Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-02-15
ARTHUR's TRIBUTE.
Story OF a Boy Who Gave His Flowers to q
Living Soldier.


Papa, oh, papa" pleaded Arthur
laying little dimpled hand on papai
coat sleeve, SAY it again, please. it.
such big word, ! can't 'membe it. =
Decoration day" repeated papa
looking up from his paper and an
nouncing each syllable slowly.
Now this was just what Arthur
wanted; he jumped on papa's knee in
trice, saying in his pretty eoaxing
way: Throw down the old paper.
papa, and tell me all about Dee-deera-
ton day"
Well, 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
\. ~ 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
4 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.
4 mamma has got the beautifullest
z basket-havent you, mamma? and
Z can't pick any flowers accuse were
a going to tie red, and blue. and white
#ribbons all around. There they are on
|fmamma's workable We bought EN-
sdown town this morning, mamma and
'ime, and that's all | know 'cept we're |
going in the horsecars to the grave. |
Ward. Now it's your turn. papa"
so, so, my little man" said papa. |
The flowers. and the ribbons. and the
beautiful basket. are a very pretty part
~ Decoration day, but there is deep.
~, truer sentiment attached TO these
ceremonies which | should like you to
IA Understand. A great many years ago.
curing the terrible civil war. all the
,frave men left their homes to ioin the
rmy, leaving behind mother, wife or
ster, who could only pray with
embling lips that Their loved ones
light be spared. But cannon balls
FED no ones prayers: thick as hail
ey flew, sparing few. Arthur. my
ey, may you never see a battlefield
'exn with the dead and dying. it is
f awful, piteous sight; foe and
& end lie side by side. dead, for love of
pr country. Not one. Arthur not
o, but hundreds and thousands: '
Enc so manned and disfqured
4Eit even their dearest friends ]
ild not recognize their faces a
4 frly all So far from home that 2
& could not be laid where the moth /
wife or sister could weep sometime. v
ss# their graves. So they were buried !
the spot where they fell with no y
er honor than that of having fought f
4 veiy and died "A soldiers death. After b
< war the soldiers returned home-as a
Id before, Arthur. this all happened v
IS ago. and those who are left are a
and gray. Every year the number el
s VS. smaller as they are called awav L
h by one to the land of eternal Y
Re. In every part of the land
h, south. east. west-can be found
graves of these brave men. and
year on certain day we go to =
sk cemeteries and cover their graves !.
iiowers to show that we remem- =
with gratitude their courage and =
IX Zee. Not one is forgotten. from -
& reat general who led the army 20 =
1.A umble soldier who stood ready in =
anlSs, one amids. thousands. ~
1pa, answered Arthur, heaving a
sigh; your story is ever so much
er than mine. Oh. just love the h'
good soldiers. Can / put my 10
on the grave of some poor wl
? who didn't have a horse or beat ~
"-'|NnH love hin, l...u.t lei
N see him. ~
as You wish, Arthur, answered sp;
looking at him lovingly. and with do
-omise Arthur went to bed
next morning rose bright and Le,
Mamma dressed Arthur in his
elvet suit. combed out his sunny Att
and gave him the basket of
Such a basket as only tender
hands could fashion. one that
Pther would love TO see on the
of her darling soldier boy. and
sweeter and fairer too for the
hnocont chilli who would place
here
treets we're crowded. a real gala
Officers in brilliant uniformsl
fifty by on gayly eaparisoned )
carriages were filed with bright Tor
md choice flowers; once in y
huge wagons filed to overflow. VIM
wreaths anchors and crosses it v
by, all going in the direction
emetery- ,ha
rclasped mamma 5 dress tightly ion
hand, and with the other en-
prescious basket. looking lact
he while with bright, question sir
ply he stopped, pulling at on~
hand: Mamma, mamma" Gbo