The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-05-31
CHAPTER III.

townships turned out very credita bly,
the next Gay to decorate their soldiers
graves. The sun was a, bright and
life-giving Us if it had never seen q
funeral: there were two or three COM
panics Of soldiers commanded by nu-
merOu5 officers, one Of whom had Sue
ceeded in becoming Colonel in time of
profound peace: there wa, brass band
which might have rcconcilcd the whole
population of the cemetery to death,
could they have awakened long enough
to hear one tune, and there was large
number Of citiZ ,ns, not caring particu-
larly for public display of grief, but
many Of whom kept their offerings to
the country in this little place ana now
wanted to typify their thoughts and
feeling. toward them with the most
beautiful flowers that it was possible
to find.
Among these was a sturdy, firm
icaturci old man who might have been
Il Cromwell, Il Bismarck ora Gladstone
if blessed and cursed with the same
environments, who had many of the
elements Of greatness within him.
more intense, perhaps, from the linn
tied scope Of their display. Many Of
these we're shown with the features of
this Il: mi-mOuntalncer, but that
distinctly New En@lanl product-de-
termination was the NEST prominent
one. The rcticent soil and unbcnding
climate OF his life NJ home had con-
spired to make this the most noticeable
portion of his nature.
His wife was a motheriy woman who
had evidently started out in life with
u disposition of unqualified sweetness.
bat had from year to year absorbed
some of the granite of her husbands
character. 1t is impossible for a
sharply contrasting couple to live long
together in peace without obtaining
more or le, Of each others qualities.
Nor had her own influence been idle
all these Years. There was an Occa.
sional lire Of tenderness among the
marks of time and emotion in the old
mans face, as if they had crcpt there
with mild but logged perseverance,,
and chung in spite of everything.
poor, poor Albert" sighel the
mothcriy woman, Is they drove toward
the cemetery. Il do not know whether
they will ct us decorate the grave or
not. There wa, 50 much talk against
even our Lurying him here when we
brought him home from the South"
''l}ut he was buried here, all the
same. said the old man, bringing his
cte"y | /. and there wasn't enough fa-
natics in town to keep our own flesh
AMI b.ocd out of it." And the same
Old hand that had forwarded L father,
cure to the only sen because he had
joined the Confederate army came
down with Il crash u,rn the arm of the
wagon seat, in defense of that same
soi!-or, rather. of the Old gentleman
him-clf.
Poor. poor Albert" repeated the old
lady. He couldn't help doing what he
did. He thought ne wa, right.
We'll, ain t so sure OF whether he
even tn ught he was right ob ;ccted
the old man. giving his favorite road
horse two or three gentle but decided
touches with the whip. I'm inclined
to think an to hope. too that ne let
other. do his thinkin' for him And
his heart added, if not lis tongue: He
ought to have let me do it for him:
thea it would have been done right.
The old gcntlcmnn's cOuntenancc and
manner showed that he was perfectly
ready to do the thinking for almost
anybody.
The wife did not answer: sudden
little storm Of ,ars had swept across
the blue sky of her eyes. 1t came as
if having Il right to, for it Was daily
visitor. Every mother knows that
there had not been Il single wakeful
hour when she had II thought of her
only son.
We'll. we're here, said the old gen.
tle!nan at last in :. dry tone. He did
not like display AID could not help
making little sharp, biting, Yankeeish
remarks when he saw it.
"Thc soldier, are all out" he NUT
tered. Its tho same old story again
war in the time Of peace. 1t 5 uecr
how many follows there are who love
to put roosters, feathers in their hats
ard mar,'h about whenever they can
get the chance. Some of these chap,
know how to march. thou yh-thcy did
1t in the army: al! commanded now by
peace officer
The swcet-faccd old wife did not say
anything: Il deep problem was in her
heart. She had brought along few
bouquets to place upon the soldiers
graves. and Il fine one had been re-
served for that Cf the son whom she
had loved and lest. She could 10. bear
to think OF all the other soldiers get
ting wrcaths and her son having none
And YET. in conversation that morning.
her stern q hush band had decided that
that although the youny man was his
own >1n he should be made an cxalnp Q
Of even in MS grave. 1t was the Roman
father act brought into New England
The procession was a good one foi. !;
country town, and tie soldiers made Il
very credita 10 display. There was
also among their nuns err !, soci, ty Of
Odd Fellows. Il company OF tircmen and
org line of school boys and girls
Ill anxious to do their share in decor
atiCg the graves OF the dead heroes.
Although II was u holi iay. it wa; a
mournfui che. and seemed much like Il
great oYcn-alr funeral. The dav had
not then become a> it has in many
places since, Il leisure time of pleasur.
and ic~tivity: the graves We're 200 new:
uihe dca lis were all recent
This iiclU os the dead was not all
al!cd with tombs. y portion of it on
o.. side was still vacant country. very
suggestive TO those who might some
time resScs in it. Fart oi It was in
lieci occupied to-day. but by living