Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-05-25


through the ambient air. But for this wini
the day had been very warm. Even the
eweet breath scarce tempered the heat t.
that small patriotic band of school teach.
ers, school children youths and maident
who, with wreaths of new flowers, were
quickly marching to the tolling Of the bell
through the village street toward the GEN.
etery 1t was Memorial Day.
The more self-provident had ridden OF
sauhtered 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 a
loose, htldly expectant crowd around a
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 scene Here on the VII
lagos western edge the level, orderly cem-
etery, dappled with the grey shade of nat
ural elms and suffused with the wholesome
incense of hardy flowers Yonder to the
west of it a 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 eyentide.
The wind that brushed ones cheek was like
benediction.
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 cleat, oratortcal tones lines Of such fine
continent, vicarious pathos, Inherent pa
tfiotismf He to tell Of war who had known |
only peace He to lament the dead who |
experienced only life! Yet 1t was goodly |
sight-and they looked and listened with |
pleased faces, applauding him kindly-say-
Ing sotto voce how handsome he was, how
cleyerl
There occurred only one diversion-one
popent OF withdrawn attention during his
entire address Once near its beginning a
late conner had como stepping leis9rely and
etatelily toward the crowd reposeful under
the fire Of glances which greeted her; Glad
In clear yello~ like the primrose west;
dusk hair seductively bantered by the light
fingered wind, bunch Of bright roses in
her hand One Or two gentlsusn bad gone
q 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 pidst Of q sentence across tho
clustering heads between-their eyes met;
steady look Of welcome and repose.
When bis address was over there was an
pthey cong, and then the crowd began
Cently to trickle of toward the rows Of low
houpds whSfe the soldiers slept as they
Had f0aght, In ranks Mordaht had made