, cooling down, they allowed the master
of ceremonies to explain himself, which h'
did in this wise:
Il will first say that am going to try i
myself. / suppose i shall break down, bu
Pm in for trying not to be bad" John
face was a success to everybody who hated
milksOp, and relieved them wonderfully
clearing the last doubt. "But Pm going u
honor Grant by turning out one good citizeI
| If i can. In order to do that, I've got 4
begin now, and tackle the thing that's de
feating me at every turn. Now, you fellow
know what it is as well as / do. It's cHttin
and shlrking my lessons and skinning ever
CnduCc Bcti ihSecdu VI Stuuy ms W."
John drew a long breath, threw quic
glance around, then dashed on-"pn tackl
that habit, and, to use General Grant
! words, I'll fight il out on that line If
takes all summer That's my memoria
. | Now laugh if you want to-"
Down he went on his pile OF hay agar
: But there wasn't ghost of a laugh.
; Instead, voice from the furthest end {
| the semi-circle struck up, "Tll join yo
! John. I'll fight my habit Of putting o
| things"
And I'll take care of that dreadfl
! baby the third recruit volunteered. "bV
I'd rather go through the wars than do It
: And then the twelve sprang up.
: "We'r not to be left out in the col
: Count us in John"
r sleeping late in the morning."
0Readino had books on the slV"