The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-05-23

through the ambient air. But for this wind
the day had been very warm Even the
sweet breath scarce tempered the heat to
that small patriotic band of school teach
ers, school children, youths and maidens
who. with wreaths OF new flowers. were
quickly marching to the tolling of the bell
through the village street toward the Gem
etery. It was Memorial Day.
The more self-provident had ridden or
sauntered on ahead. and now. when that
small procession came redly and rather
faggedlv tramping into the cool retirement
Of the graveyard. they were gathered in
loose, mildly expectant crowd around
pine platform, temporarily thrown up I'm
der q great elm in the center of the GENE
terry. upon which the singers and the speak
er and the dignitaries generally were to sit.
So many years in their untimelv graves!
And these now living inherently loyal be-
tngs (some OF them yet unborn when these
graves were dug here now in the sweet
evening light to remember the long depart
ed,
Such a peaceful scene. Here on the vii
lagos western edge the level. orderly GEM
etery, darpled with the grey shade Of nat
ural elms and sutfused with the wholesome
incense of hardy flowers Yondcr to the
west of ii rolling sweep of tawny sedge,
skirted by a 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 plaintiye voices in that gracious,
suggestive spot-one's heart rose in long
swcils beneath it like the ocean at eventide
The wind that brushed ones cheek was like
benedicfion.
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 fayorite of fortune. came forward
N the gentle evening light and spoke out
In clear oratoricai tones lines of such fine
sentiment, vicarious pathos. inherent pa
riotism. He to tell Of war who had known
only peace. He to lament the dead who
experienced only life. Yet 1t was goodiy
ight-and they looked and listened with
pleased faces. applauding him kindly-say-
Ing soto voce how handsome he was, how
clever!
There occurred only one diversion-Onc
moment of withdrawn attention during his
late conner had come stepping leisurely and
statclily toward the crowd, reposeful under
the fire Of glances which greeted her; clad
IN clear yellow like the primrose west;
dusk hair seductively bantcred by the light
fingered wind, . bunch Of bright roses in
her hand. One or two gentlemen had gone
afew 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 a sentence-across the
clustering heads between-their eyes met:
ssteady look of welcome and repose.
When his address was over Their. was an
other song. and then the crowd began
gently to trickle of toward the rows Of low
mounds where the soldiers slept. as they
had fought, in Tanks. Mordant had made