Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-06-08
ARTHUR rs TRIBUTE.
story Of Boy who fave Ills Flowers to a
Living older.

Story OF a Boy who Gave His Flowers to a
Living older.
Papa oh. papa. pleaded Arthur
laying little ditnplet hand ON papa's
coat sleeve say it ,lgain, please, it's
such big word, 1 can't member it.
Decoration day" repeated papa
looking up from his paper and am
nouncing each syllable slowly
Now this was just what Arthur
wanted; he jumped on papas 3lnee in
way. Throw down the old paper,
papa, and tell me all about Dee -decra-
tion day
"Wcll, little man, first tell papa what
you know about il. said papa. letting
the paper fall unheeded on the 9oor
and pulling one Of the golden curl> That
brushed his shoulder
"AE right cried Arthur delighted
~, "ll ten Won first, and YOU tell me
a-:tr Then. papa. wei both 80 % bed.
You must ID just like me, acause we're
playing together now mustn't he
mamua2"
"Oh, Fou rogue laughed mamma.
Come let's see how we'll Won can tell
your story. perhaps viii let you stay
mp later Tonight
Well said Arthur Il know this
mamma has got the beautitulIest
basket haven't you mamma? and I
can't pick any flowers aeause were
going TO tie red. and blue. and white
ribbons an around There they are on
mammals workable Ne bought EN-
down town this morning. mamma and
me, aud that's all know cept were
going in the horsecars to the grave
yard. Now its Your turn papa
SO, 50, my little man, said papa
The flowers. and the ribbons, and the
beautiful basket are Il very pretty part
Of Decoration day. bnt there Is deep
er, truer sentiment attached 10 these
ceremonies which should like won Is
understand. 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 one,
might be spared But cannon balls
heed no ones prayers: thick rs hail
they Jew, sparing few Arthur my
hoy may YOU never see battlefield
strewn with the dead and dying, it is
an awful, piteeu~ sight foe and
friend lie side by side dead for love ~
their country. Not one Arthur. not
two hut hundreds and thousands:
some So malmcd and dishgured
that even their dearest friends
could not recognize their faces;
nearly all 50 far from home that
they could not be laid where the moth
err wife or sister could weep sometimes
at their graves. - they were buried
near the spot where they fell, with no
other honor than that of having fought
brayely 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 smaller as they are called away
one 10y one 10 the land Of eternal
peace. In every part ot the land
north, south. east, WeSt-ca be found
the graves of these brave men. and
once q year on u certain day we go 90
the cemeteries ana COVER their graves
with flower, 20 show that we remcm-
her with gratitude their courage and
service Not one i. forgotten from
the great general who le3 fhe army p
the humble soldier who Stood ready ID
the ranl,s. ono amidst thousands
Papa, answered Arthur ness ,ng d
decp 9iGa yuur story leeNe sa uu II
prettirr than miue tth tust I5ge thc
dear good soldiers can ! put mv
basket on tae grave HI oe paar