The Portland daily press., 1893-06-24
HIS BOYS GRAVES.
Why Old George Root Refuses to
Leave the Old Farm.
What Four Grass Covered Graves In the
Old Orchard Means to an Old Man of To-
day-A Story That Has Its Counterpart
In Many Villages of Our Land.

In Many villages OF Our Land.
On one of the little farms near the border
of Westminster county lives "Old George
Root" Everybody in that part of the
country seems to know him, and many of
his friends object 10 his living alone. The
old man will not be persuaded. He prefers
to stay as he is.
You are obstinate, George" said one of
his friends.
mo, john" replied the old man meekly
Don't say that. I know ye mean it kind
ly, an Pm 'bleeged to We, but ye don't IN
derstand. I've lived here on this place nigh
onto 60 year. The boys was all born here,
an, as ye know, they're all buried here. I'd
be awful lonesome anywheres else-they re
kind O. company fer me-"
The old man looked wistfully at the four
graves down in the orchard where he says
''they used to play when they was little
fellers,'
Tuesday the four graves were covered
with flowers, placed there, not by comrades
in uniform, but by the old father who had
trudged through the woods all of Monday
gathering blossoms for his Decoration day
He was tired when he got home, for, as he
expressed it, II amt SO spry as used to be,
an the springs been SO backward there amt
many posies OUT it takes long time to
find 'em." But after he had his supper,
tired as he was, he sat up late fashioning
with his trembling hands wreaths and
crosses.
On Decoration day it was observed that
on one of the graves the old man had made,
or tried to make. flag of red, white and
blue blossoms. A reporter asked him why
he had so especially honored this grave
"Why," replied old George, that's Billy's
grave Amt you herd O. Billy? No,
don't suppose you hev, bein you don't live
round here Tll tell ye bout it eff We hev
a-mind to listen"
The old man seated himself, rested his
chin on the top of his cane and told this
story:
"Ye see, when the war broke out the four
boys was just well growed up. Inever need
ed no hired men, I can tell We. They wouldn't
let me do no work at all, just chore round
like. They'd be ashamed, they said, to let
me work an them just spilin for exercise,
an eff they'd had Their way the mother'd
never lifted pound Yes. they was good
boys, every one of 'em.
Billy, this one here" and the old man
pointed to the flag. twas the Oldest. He
was %, George was next. then Allen. an
Sammy, the youngest, was just 18. He was
the baby, an his mothers pet o. course.
Well, bein good, brave boys. they wanted
to join the army, an their mother wanted
'em to. You looks surprised-It tell you she
want none o. yer weak, cry baby wimmen.
She knew the country needed every man.
1T amt no worse for me than tits for
other Mothers says she, an I'd be
ashamed to keep my boys from doin their
duty
$50 they enlisted, every one of 'em, the
same night. went with 'em, an when /
see 'ernT signin their names I couldn't help
envyin 'efn. They all come marchin home
lib their Uniform, tall an handsome. I say
it, though they was my boys, an their
mother met egA al, tho gate
"'Youfve aonesHsar duty, boys she said.