River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-05-23

uniform OF the Grand Army or the Repub-
lie Further back, near the center of the
town, an occasional drum-beat, betokening
the gathering of an organized body of men
preparing to do duty on an important and
solemn occasion. Enthusiastically Memorial
Day
Along Highland avenue, at the terminus
OF which was the large cemetery, was an
almost unbroken procession of people of all
ages and conditions, huTying toward the
grounds where in another hour a favorite
chaplain was to deliver the Grafton of the
day
Frank Barker and Eugene Howard, sew
enteen and eighteen years, respe ctiyely
ook in with keen interest each phase of the
Holiday scene.
Doesn't seem possible thdre ever could
have been war right here in oul own
country, does it? Frank asked Il sup
pose" he added, lit would appear more
likely had any one belonging 10 iie been in
tine ARMY, but as Ii Is Memorial Day seems
to me more like a day for the paradng of
the living than the honoring of the dead
My father was n surgeon IN che army
during the last two years of the re
belli6n, said Eugene Howard, but he died
so many years ago / never learned any thing
from him on the subject but, then our
histories teach us how much VIC owe the
men who fought those battles I"
Yet" begar Frank, in what would have
been a cynical manner in an older man,
but the trouble is, there are so many old
buffers who are forever and ever blowing
about the war, and I doubt if half of them
were ever in the slightest engagement, or
even ever smelt powder. Sort of shakes
your faith in good many of Them
''Oh. well" replied Eugene, laughingly,
Il reckon we're ali willing enough 10 know
as little of that 'unpleasa1tnsss rs We can,
Arrived ut the cemetery, the young men
walked about, stopping first to comment on
the draping of some long mound where
from headstone to footstone the stars and
stripes were wound in graceful folds over
some sleeping patriots grave. Then the
designs in plants well grown, and flowers
coaxed into early bloom, would claim more
than moments attention.
Il believe I'm getting tired" said Frank
Barker, at last; lets go to that little arbor
down the next avenue and rest awhile. We
shalt hear the band easily enough once the
procession draws near"
The arbor was elose at hind but on APP
preaching near enough to see into it. there,
calmly gazing ON the scene before him, sat
TN old man whose appearance might have
been ludicrous had it not at the same time
been so utterly pathetic On his head was
large army hat, such as worn by mem
bers of the Posts, only in the middle were
three furnished letters His tall thin form
was habited in AN old army coat so faded it
might originally have been either gray or
blue, and over the deep collar struggled a
few locks of gray hair.
At sight OF the fOrlorn old figure, Eugene
Howard said under his breath:
'Hullool guess our old friend yOnder
grew tired before we did and being little
lame, started in advance to find a resting
place"
''Well, goodness knows he's welcome p
said Frank Barker, chivalrous ring I'm his
low voice You see - he added half sport
lively ard half in earnest, I've Young Amer
lea invciuntarily render Honor TO whom
honor, and SO forth"
Eugene Howard added, mischievously:
''Reminds me nevertheless of the old
duffer' alluded to in my hearing a moment
ago"
I've a great mind to interview him"
Frank replied quick to catch and respond
to the spirit of mischief in his friends
voice HE looks to me as If he might be a
little non compOs; but he might also tell us a
story if we set him going come on"
But once inside the arbor it was not
necessary for tina young men to set the "old
friend going Placing his thin hand against
his hat with a correct military salute, he
began in a tone which though firm and
dignified, had yet a certain imploring ac-
cent:
"Ahi good morning. young gentlemen.
Tn an d United States volunteer, as you
Sec" and he pointed significantly to the
letters of his carefully peaked hat; yes,
I'm an old U. S. v, one of the rank and file
merely, but l came over here to-day with
an object / always go everywhere with
an object"
He paused a moment as If to make the
last declaration the more impressive; and