Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-05-28

THE PROCESSION.
ley felt sure he could count on his aiC
in carrying out the plans; but he would
be week too late. In the absence Of
the minister. MOsley knew that the
other two men of intiuence-the doctor
and the squire-would oppose it be.
cause they had not thought of it them
selves.
So he unfolded his plan to his init
mates and it met with hearty approval
shown by words and winks and deluges
of tobacco juice. After a spirited dis
cussion as to suitable programme OF
ceremonies, it was voted by all that the
school-teacher would be the proper per
son to approach for cooperation. and
Mosley appointed himself committee
of one to wait upon that young lady.
AS he walked up the street with all
the military dignity he could muster. ii
occurred to him that he should first
visit the cemetery to find something OF
the lay of the land The ''buryine
ground" as they called it, was at the
fartheSt end of the main street, which
street contained the store, the post
office and schoolhouse, and most Of the
residences of the village.
It was a desolate looking place. The
weeds and tangles of wild vines made
it picturesque enough, but natural
picturesqueness looks neglected and
lonely in a graveyard. That is the one
place where it is a relief to see neatly
cut grass and cultivated flowers and
things orderly even to stiffness - for
even if it offends the artistic taste, it is
comforting to see that some one comes
often to the spot.
Mosley stumped about among the
unkempt mounds. There were only
three of them the graves OF soldiers.
The little village had sent many of her
sons to the fore-but the most of them
lay under southern skies. One grave
was marked with a marble headstOne
it was that of Mosley's old captain, an6
the veterans heart swelled as he
thought of the gallant man who hac
led his men through many a bloody
battle.
The next grave which he sought wa:
| easily found by its wooden slab, which
bore the name of a comrade, but the
third was harder to find.
Mosley remembered how they haC
buried poor young drummer lad just
at dusk one afternoon-way back in the
sixties. The grave must be sunker
and hollow, but there were so many
sunken graves that the old maj
stumbled from one to the other as he
sought some mark to identify the las
resting place of the little drummer
| boy.
He shut his eyes and tried to recall
the route which the little procession
had taken through the burying GROUND
as they had borne the light coffin OF
| their shoulders. They had come in the
| gate and turned to the right. he re
memb ered tripping over the root of tn.
big willow-then they had crossed-oh
| he knew now-and he crossed to a littl,
grave, hollow. but fresh and green ane
with a carefully tended rose at tn.
head.
"Why, who tends this ere, wonder
| His folks moved west years ago. Who
Sairy Wilkins, I'll warrant. She wa
engaged to him, / recOllect now
Blamed if l hadn't a forgot that tina
| old maid ever had beau and Mosley
drew his hand across his eyes ant
| sighed.
Having located the three graves
Mosley retraced his steps to the school
house. The afternoon session had jus
closed and children were troopins
down the street while the little teacher
fingered to lock the door. Mosley
waited until she came down the steps
then with profound bow he stepped
| beside her and escorted her to he
boarding place, telling his plans a
| they went.
| Miss Mason, the teacher, was enthu
siastic and offered some ideas of he
own on the subject and they agree,
upon a line of march and programm
| of songs and recitations by the pupils
| The directors gave their consent for
| holiday and the children were drilled
daily by Mosley, and the townspeopl
laughed and called it Mosley's celebra
ton and took the whole thing ia
from seriously. But Mosley and tn
little teacher were undaunted and o.
the morning of the SOth, promptly a
ten, the procession set out from tn
schoolyard
First was Mosley, arranged in his oil
uniform and with red and blue sasl
across his shoulder; then followed Mis-
Mason, and after her the children
marched two and two, each car
rying three tiny flags and grea
wreath of SNOWFALL and red ''pineys;
for Mosley had determined that tn
thing should be well done, and thirt
small flags and ten SNOWFALL wreath
make a brave showing on a grave,
can tell you.
Behind the children walked two vet
Grams, whom Mosley's eloquence ha
aroused to enthusiasm. and the rea
was brought up by Mosley's six chum
l they of the depot fence.