Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-05-25
ARTHUR's DECORATION DAY.

| Ella Wheeler Wilcox. In Youths Companion
ARTHuR's DECORATION DAY.
Story Of Boy Who Gave His Flowers to
| Living Soldier.
| ssPapa, oh, papa" pleaded Arthu
laying little dimpled hand on papa
coat sleeve, "say it again, please, it,
such big word, can't member it.
Decoration day." repeated pap;
looking up from his paper and an
nouncing each syllable slowly.
Now this was just what Arthur
wanted; he jumped on papa's knee i,
a trice, saying in his pretty coaxin,
way: Throw down the old paper
papa, and tell me all about Dec-decra
ton day"
"Well, little man, first tell papa wha
you know about it," said papa, lettint
the paper fall unheeded on the foo
and pulling one of the golden curls tina
brushed his shoulder.
'sAn right" cried Arthur, delighted
ly, ''I'll 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
mammal"
''Oh, you rogue" laughed mamma
''come, let's see how well you can tell
your story, perhaps will let you stay
up later tonight"
"Well," said Arthur, II know this,
mamma has got the beautiful1est
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 BILE. We bought 'em
down town this morning, mamma and
me, and that's all 1 know 'cept we're
going in the horsecars to the grave
yard. Now it's your turn, papa"
$50, SO, my little man" said papa.
''The flowers, and the ribbons, and the
beautiful basket, are very pretty part
of Decoration day, but there lisa deep
CT, 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 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
<hn< Ir
could not recognize their faces;
nearly all so far from home that
they could nDt be laid where the moth
err, 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 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 smalleras 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 year ona certain day we gnto
the cemeteries and cover their graves
with flowers to. show that we ramem-
Der with gra tdtm1e their courage and
service. Not one is forgotten. from
the great general who led the amy to
the humble soldier who stood ready in
the ranks, one amidst thousands
'.Papa," answered Arthur, heaving a.
deep sigh; your story is ever SO much
prettier thanmine. Oh, just lUvesthe
dear, good soldiers. Can l put. my
basket on the grave of some poor
soldier whe,didmt have horse: or.beat5
a drum? Hove him best acause=nobody]
could see him"
s'Do as you wish, Arthur" answered
papa, looking at him lovingly, and with
this promise ArtRnr went to bed
The naxt. monning rose bright and 1
clear Mamma. dressed Arthur in his
blue velvetisuit combed out his sunny
hair, aad gave him the basket; of
flowers Such basket as emily tender
loving hands, could fashion,, one that
any mother. would love to see on the :.
grave of heE- darling soldifr.boy, and /
all th.. sweeter and fairer too f6retfe /
dear, innoeont child who would places
them. there
Tha streets. were crowded. raalgalas
day. Of1cars in brilliant: uniforms.
by on gaylY caparisonadi
steeds; camiages were filledwith bright
faces and choice flowers; once In
avxhile, huge wagons f1Abd toeoyerahw-
inxy VITA wreaths, anchors, and crenses,
rumbled by, all going n tho direction
If the cemetery.
ArtAurclaSDed mamma S dress TIGHTLY
with enc hand, and with the other
held his prescious basket, looking
around the while with bright, question
ing eyes
Sxaidenly he stopped. pHlfing at
hand: Mamma, mamma, =
hs exclaimed, ssis that soldier2 look"
Mamma looked where Arthur's big
bfue eyes were fixed with an express
sion of SURPRISE
AT the corner of the street sat an old
man in q faded blue uniform; the sun
beat down on his bowed head and white
hair: with his one arm, he YEARLY
turned an old hand organ, ornamented
with the picture OF . battle. On his
neck hung card bearing the inscrip-
ton: pity an old soldier, bat to-day
the people were too busy for pity. %
they passed on.
Eyes, Arthur" answered mamma,
but before she had time to give Arthur