Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-06-04


L IA true that the men bore the fatisre OF the
march, the brunt OF the bztte and the horrors 81
prison cell bur they had their comrades with
them. and the incidents OF the camp and field
and The frequent changes OF scenes, served in 3
measure, - break tbs EearisOms mOnotonv -
Bur the wives aud rnothers - nome Win.
striving 70 contribute 10 the waRts OF themse Ives
and children. and % sustain the family dreside
were compelled ID suler all the agonie5 Of lnger-
Ing suspense. II WAS win fear and trc1idation
int they glanced At Ene headlines OF every news
paper fer among me lists OF the killed and the
husband, father or brother appear And every
lettr- That came was opened with nervous trem6-
ing, Tor esd only knew whether its contents
mourning.
a picture comes 10 my mind which illustrates
IA WeAA @sy The anguish Of those mo remained
Il home II IL beautiful sumner evening
me SelloM sunlight falls Ienderlg upon the IN
- nary = helns- An aged couple sit upon the
Elne-cizd pOIch OF their humble cottage eniovin0
tns soiLeFening breeze. Nearly three years be-
before tnelt only child, fair-AaiFsd youth, from
whose flushed cheek the innocent look Of bow
hood had not yet departed, inspired with patriot
Isia au me ecili~g events OF tie times, enroll
cd MS name among those or his country.s defend
ecs W ia uncomfortable emotion that aged father
claspel the hand OF hs only child as he sent him
GOO speed 10 the field OF battle. How fondly that
aged mother chung ~ the idol of her heart raptur-
ous-y kissing lis brow aud cheek As she
pressed Ia ctOss embrace for the last time her
by he who had lain : q babe in her bosom who
had never felt the want Of u moIhers' tender care
~ me parting came as PaTungs must. How
tedlouEiy the seasons dragged their weary lengths
along. Inc mail brought fre0uent letters fR se1
TER boy always nlled WIN nope ana good cheer
II was thought that The war was near its close
ana the fond heart of tails mother beat with eager
anticipation. This very day she had visited a.
was her custom, that little room beneath he
eaves where, from his infancy, her darling had
listened 20 often 10 the soft paEter OF the summer
taiA- Ienderiy she spread the snowy countar-
pane upon the bed and placed a boeuet Of fragrant
blossoms upon the table ~ hat II Johq sAouid
come home today" she Eaid,-and her heart was
AlieQ Win LhamkiulueEs that the war Was nesrlv
~ NoW As tney ~ on the Eine-elad porch
tuis oeauLIul evening, The breeze that rustes the
foliage above their heads brings 10 The ears OF this
father and mother the sounis OF an approacIliDg
who Is riding up the lane. The father meets nm
q the gate hoping that he may get news Of his
ooy- sure enough lac i handed e letter I'M
patiently ne breaks the seal and reads 20 God
ne cries, my boy Is dead. And he stapstrs
against the irnce Tor support. The kVInDat1l-fno,
neighDor dismounts and placing his arm abouf ri,e
shoulders Of the posr Oid man, CONSOLES him ~
best ne can Slowly they pass up the shaded path
towards the liarcu. Ine expectant mother win
EaErf eyes, eAeiainss ANY news from Johny'
stolneF, says Inc old man,-but sob stiles
his utrerence, ne covers his face with LIS hands
aud eau proceed no further. Instantly she com
prenends AL, WITH sueh a 1aoen az can proceed
only lrciA Drokeu heart she sinks Unconscious
10 me Eoor. Ny friends, il is Impossible 10 con-
ceiye Of The heights aud depths OF a mothers love
- i5i.ii1n lasis4Ags utterly inadequate 10 eX
FtSsS IAS sf!eI OF mother for the loss of her
chld. " nat sacrifice IL greater than thlss and
10 10; on noRus. tASt, rs The years 90 by, It gives
JOY 70 tie heart OF tIls mother % annually scat
yer ho"ers over the graves OF the dead soldier
boys! While she il performing this tribute Of
l3Nes may not some other ministering spirit, in
the FAR sRAny south, be tsnderly placing tne fEag-
rant petas Of tae magnolia over the dustef her
own lair haired boys
Now proceed TO the cemetery to lovingly
decorate the iHst resting place of the isamorfal
dead, and while the beautiful h5wers OF sprile
are scattered upon the tusf, how dttiugly might
come TO our minds these beautiful unes Vi Scott
soldier rest thy warfare DER.
Sleep The s!eep that knows not breaking;
DFean Of bAttie heids no more
Days Of danger, nights Of Waking''
and Eletainks that from beneath the green sod
there might come a whispering response,
How peaceful the grave, it, quiet how deep,
Us zeYhyfs breathe calmly, and scTt is its sleep
ana lJ~ers perfume it With etheF.n
10 not the lessons Of the hour teach us the
priceless boon Of liberty. and do We not al feel
land, bought and redeemed by the blood of the
true and Tie brave. Thou, whose golden tresses
are kissed By the mornings rosy beams. whose
feet are bath5d IL The pale sweet light of the
setting sEa- Long MHyst thou be indeed the land
banner,
"Ehou gag OF the free hearts only home,
BY angel hands 70 ValOr given.
Thy stars have lit the weikin dome,
And all tny huez were born in heaven.
Forever float that STANDARD sheet
Where breGth1s tAe Zoe that falls before ue,
VITA freedom s soil beneath our feet,
AMI freedom banner waving o'er u.s.
The days exercises at the church
closed with q recitation by Mrs. Heath
and a poem by Rev. BIr. Allen-and
the procession to the cemetery was
formed.
The interest in Decoration Day is
as the procession was
probably the largest ever assembled
on any similar occasion. Lack of
space prevents a full report of the
final program. Rev. mr.. Sewell
made a very practical speech, point
ing out a few OF the enemies that
still menance our republic and advo-
Gated the settlement of the questions
by the peaceful methods of the bal
lot. Comrade Strain read short BIZ
ographios Of The soldiers buried in
the cemetery. A dirge 10y the Band,
a volley by the Cadet Corps, and the
decoration of the graves, closed the
day; and the hundreds assembled
proceeded homewarl.