Western Kansas world., 1886-11-06
"JOHN."

dria, Va, there is a headstone upon
which appears but one word, "John.' ,
The story of the soldier boy whose ift
and death that simply stone commemo
rstes is this:
The I'd day OF April of the year 1861
was drawing to close, the sky was
bright and looked warm, but the air was
keen and cold wind was blowing
wind that had somehow fingered over
from the clustering March just gone.
Though it was disagreeable out OF doors,
no such fault could be found with
Farmer Whitethorn's kitchen. A more
cheery place did not exist in tho whole
state of Michigan. The focr was as
clean as frequent scourings and scrub
bings could make it, and in the big fire.
place back of the clean-swept hearth a
great fire was blazing and swapping. A
shelf in front of one of the windows was
filed with plants that looked fresh and
green. There was white primrose in
blossom next to scarlet geranium and
q fragrant tea rose. On the wall there
were two or three shelves filed with
books, and near that, in simple frame,
looked out the plain face of Abraham
Lincoln. The table was set in the mid
die of the room, and there were three
plates laid above the white table cloth.
Two of the persons for whom the plate.
were waiting were in the room. Farm
Whitethorne's wife was one OF them.
She was q comfortable-lo looking person Of
medium height and good weight. Her
hair was just beginning to turn gray,
and looked very pretty lying back II
soft waves above her strong, cheerful
face. Her eyes were dark, and almost
rs clear and bright as in her youth. She
wore plain woolen dress and a clean
;alico apron. Herneat white collar wss
fastened with an old-fashioned cameo
brooch. Her step was quick, and rs she
hustled about the room preparing sup
Per she was pleasing sight to see. Sc
thought Farmer Whitethorne, I am sure
He sat in big, straight-backed, com
fortably cushioned chair at the left Of
the fireplace, alternately watching his
wife and dropping off into doze. he
was tired out with his days work, and
coming in out of the cold air and sitting
by the fire made him drowsy. He was
older than his wife and not as robust
His hair was thin and gray. Presently,
rs the coffee began to steam, and as its
sPpetizing odor stole through the, room,
he Strengthened up, held out his hands
TO the fire, and said:
"What has become Of John? Hasn't
he come back from town yeti"
Before she had time to answer him,
quick steps and q lively whistle were
heard, the door was opened, and young
man stepped in and closed the door as all
people Of exuberant spirits are apt to
close doors. I call him young man.
he was little more than q boy, barely 20
years Of age, as we shall see. he was q
bow that women instinctively loved. BE
had . bright lace, laughing black eyes,
aud b gay, saucy manner. He was tall
like his father, and well built ike his
mother. He came into the room with 9
rush, kissed his mother, handed some
LISTERS and papers TO his father, hung hil
rough coat on a row Of hooks back of fthe
door, saying as he did 90:
swell, things look more and more like
war. There has been no fighting yet
But Lincoln has notified those fellows
that he is hound to send supplies te
Major Anderson. The Dickens only
knows what Will happen then" .
Two weeks later, the 18th OF April
was Johns twentieth birthday. 1t wat
70 be a reat day at Whitethorne's. Mrs
Whitethorne, like many another mother
worshipped her son and only child, John
His birthday had been from eariles
rhildhood celebrated with feasting ant
re;oicings. And now, though time,
vere close and life on the frontier hart
and exacting, Johns birthday was no
forgotten. All the young people arount
them had been invited to spend the after
noon and evening at the plain, iittl'
farm house. The four rooms were decket
md freshly swept, end all sorts OF goos
fAines flied the cupboard shelves y
- afternoon the girls came and brcugn
1Seir rstchwork snd egNed indn1ez1ousl,
"a t:lkdd msrzllI AcnGs IN