The Somerset reporter., 1895-05-30
A MYRTLE WREATH.

Army have asked every body to go and
lay flowers on the soldiers graves all
over our land. 1t says on the Both of
May, by order of the commander in
chief, John A. Logan, headquarters
Washington. =
Pens mother stood quite still with
her broom in her hand. She was tidying
up the little cabin after supper.
Oh, mother, E." the boy went on, IF
you and l could go to Arlington aud see
the big tomb for the unknowns and put
flowers or father and SAM"
Mrs. Hunter wound her arm around
her boy and stood thinking for a moment
Of the big tomb" and the -. III"
men whom 1t commemorated. Unknown
soldiers all, She wondered if ALL
hearts We're aching over their dead like
hers From what awful places these
nameless dead had been gathered He
and Sam must lie i'll that company
1t would be beautiful, Pen, to do
it, = she said, but we have no money,
and it Is a long way. "
Il Go believe | could make it, " said
the boy, and then, he added, Couldn't
we sell some' ling?"
Mrs. Hun laughed. "What have
we to sell but Garry and Peggy, al.l'
there's plenty Of little sisters in til
country
Pen tucked his head under his moth
er's arm II mute, and then rapturous-
ly burst forth Il have it! Roger Clarke
wants my birds eggsl He offered n
$l0!'
A voice at the open door interrupted
him:
Good mornin, Mrs. Hunter.
heard Pen tellin you the news. You
better let him go It'll be sight for a
boy to see. I'll look out for him. l.
goin. I've saved up bit, and / m goi
back to see the old one legged fellers
Last time | marched through the CAPT
tai we were ragged, tattered lot, and
carried the old flag up Pennsylvania
avenuel By Jingo Pen, we'll go, and
it Il be grand time. Obey the generals
orders, | say. Speeches and bands and
flowers for our comrades"
Old neighbor jackson, Union SOL
dier, lived close by the Hunters He
had been very kind to the little family,
and they relied on his judgment in all
doubtful matters. 1t was now decided
= 'en should sell his birds eggs col
800. and go to Washington.
= deton Hunters father and his
ell other both had been at one time
reported killed in the battle of the Will
derness. Another report reached the
family that both had died in a w ash
ington hospital. Be the truth what it
might, Mrs. Hunter and the children
felt sure their soldiers lay buried under
the tomb of the Unknown" at Aring-
ton. How many woman, who can
never know it FIR certainty, has hoped
that her hero |. there, gathered by his
country int honored gravel
Both arm lad had hand in prao-
tically destr & the prosperity of the
country from =, ashington to Richmond.
The old home of the Hunters lay in the
path, and one night it got burned to the
ground
The Unionist mother, with her three
young children, went farther back from
the railroads, unable, friendless as she
was to cross the lines northward.
Under their priyations sickness and
poverty they had now sunk out of sight
Practically they were lost out of the
world. Their old friends and neighbOrs
were scattered from their homes as well
as they and there was nobody to seek
them out.
They titled spot of land around
their rude cabin and lived, they hardly
knew how, from day to day. But in the
hardest, hnngriest hour Mrs. Hunter
made their lot endurable to the children
by teaching them that they were suffer
Ing for their countryl Enduring hunger
for the government This and their IA
Their and brother falling dead on tho bat
tletield were parts of one and tho same
grand, glorious thingi And it did make
hunger easier to the soldiers children.
To be hungry and say nothing was to
them part OF the battle of the Wilder
ness and tho glorious tomb of the I'm
known" at Arlington.
And had they not a wealth of splen-
did memories? At least had not Pen?
Pen had seen General Grant at the head
of his mel passing through the old
place. Phil Sheridan and his cavalry
had clattered past their door The girls
could remember their soldier father,
with his soldier cap and the big brass
buttons on the army blue coat It never
died out of the thoughts of the humble
family that they We're a part of the war;
that they had helped save the Union.
AT the slightest mention of General
Grants name, their fathers general,
the girls as we'll as Pen, lifted their
heads like little warehouses;.
And now Pen was going to the Deco
ration day service at Arlington His
jacket was neatly mended, a good lunch
put up. A tiny note Oh coarse, gray,
pulled 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 my only son, who
goes To lay flowers upon his father and broth
/ rr grave. / gave all hid. | want my boy to
se General Grant, hls fathers general
MARY HUNTER
At Arlington were 20, 900 people that
May day Bands played dirges in oppo-
site parts of the cemetery. The great
platform was draped with silien 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 IS soldiers orphans, each carry
inc n wreath and hououpr sat toOnther