Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-30
A MYRTLE WREATH.

Hello, mother. here's the Richmond
paper, and General Logan and the
Grand army have asked everybody TO
go and lay flowers on the soldiers
graves all over our land. 1t says on
the 30th of May, by order of the
commander in chief, john ~. Logan,
headquarters, Washington
Pens mother stood quite still with
her broom III her hand. She was tidy
ing up the little cabin after supper.
oh, mother" the boy went on. If
you and | could go to Arlington and
see the big tomb for the unknowns
and put flowers on father and Sam.
Mrs. Hunter wound her arm around
her boy and stood thinking for a mo-
ment of the big tomb and the ill,
men whom it COMMUNICATED. I'm
known soldiers all. She wondered if
iii 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.
1T would be beautiful. Pen, to do
and it is long way
4 do believe l could make it," said
the boy, and then, he added, ''CouIdn' t
we sell something's
Mrs. Hunter laughed. What jhave
We to sell but Garry and Peggy, and
there's plenty Of little sisters in this
country
III HI
ers arm Il minute. and then raptu-
rously burst forth: L have it. Roger
Clarke wants my birds eggs. He of
fered me $40"
A voice at the open door interrupted
him:
Good morning, Mrs. Hunter. |
heard Pen tellin' you the news. You
better let him go. It'll be Il sight for
a boy to see III look out for him.
I'm goin'. I've saved up bit. and
I'm gOin' back to see the old one leg
ged felleIs! Last time [ marched
through the capital we were a ragged,
tattered lot, and | carried the old flag
up Pennsylvania avenue! By lingo,
Pen, Well 90, and it'll be a grand
time Obey the generals orders, say.
Speeches and bands and flowers for
our cOmradeS.
old neighbor Jackson. Union sol
der, lived close by the Hunters. He
had been very iknd to the little family,
and they relied on his judgment in
all doubtful matters. 1t was now de
cided that Pen should sell his bird 5
eggs collection and go to Washington.
IeluietOn Hunters father and his
eldest brother DUtn had been ut one
time reported killed III the battle Ot
the Wilderness. Another report reach,
Ell tie IamiIy that Dotn nau dieu III Il
washington hospital. Be the truth
what it might, Mrs. Hunter and the
children felt sure their soldiers lay
buried under the tomb OF the In
Known at Arlington. How many Il
woman, who can never know it fol-
Il certainty, has hoped that her hero
lies there, gathered by his country
into an honored grave.
Both armies had had il hand III
practically destroying the prosperity
OF the country from Washington tC
Richmond. The old home of the Hun
terS lay in the path, and one night it
got burned to the ground.
The UnioniSt mother with her three
young children, went further back
from the railroads, unable, friendless
as she was to cross the lines north
ward.
Under their priva tons, 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 theil
homes as we'll as they, and there was
nobody to seek them out.
They titled a spot of land around
| their crude cabin and lived, they hard
/ ly knew how, from day to day. But
in the hardest, hungriest hour Mrs
| Hunter made their lot endurable tC
! the children by teaching them thai
: they were suffering for their country
| Enduring hunger for the government
| This and their father and brother fall
| ing dead on the battlefield We're parts
of one and the same grand, glorious
) thing! And it did make hunger easier
/ to the soldiers children. To foe hungry
and say nothing was to them part Of
! the battle of the Wilderness and thu
glorious tomb of the Unknown a
Arlington.
And had they not a wealth of splen
did memories? At least had not Pen
Pen had seen General Grant at thu
head Of his men passing through thu
old place. Phil Sheridan and his ca
valry had clattered past their door
: The girls could remember their sOldle
I father. with his soldier cap and th'
! big brass buttons on the army blue
coat. 1t never died out of the thoughts
of the humble family that they were
Il part of the war; that they haC
helped save the Union. At the slight
est mention of General Grants name
their fathers general, the girls, as wei
as Pen. lifted their heads like littl'
warehouses;.
And now Pen was going to the Deco
ration day service at Arlington. Hi
Jacket was neatly mended, a gOOt
lunch put up. A tiny note on coarse
gray, ruled paper, the back of an oil
letter, was tucked in his vest pocket
1t read:
Dear General Grant, take the lib
erty of sending you this message b.
my only son, who goes to lay flower
: upon his fathers and brothers grave
. | gave all [ had. | want my boy t
IL. =,