The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-07-18
JOB DEPARTMENT..

millennium had come when they were
able to sit down and eat o reasonably
hearty meal Of bread and bacon, after
the wintery sun had yelled himself be-
hind the riffs OF watry clouds that
hung above the tree tops. TIE long,
long. war was over. The shrill cry OF
the famished dogs OF war no longer
carried terror among the hearts OF
these simple, out of-the- world folks,
hidden away among the barrens.
Many time and Oft they conversed
together, and the grieving mother
mournad her dead boys.
| 81 can bear the loss OF Eben an Ri
ley an Hamp, because I've got use to
it," she would say. "I'ut my baby
boy. Poor little Dick, l know the
rest aire dead and gone, but don't
know wher' Dick is"
Christmas came. never shall for.
get that Christmas time. shall ever
remember how the poor, fool negroes
strutted and paraded. and fired the
old muskets, and had a big time,
"Cause you see, sab, de bottom rails
got ON de top o. de fence" they would
say. And the soldiers who had miss.
ed three or four Chrlstmases entered
into the enjoyment ofthis with renew.
ed energy.
Christmas eve I was at Aunt
Mina's house. l liked to be with
them, and here Mack tell about tho
Shenandoah valley and Stonw;ll jack
son. and all his fund of adventure and
perilous escape, and mighty victories
and chrushing defeats.
Aunt Nina sat in the corner busy
y, IA hnt, IL, h,&&
some red popcorn over the fire, and
Mack sat half i'll the shadow. sawin.
away on his fathers old fiddle, the
only piece OF personal property tho
old man left to his sons.
Aunt Nina had been buried i'm
thought, and WAS little startled
when she spoke so suddenly.
"thildrrn: wouldn't Won nl he Glad
seems to me that Ia he riconcil.d to
a!l the rest eli hewoula jes' comehome.
That's all | ask OF the good Lord.
Jcs 20 see my baby boy again"
"Ihen your wish is granted" coms
a voice from the door, "ior your
boys come home" and in another
breath Little Dick was clasped in the
arms of mother and sister.
j shall not attempt TO describe the
scene. ! will leave all that to tho
taclle pen OF the emotional novelist,
who has he trick OF portrnying such
things. cannot tor he life OF Inc re-
member TO this day who it was that
rcscued the frying pan full OF popcorn
from the fire. do not know how
come the fiddle bridge down. and
several strands Of hair broken in the
bow. know that utter all was owes
We begun to realize that Little Dick
had grown wonderfully tall. He had
added nearly II hall Il loot TO his stat
urcand his luzzy beard had developed
into nice brown beard. He had
been i'll IL northern prison, and in q
federal hospital, and lie had walked the
streets of many northern city, and
he had long, long story to tell. But
he had come back. Aunt Nina SEEM
cd to have grown ten years young.
rr. Grass grew on the graves OF
her other boys. and she cherished
their memory, but the living presence
OF her baby boy strengthened and
comforted her
And now, am going to tell you,
ccnfidentially, that this story is
every word true. could carry YOU
to II big lumber mill on the line of a
southern railroad, and ! could show
you the superintendent, who walks
with limp, that is Mack. | could
cnrry you to quiet home where a
sweet-faced woman, an ancient DANCE,
and maiden lady divide the ilolidF XS
ruling over the realm OF the housed, !,
hold. Children frolc about .hn
premises. One OF these women is Mrs.
Loring, junior. one is Aunt Nina,
and one is Betty. Down at the Office
could point out to you a thrifty,
active looking business man, the own
er OF the mill, and that is Little Dick.