The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-21
ARTHUR'S DECORATION DAY.
Story of Boy Who Gave His Flowers to .
Living Soldier.

Papa. oh, papa" pleaded Arthu,
laying little dimpled hand on papa:
coat sleeve, SAY it again, please. it's
such big word, can't member it."
Decoration day." repeated papa
looking up from his paper and an
nouncing each syllable slowly.
Now this was just what Arthu,
wanted; he jumped on papa's knee in
a trice, saying in his pretty coaxing
way: Throw down the old paper
papa, and tell me all about Dec-decra-
ton day"
| ''Wen, little man. first tell papa what
you know about it." said papa, letting
the paper fall unheeded on the floor
and pulling one of the golden curls that
brushed his shoulder
''All right" cried Arthur, delighted
| ly, III tell you first, and you tell me
after, then papa, we'll both go to bed.
| You must do just like me, accuse we're
playing together now, mustn't he,
mamma?''
''Oh, you rogue" laughed mamma,
''come, let's see how well you can tell
your story, perhaps 1 will let you stay
up later tonight
'Well," said Arthur, 81 know this,
mamma has got the beautifullest
basket-haven't you, mamma? and
can't pick any flowers accuse we're
going to tie red, and blue, and white
ribbons all around. There they are on
mammals Work-ta ole. We bought 'em
down town this morning, mamma and
me. and that's all / know 'cept we're
! going in the horsecars to the grave
yard. Now it's your turn papa"
80, SO, my little man" said papa.
''The flowers and the ribbons. and the
beautiful basket. are a very pretty part
Of Decoration day but there is a deep
er, truer sentiment attached to these
ceremonies which l should like you to
understand. A great many years ago,
| during the terrible civil war, all the
brave men left their homes to join the
army leaving behind mother, wife or
| sister, who could only pray with
trembling lips that their loved ones
might be spared. But cannon balls
heed no ones prayers: thick as hail
they few, sparing few. Arthur. my
boy, may you never see a battlefield
strewn with the dead and dying; it is
an awful, a piteous sight foe and
| friend lie side by side. dead, for love of
their country. Not one. Arthur. not
two, but hundreds and thousands:
some SO MANNED and disfigured
that even their dearest friends
could not recognize their faces;
naa,-lI oil far hn,,,n b,f
they could not be laid where the moth
er, wife or sister could weep sometimes
at their graves. SO they were buried
near the spot where they fell. with no
other honor than that of having fought
bravely and died a soldiers death. After
the war the soldiers returned home-as
/ said before, Arthur. this all happened
years ago, and those who are left are
old and gray. Every year the number
grows smaller as they are called away
one by one to the land of eternal
peace. In every part of the land
north. south, east. west-can be found
the graves of these brave men, and
once a year on certain day we go to
the cemeteries and cover their graves
with flowers to show that we remem-
Der with gratitude their cou age and
service. Not one is forgotten, from
the great general who led the army to
the humble soldier who stood ready in
the ranks. one amidst thousands"
Papa" answered Arthur, heaving
deep sigh: your story is ever so much
prettier than mine. Oh. just love the
dear. good soldiers. Can l put my
basket on the grave of some poor
soldier who didn't have horse or beat
a drum? love him best accuse nobody
could see him
DO as you wish. Arthur" answered
papa, looking at him lovingly. and with
this promise Arthur went to bed.
The next morning rose bright and
clear Mamma dressed Arthur in his
blue velvet suit, conbed out his sunny
hair. and gave him the basket Of
flowers Such q basket as only tender
loving hands could fashion. one that
any mother would love to see on the
grave OF her darling soldier boy. and
all the sweeter and fairer too for the
dear. innocent child who would place
them there.
The streets were crowded. a real gala
dav Officers in brilliant uniforms
rode swiftly by on gayiy caparisoned
steeds; carriages were filed wit 1bright
faces and choice flowers: once in
awhile huge wagons filed 10 overflow
ing with wreaths. anchors and crosses,
rum led by. all going in the direction
OF the cemetery.
Arthur clasped mamma. dress tightly
with one hand, and with the other
held his prescious basket. looking
around the while with bright. question
ing eyes
Suddenly he stopped, pulling at
mammals hand: Mamma, mamma
ne exclaimed. IS that soldi.r2 look
Mamma looked where Artnurs big
blue eyes were fixed with an express
sion OF surprise.
At thc corner 81 the street sal an old
man IN faded blue uniform: tl1c san
beat down on his bowed he2d and white
hair; with his one arza, ne YEARLY
turned an old hand organ oTuaHleHted
with the picture OF = battle On h1s
neck hung a card bearing the in~rip-
ton: Pity an old soldier. bat today
the people were too busy FOX pity. 80
they passed on