Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-05-31
A MYRTLE WREATH.

owe our land. 1t says on the 3Oth 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, " the boy went on, eff
you and 1 could go to Arlington and see
the big tomb for the unknowns and put
flowers on father and Samr'
Mrs. Hunter wound her arm around
her boy and stood thinking for a moment
of the "big tomb" and the "2, III"
men whom it commemorated. Unknown
soldiers all! She wondered if 2,l11
hearts were aching over their dead like
hers! From what awful places these
nameless dead had been gathered! He
and Sam must lie in that company
ut would be beautiful, Pen, to do
it," she said, "but we have no money,
and it is a long way"
II do believe l could make it," said
the boy, and then, he added, Couldn't
we sell s~omething?"
4A1o' ul1U louSIICu. NIJhU 1dNt
we to sell but Garry and Peggy, and
there's plenty of little sisters in this
country"
Pen tucked his head under his moth
er's arm a minute, and then rapturous.
ly burst forth: "Ihave it! Roger Clarke
wants my birds eggs! He offered me
SOL!
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 a sight for a
boy to see. I'll look out for him. I'm
goin. I've saved up a bit, and I'm goin
back to see the old one legged fellers!
Last time l marched through the CAPT.
tai we were a ragged, tattered lot, and l
carried the old flag up Pennsylvania
avenue! By lingo, Pen, We'll go, and
it'll be a grand time. Obey the generals
orders, l say. Speeches and bands and
flowers for our comrades!'
Old neighbor Jackson, a Union SOL
der, 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
that Pen should sell his birds eggs col
lection and go to Washington.
Pendleton Hunters father and his
eldest brother both had been at II time
reported killed in the battle of the Will
derness. Another report reached the
family that both had died in a Wash
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 Airing
ton. How many a woman, who can
never know it for a certainty, has hoped
that her hero lies there, gathered by his
country into an honorod grave!
Both armies had had a hand in prac-
tically destroying the prosperity of tho
country from Washington 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 privations, sickness and
poverty they had now sunk out of sight.
Practically they were lost out Of the
world. Their old friends and n~eighbors
were scattered from their homes as we'll
as they, and there was nobody to seek
them out.
They titled a spot of land around
their rude cabin and lived, they hardly
knew how, from day to day. But in the
hardest, hungriest hour Mrs. Hunter
made their lot endurable to the children
by teaching them that they were suffer
ing for their country! Enduring hunger
for the government! This and their ia
ther and brother falling dead on the bat
tlefield were parts of one and the same
grand, glorious thing! 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 the glorious tomb of the "Un-
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 men 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. 1t never
died out of the thoughts of the humble
family that they were 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, u good lunch
put up. A tiny note on coarse, gray,
ruled paper, tho 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 fathers and broth
er's grave. ! gave all / had. want my boy to
see General Grant, his fathers general.
MARY HUNTER.
At ArIiputop 1para Or O00 poo,1o fhot