The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-05-30

of the world. Their old friends ana
neighbors were scattered from their
homes as we'll as they, and there was
nobody to seek them out.
They titled the spot of land around
their rude cabin and lived, they hard!y
knew how, from day to day. But IN
the hardest. hungriest hour Mrs. Hun
ter made. their lot enduraoi leot 20 +b eae
children by teaching them that they
were suffering for their country! En-
during hunger for the government!
This and their father and brother fall-
ing dead on the battlefield were parts
of one and the same grand, glorious
thingl And it did make munger easier
to the soldiers children. To be hungry
and say nothing was to them part OF
the battle of the Wilderness and the
glorious tomb of the unknown" at
Arlington.
And had they not a wealth of splen-
did memories? At least had not Pen?
Pen had seen General Grant 1T the
head of his men passing through the
old place. Phil Sheridan and his cav
airy had clattered past their aoor. Inc
girls could remember their soldier
father, with his soldier cap and the
big, brass buttons on the army blue
coat. 1t never died out of the thoughts
of the humble family that they were
part of the war; that they had helped
save the Union. At the slightest men
ton of General Grants name, their
fathers general, the girls, as well as
Pen. lifted their heads like little war
horses.
And now Pen was going to the Deco
ration day service at Arlington. His
Jacket was neatly mended, good
lunch put up. A tiny note on coarse,
gray, ruled paper. the back of an OLD
letter, was tucked in his vest pocket.
1t read:
Dear General Grant, take the
liberty of sending you this message by
nv only son, who goes to lay flowers
upon. his fathers and brothers grave.
I gave all l had. I want my boy to
see General Grant, his fathers general.
MARY HUNTER
At Arlington were $4,000 people that
May day. Bands played dirges in OPP
posite parts of the cemetery. The great
platform was draped with silken flags
and banners. Colonel Haywood, with
the marines and marine band, sat be-
meath them General and Mrs. Grant
General and Mrs. Sherman, Sir Edward
Thornton, the British minister and con-
suls and sixty-six soldiers orphans
each carrying a wreath and bouquet
sat together on the platform.
! A national salute of twenty-seven
guns was fired. A poem was read
called 'NThe Hymn of Peace" written
by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Captain jackson and Pen arrived in
time to march into the grounds just
as General Grant was taking his seat
The bands were playing. The sunshine
fell over the peoples heads and faces
! like gold. 1t was a wonderful scene!
There was thick, soft grass, sucf
beautiful trees and singing birds
Flags were f1uttering and flags were
borne about in huge baskets, and there
were armies of people laden with fra
grant blossoms. The white stone:
everywhere cleaned in the sun.
AS the orphan children marched
round the gray tomb of the unknown
piling against the stone their wreath:
and bouquets, and the music played {
sad dirge, Pen went up and laid the
pretty wreaths of myrtle and white
flowers that his mother had made will
the others. He whispered to Captain
Jackson: eff mother could see this sht
wouldn't cry so much. Oh, it's glorious
to be a soldier"
Pen, now it's time to give your mote
to General Grant" said the captain
"They are coming down from the plat
form
A blue coated officer handed the lette
ter to the general He opened and reaC
it, every word. The little, wrinkIed
crumpled bit of paper seemed to inter
est him. He looked down at the small
eager face and smiled. He went up t
him. leaving the procession, and tool
Pens hand in his own warmly, 81 an
glad to see you, my lad. Tell you