Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-02-25

tS-sRNs%F@HN2yzSzreS ~ f~eHb
10 the station at MeltonDurg Us passcr.
gers were accustomed 10 smilingly re-
mark that every man, woman and child
In the place was loa6ng on its platform
I 10 gaze nt the arrivals and departures
What, then, must they have thought
when one bright August morning the
express from Columbus dashed up 10
the little depot with n series Of jubilnnt
shriclss that showed that the engineer
was in sympathy with some unwonted
excitement, and they saw the depot
drapcd in iluttcring bunting and alive
with hundreds Of country folks arrayed
in their best, while local band, with
more energy than harmony, prayed the
air Of "See, the Conqucring Hero
Comcsl"
And the conqucring hero who came
to Mcltonburg on that sunny morning
was none other than Frank lIcsant
who was dumfoundcd ut his noisy re.
ception, which was really due TO the
energy Of the editor Of the Weekly Ad.
. vcrtiscr, who had reused the honest
rustcs 10 what he afterwards described
I in the columns Of his journal as "a red.
/ hot burst OF enthusiasm" And, when
the village president, an aged and cs-
| timablc hardware merchant. stepped
forward and fired an Grafton ut him
which was little personal at first, but
soon driftcd into Fourth Of July
screed, that Frank thought he had
heard before, the young soldier felt
/ that he would rather endure another
. LII Of.
I deal hut hc had 10 face the music--to
hear Rev Lubin Ferry compare him In
dulcct tones with every Biblical hero
from David downwards aud declare
that his ma thought this u day that the
Meltonburgcrs would forever he proud
of-and 10 accept ut the hands of com.
mittcc, of which the Advertiser man
was spokesman, the presentation Of n
sword, on which was engraved list Of
the battles In which he had-or ought
TO havc-talScn part, AS the Advcr
tiscr said, ut was a high old time, and
the wcll,in rang with the plaudits Of
thousands when the youthful hero, In
few but appropriate words, gracefully
acknowledged the tribute 10 his brav
cry"
lIut they let him go at last Even the
little boys. who had shouted themselves
hoarsc, had sense TO leave him, when
he opened the garden gate and turned
up the avenue Of walnuts to his home
Mother"
"My boy"
draw the curtain over the tender
scene and leave them to their bliss,
And Grace came. too, blushing and
trembling, aud OH so glad. that Frnnk
took her In his arms and strolicd her
hair and raincd Kisses upon her upliftcd
face, just us though lac had right to
do II and she was his nfiinnccd bride,
not Mt all In the subducd. yet affection.
ate manner In which he greeted cousin
kutc Why, the two receptions would
not bear comparison; and was she not
happy girl? hut she was happier when
that night the young soldier told her
the old, old tale Of lore. which In her
ears sounded ms sweet and fresh rs
though mons Of ages ago II had not
called the blush TO the damask check Of
woman.
And when ON Sunday Mr. brentwood
preached 10 crowded congregation u
memorial sermon, In which after u
touching tribute 10 the Mcltonburg
boys who had died In action. ne remind
ed his hearers Of the debt of gratitude
they owed the brave survivors .Qi that
awful struggle, you should have seen
the widows eyes blaze with triumph.
She did not now look down In trembling
confusion, nor did her boy hide his face
or siclscn with shame NJ the words OF
the preacher.
And Franks sympathics were with
the minister too, when he added: 1--WE
are proud people this day, cxultant in
victory, almost for the moment forget
ting our tears for the loved ones who
have fallen ON the battlefield; but there
Is one thing We have not thought OF.
While we pour out heartfelt gratitude
TO the heroes who have maintained tho
metonomy OF this mighty Nation,
whose noble deeds shall inspire tho
poets of unborn generations, can We
not spare from the overflow of our ella
tion some sympathy for those who
fought for cause they believed TO be
just, and who now have 10 add TO the
desolation Of blighted homes and ruined
prospects tho bitterness of defeat?
We can afford TO be generous. Perhaps
II Is old age that brings ON me the spirit
OF prophecy, but | can sec the timo
when we shall record with pride the
courage and devotion OF the people OF
the South, whose marvellous endurance
has no parallel in history, and say ex.
ultantly, And these men were Amcri.
cans;' when the gallantry Of Leo and
jackson will be remembered without
robbing the crowns OF Grant, Sherman
and Sheridan Of u single laurcl-leaf"
Though the people generally were
not ripe for the expression OF such lib
eral criticism, the soldier element Of
the congregation nodded appreciation.
The countenances Of Miss Ruth and u
few others, however, manifested de-
termined signs OF disapproval and Rev.
Lubin afterwards remarked that his
ma considered Mr.. Brentwood's senti-
ments hardly decent.
The pastors sister, too, had another
subject which caused discomfort.
81 declare" she said TO Grace, going
home from church, that Mary Besant
does not look twenty-five years old to-
day-guess it's that bonnet she had
from Dayton does IT,"
But Grace knew that her friends ra-
diant looks were due 10 heart full Of
the sunshine OF thanlSfulness, 80 she dc.
murely replied;
Mrs. Besant always looks younger
than her years, but to-day she Is partic.
plarly bright aud pretty. Perhaps the
contrast of this morning with the day