Griggs courier., 1889-05-24
Leftenant-he got his discharge dstan
at headquarters where he and she wIusd

Leftenant- he'd got his dischargs-.a dctaa
at headquarters where he and she wlud
meet and know no more sorrow, OF pain, or
trouble
'sAnd since then, so far as in me lays, I've
been father to Thirty eight mean lit
tie Sid. He loves me, I know he does, and
there is no use on earth for me but for him.
I'm strict as ought TO be with him, orders
is orders, and see that he obeys 'em; but
he knows how old Sam loves him
''Out where you wero to-day. Colonel
out at that graveyard, they are both buried
dug his grave, and dug hers No
hands but mine would let make ready the
last home on earth Of these two, and there
is where found you, and there and here
is where any ono can find me. The Leften-
pension from Uncle SAM and live happy,
content and clean man"
DO you go to church, Sam?" asked.
"well mo. air, don't, " he replied. ITO tell
the truth, don't take kindly to their arti-
cles Of war; there's two of 'em here and each
talks directly opposite to the other and
each says that ii don't go their way Tn
booked for eternal and everlasting roast
ing. 'Tain't that way she talked, there was
nothing but the lore of God in all she ever
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,
tain't for me to keep him from them, but
I'm too old dog to learn new tricks when
they try to whip 'em into me.
II did go to church once or twice, but the
men grinned at the idea of old Sam being
there, and the women smiled, and
the girls sniggered, and that kind of
told me that had to keep away from
there er get into fight, and SO, when
little Sid goes there, just sit out by the
graves yonder, by his grave and hrs, and
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 could trust if am right or
not, and you re the man most wanted to
see want to know if am wrong in doing
as try to do. What do you think?
''She left me her boy, he left the boy in
my care. I know I try to do the best
for him, and believe she sees how honest
ly work to do it
81 could no more do what would shame
me before her than could have deserted
my colors. lam not crazy or one of your
Spiritualists, but do seem to hear her, do
feel that she is always near me and satis-
fed with what door try to do. Do you
think am right, or do you think am o
fool?"
"This is Memorial Day for all, and all
hearts are tender-but it is Memorial Day
me for every day Of my life. Memory Of
my duty to her boy, of my gone Leftenant
and of her who saved mo, whose words
made real man of me and who went
home to God and left me something to live
and hope for-am I fool for all this,
Colonel?"
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, SO strangely changed in nature,
who continually strives to do as she would
have him do, to bring her boy into all the
paths of monly truth aud nobility of life,
who has SO far subdued his own nature as
to kill all the savage within him, and who,
from a loving, beautiful reverence, keeps
and will keep while he lives one unend-
ing. sacred and ever-remembercd me
mortal Day." ALEX DUKE BAn1E