The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1894-05-25

tie town and John enlisted. One day,
with banners flying, and the beat OF
drum and noise Of fife resounding
through the streets as if it were gala
day instead of day of gloom and fear,
they marched away.
l remember it plainly. as II 1t were
but yesterday. seeing John stoop over
the baby in her arms, as 1t loath to
leave them, kiss the tiny face and hands
over and over again.
He fought and fell, captain among
our boys, and when well enough they
sent him homs. only for the loved ones
there to see how intensely he suffered
The journey was too much for him.
Unconscious when he arrived. he re-
manned 50 until he lifted up his eyes in
that land where battle strife and beat
OF martial drum are never known and
soldiers graves are never dug. We
buried him-I say we because our
whole town honored our fallen cap
tain, and universal was the sorrow ex-
pressed for his wife and babies
There was a little money left, and
Mary kept her place and raised garden
stuff to sell. As years rolled by that
was not enough to give her even a
scant supply. and she moved into town
and took in sewing.
Time had healed the sorrow in tho
hearts of the town folk as 1t had COW
cred the grave with green. As watched
her Thought of her sorrow and great
needs. and wondered how we could so
soon forget her.
saw her enter q shop and come out
directly with a disappointed look, tuck
ing something under her arm. In my
own arms l carried box of cut flow
ers which had purchased to place on
the grave of an only son whom l had
laid to rest Just after that dreadful bat
tie of Bull Run.
Although it was raining very hard at
this time, wondering still more at her
mysterious way. followed. The last
place which she had entered was a
music store and racked my brain to
find a reason for her doing So She
hurried along and presently she seemed
to come to the desired place, cautiously
looked around her and then entered.
When 1 came abreast of the place I
saw that it was a loan-shop Could it
have come to this? Was she so reduced
| In circumstances that she found it nee
essary to pawn articles to exist? ]
waited patiently until she appeared,
the something" under her shawl was
gone and she started to retrace her
| steps homeward.
did not follow farther, but resolved
that would not sleep that night until
knew just how Johns wife was
situated. After changing my wet gar
ments for dry apparel and having a cup
of tea, 1 started for her home.
| When 1 reached the door Of heI
apartment at the end of long, dimly-
lighted hall, heard her running the
machine and singing as she worked.
was surprised at this, for with poverty
1 had always coup. I'd discomfort.
She answered my knock by opening
the door and saying how surprised she
was to see me standing there. We
talked Of many interesting subjects,
she telling me Of the children and hel
work and of her many, many struggles
with poverty and doctors and drug
bills Naturally our conversation turned
to the subject of Decoration day as the
morrow had been christened, and smil
ing such a sweet, calm smile, she
arose and going to the sink at the 9TH
er end of the room brou ght from it {
box filled with flowers, which she hai
bought to place on Johns grave.
She told me then, with her eyes filled
with tears. she knew her John was ,
noble soldier and he so dearly loved
I flowers she could not think of his grav
with but flag to mark it and SO sh'
had managed to buy some for it. The
children would 60 with her early OF
the morrow and they would spend a,
hour or two with him.
'She had managed to buy some.