South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-06-13

4 Top OF yonuer hiilJ Whero nutters a
wbite pocket handkerchief in tie ey-
ening breez.. IL 10 the las, look Of
the boy she loves.
Tho time wear, slowly on. The wife
has long listened for some news Of the
departed husband. tn, no news ha,
come. The boy has kept watch over
bis little sister. bu, the father who
promised him The reward has never
returned. The young girl has learn.
Ell that her by fell a. Manassas, and
thus the awful suspense was broken.
These w>re doubtless but common
scenes. Now let us leave tho gloom Y
past aud stand again in the glorious
present, the wife that stood by the
door has Ion J., tince died OF broken
heart; but the child she held In her
arms is today c.o'hcd with every at
tribune that constitutes a man. The
boy long watching over his little sis
ter and often telling her Of the last
word, Of their f.ther. has at last ar
rived al mans estate. and today has
children OF his own. The girl like
Hamlet has dreamed away a meiau.
choly life.
Now The gentleman TO whom have
just referred. tells the daughter OF the
dead father apt mother. tells the
man who watched over his little sister,
''tbat it is wrong for them to come
with the return OF springtime and
drop a tear OF fond remembrance, or
flower tor honor's sake, on the grave
OF the dead hero" wish to say in
this connection that have no respect
for the men who advocate such o doc.
trine. There can be no treason in
paying a tribute TO sny man that dies
for principle. ut is sacred ground
where man dies for man" | told
you | would not attempt an eulogy
on The dead soldiers; but whom l see
before me today the men who sncridc
ed fortune for principle. who slep.
night after night with the earth for
your bed and the skies for your Gov
ering, and resumed your weary m arch
in the morning, keeping pace to the
humble strains Of Dixie. l only wish
that l had some word OF comfort,
some word OF cheer for you today.
You who returned alter four long
years to your respective occupations,
and have at las, gathered about you
the fruits OF honest Industry and at,
ter 70 years have come today as law
abiding citizens. cherishing the govs
ernment you once opposed, endeaver-
ing TO perpetuate in the minds OF
your pos, Gritty the names aud patriot.
ism of those who fought and died by
your side. realizing today, in the Ian.
guage OF another. THAT it was through
the irscrutiblc wisdom OF Divine
God. that your honest purpose was
crossed and your brave armies de-
fcated."
will venture to say as o word OF
consolation that we hold it true. that
no honest purpose exercised In al
honest cause was ever lost. Tue
scenes you have pictured by your
Gresides TO your children, relating your
privaiions and bardships. has enabled
them to catch tic in piration of pa
triohsm, AMI cherish the traditions of
their fathers. You have made thrice
dear TO them the principles you fought
to perpetuate, and they have realized
that flag has been baptized il the
blood Of common country. BY your
! precedent and counsel. you have Dies
vcloped in them the noblest traits Of
manhood and with admiration for
your valor. aud strict fidelity for your
government. they are now entering
upon the active duties OF life, and
preparing for the trust which you by
tue course of nature must soon resign.
My fellow countrymen, those OF you
who were once soldiers, AMI have left
your respective fields Of labor this
morning, to pay one more tribute Of
respect TO your gallant dead as you
look into each Others faces today, and
renew tho earnest friendship lhat"b as
laughed o. separation and will! live
beyond the grave" as you see the
marks OF time deeper engraved in
yo1r fOreheads, and your he ais fast
becoming silvereI by your journey on
lfe's dusty bighway.you doubtless are
reminded that the ex.Cunfedcrate
must soon become q thinyof the past.
One by one your Old comrades are
being laid to rest by the waysido. Ga.
ly on last Monday one OF your NUN
Der was laid away. l refer TO Captain
Hardy. Several were with you on
this occasion last year that ars not
here today. Your column is broken
and you can only "clOse up the line +"
Go again this morning to yondcr city
Of the dead, aud pay again your hom.
age to those Who offered their lives an
humble sacrifice upon the altar OF their
country for tbs sacred rights Of man
Lead your children there. Teach
them that their fithers we're MOI trait
ors, and by your Hrosides teach them
that might never male right. Teach
lh EN- that the creature can in no wise
be greater than the Creator. Teach
/ them that IL is the States which con-
sti,u' the Cover ument, and that the
/ Government never male State
And after your bivousc ia ended aud
you too sleep with your companions
your children will come with the re-.
turn Of springlime, TO water your
grave With a tear and keep fresh your
memory as you have that Of you, com.
| rsdes
Now a few words 70 the ladies' Of