Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-05-24

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through the ambient air But for this wind
the day had been very warm. Even the
sweet breath scarce tempered tho heat to
that small patriotic band of school teach
ers, school children, youths and maidens
who, with wreaths of new flowers, We're
quickly marching to the tolling of the bell
through the village street toward the cem-
etery. 1t was Memorial Day
The more self-providont had ridden or
sauntcred on ahead, and now when that
small procession came redly and rather
faggedly tramping into the cool retirement
of the graveyard, they were gathered in n
loose, mildly expectant crowd around
pine platform, temporarily thrown up un-
der great elm in the center of the ceme-
terry, upon which the Singers and the speak
er and the dignitaries generally were to sit
So many years in their untimely graves!
And these now living inherently loyal be-
ings (some of them yet unborn when these
graves were dug here now in the sweet
evening light to remember the long depart
ed!
Such peaceful scenel Here on the vii
lage's western edge the level orderly cem-
etery, dappled with the grey shade of nat
ural clms and suffused with the wholesome
incense of hardy flowers, Yonder to the
west of it rolling sweep of tawny sedge,
skirted by line of hazeful woods, every
tint OF rich green under the attiring brush
of spring.
Over the gently alert crowd assembled
around the platform gentler quiet settled
as the minister rose and offered prayer, and,
afterwards, gave place to the singers The
music of plaintive voices in that gracious
suggestive spot-one's heart rose in long
swells beneath 1t like the ocean at eventide.
The wind that brushed ones cheek was like
benedlction
Then the speaker arose.
Did not the heart of the war-scarred
veterans among them move with light
sigh of pathetic diversion-of tender diver
sion-as that slim, dapper youth, child of
peace and favorite of fortune came forward
in the gentle evening light and spoke out
In clear, oratorical tones lines of such fine
sentiment vicarious pathos inherent pa
triotism? he TO tell of war who had known
only peacel He to lament the dead who
experienced only life Yet it was goodly
sight-and they looked and listened with
pleased faces, applaudng him kindly-say-
ing soto voce how handsome he was how
clever.
There occurred only one diverson-one
moment of withdrawn attention during his
entire address. Once near its beginning
late conner had come stepping leisurely and
statelily toward the crowd, reposeful under
the fire of glances which greeted her; clad
in clear yellow like the primrose west
dusk hair seductiyely bantered by the light
fingered wind bunch of bright roses in
her hand. One or two gentlemen had gone
n few steps to met her and she took her
place ON the edge of the crowd with smil-
ing glance of greeting to the faces nearest
her and an instant turning of her attention
upon him who was speaking.
In the midst of scntence-across the
clustering heads betweon-their eyes met;
a steady look of welcome and repose.
When his address was over ther was an
other song and then the crowd began
gently to trckle off toward the rows of low
mounds where the soldiers slept as they
had fought, in ranks Mordant had made