The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-05-09
FDTToTrs CHAT.

A Wreath of Forget-ne-nots for Memorial
Dav-Patriotic Reading for G. G. and l.. III.
w. Circles.
~gEMoRTAL TRIBUTES.
Memorial Day will soon be here Can we
not all unite in preparing wreath of the sweet
forget-me-nols Of thought to place in The Ma
TIoNAb TRIBUNE OF May % as our memorial
to the memory of those who offered up their
lives that We might have home and country
sud an unsullied flag
Just send few thoughts. some tender senti-
pent, fresh from the grateful heart, as seen as
you read this. A postal will answer.
Address, direct, Kate B. Sherwood, Canton,
SUITABLE READING.
Pleasant reports come from the c. C. Circles
wherever formed. The Empire Circle has been
particularly happy in its programs, and part
Of each is reading from The NATIONAL TRIB-
CNE.
Advice has been asked as 10 recent books
in the liue CT patriotic selections, from the
orations and writings Of patriots and States
men OF ali ayes. particularly Americans, nothing
Is more desirable than Carrington's " Beacon
Lights al Patriotism" which can be had from
Silver Burdett & Co.. Boston, at so cents a
volume
In tho line of heroic and pathetic incidents
Of the terrible struggle OF lS6l-'65 Annie Wit
tenmyer's Under the Guns" is unequaled,
and il shoud be in the hands of every &. G.
and Loyal Home Worker. OF the burdens Of
sorrow and anxiety borne by the women of the
war both sides of the lines. Mrs. Witten-
myer gives the following. as touching as tho
story OF Gigpah among other graphic illustra-
tions. Ter book can be had by sending 81 to
Che publishers. i. b. stillings Co., Boston.
THE MODERN RIZPAH.
One Philadelphia mother, whose husband
and son were in the war, received news that
her son had been killed in one of the smaller
battles Of Virginia. She determined TO re-
cover the body and bring IL home for burial
After many delays and hindrances she reached
she regiment OF which he was a member She
had walked three miles to get there, and had
left the cas6et she had brought down at the
station. where fire had destroyed everything
but the track. The soldiers brought up the
coffin, and the next morning exhumedl the
body. They had wrapped him carefully in
his blanket and marked the spot with rough
board, on which they had carved his name and
regiment and company, with their knives.
When they lifted him and laid him at her feet,
Hbe recognized him So once.
"Fes this is my heyi" she said, pushing the
The soldiers, who were glad TO render the
heartbrokeu mother any service they ceui
carried the coffin down 10 the railroad track
where the station had once stood, and in
structed her bow to Gag train" assuring
her that " a train might come any time" and
left her there with her dead.
There was no human dwelling in sight
She seated herself on her sons cefin, beside
the charred thinkers and ashes, TO await the
coming OF the train. Behind her was the
little valley where the Union troops were sta
TONED to guard an important pass. On either
side of her moustaiRs that males
ticaily, THAI might be infested with wild
beasts aud creeping things. Before her a
little brook. aud the bands Of iron along its
banks that rendered il possible to make the
journey through that mountain gorge by rail.
The afternoon wore away, but train cane:
the shades OF night closed her in, but no sound
OF wheels greeted her ears
She built lille FIRE so as TO signal tho train.
The sharp notes OF the night birds. the fighting
OF the wildcats on tAe side of the mountain |
the mysterious noises in the air the sound of
Ttealthy footsteps her, all fell with fearful
aistinctness on her ears; for every nerve was
strained 10 its utmost tension But no train
same TO relieve her weary vigil. Her garments
were wet with the dews OF night. and she added |
wood To the su,oldering fro, for the cheerful
blaze eOnfOrte1 her.
As the night wore on eli nature seemed at
rest. The night birds ceased their calls, the
wildcat climbed higher up the mountain and
The whppOorgill ceased its mournful song.
But this more terrible. as every re-
manning sound WAS more distinct The rust
ling or = leaf or a noise in the bushes sent the
blood hurryiBg 10 her heart.
At last gray streaks OF light began 20 climb |
shove The mountain in the east and were tinged |
with purple and orange and soon the white |
light OF day fell about her; but il was not till |
late IN ibe Il erDoOn Of the second day that a |
train came, and her weary vigil ended. For |
20 hours size had been alone with her dead
She reached Washington without delay. and |
before boarc.h tho train for Philadelphia she |
found that by some mistake the remains had |
been LEFT AZ baltimore.
She telegraphed, aud waited in the station |
ell they wero brought 10 her, and then followed /
to her own house.
Afterward her husband was killed, and she 1
went 70 tic front again, secured his body and |
brought il home for interment. Who shall |
measure the anguish OF the women who |
watched at home till there was enc dead in /
SimOst every homef