The Red Cloud chief., 1889-05-31

Leftenant-he'd got his discharge y dstail
- hoodquaRterU where - end 0Ao WxU d
meet and know NO moro SORROW. or pain. or
troublA
"And since then, 20 far - In me LAYS, I've
been . father to Thirty eight-I mean dt-
tic Sid He loves me, I know he doeA and
there IL no use 0E earth for me but for him.
I'm strict - I ought to be with him. orders
b orders, and I see that he obeys 'em; but
he knows how old Sam loves him.
'Out wiare you were to-day. Colonel
out 1t that graveyard, they are both buried
I dug his crsve, and I dug her'a No
hands but mine would I let make ready tho
last homo ON earth Of these two, and there
IL where I found you. and there and hero
II where any N can find me. The Leften-
ant left enough for the boy. and I have my
pension from Uncle Sam. and I live happy,
content and . clean man"
DO you 60 to church. Sam!" I asked
'well,no sir. I don't." he replied ITO toll
tho truth, I don't take kindly to their arti-
cles of war there's two OF EN- here and each
talks directly opposite to the other and
each says that II l don't go their way I'm
booked for eternal and everlasting roast
ing. 'Tain't that way she talked. there was
nothing but tho Otc Of God In all she eve
told me. and I'm more than willing to risk
all my chances ON her teaching. The boy
goes to the church and Sunday school
faint for me to keep him from them, but
I'm too old a dog to learn new tricks when
they try to whip EN- into me.
Il did go to church once or twice, but tho
men grinned at the idea of old Sam being
there, and the women smiled, and
the girls staggered, and that kind Of
told me that ! had to keep away from
there er get into . fight, and SO. when
little Sid goes there, I Just sit out by tho
graves yonder, by his grave and hr's, and I
hear enough to do me all the good that can
be done me here on earth.
"Younever expected to hear this talk from
old Sam, did you, Colonel: Well, I wouldn't
say the same to any other man on earth.
but I have just been aching for years to ask
some one that l could trust If I am right or
not, and you re the mar I most wanted to
zee. l want to know II I am wrong In doing
as l try to do. What do you think:
'She left me her boy, he left the boy In
are. 1 know I try to do the best
for him, and I believe she sees how honest
~ I work to do It
IL could no more do what would shame
me before her than / could nave deserted
my colors. am not crazy or n of your
Spiritualists, but l do seem to hear her. do
feel that she Is always near me and salts
fed with what l door try to do. Do you
think I Am right, or do you think I am .
f0Ol?"
This Is Memorial Day for all, and all
hearts are tender but it Il Memorial Day
for every day of my life. Memory Of
duty to her boy, OF my gone Leftenant
and Of her who saved me, whose words
made . real man Of me and who went
home to God and left me something 10 live
and hope for-am / . fool for al this.
Colonel?"
l answered him "No"-and in my soul I
believe that the sweet spirit Of the gentle
wife and mother must hover over, control
and guide the glorious efforts of the old
soldier. 80 strangely changed in nature.
who continually strives to do a. she would
have him do, to bring her boy into all the
paths of manly truth and nobility Of life,
who has 80 far subdued his own nature as
to kill all the savage within him, and who,
from q loving, beautiful reverence, keeps
and will keep while he lives n unend-
ing. sacred and ever-remembered NE
mortal Day" ALEX DUKE BAnIE