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

Ut pdutiS were play Iue Lie SuuSuIue
fell over the peoples heads and faces
like gold. 1t was Il wonderful scene,
There We're thick, soft grass, such
beautiful trees aud singing birds.
Flags were futtering and flowers We're
borne about in huge baskets. and there
We're armies of people laden with fra
grant blossoms. The white stones
everywhere cleaned in the sun.
As the orphan children marched
round the gray tomb OF the .-un-
known" piling against the stone their
Wrea tbs and bouquets. and the music
played a sad dirge Pen went UP and
laid the pretty wreaths of myrtle and
white flowers that his mother had
made with the others. He whispered
to Captain Jackson: If mother could
see this, she wouldn't cry so much.
Oh, it's glorious to be SOLDIER
Pen, now it's time to give your
note to General Grant" said the cap
tain They are coming down from the
PLATFORM
A blue coated officer handed the let
ter to the general. He opened and
led crumpled bit Of paper seemed to
interest him. He looked down at the
small, eager face and smiled. He went
up to him, leaving the procession a
moment and took Pens hand in his
own and said warmly, Il am glad to
see you, my lad Tell your mother
General Grant remembers her today
and all she has DONE
The little fellow in the mended jack
ct looked 50 very manly, and as the
general passed on toward his carria ge
no prince could be prouder than this
little Virginia lad over General Grants
message to his mother.
The flowers were heaped about the
white stones. The bands marched out
side the big gates. The pretty children
planted little flags beside each grave.
and as the sun went down over the
: beautiful trees the tramping grew far
off, and the people said to one another,
/ How perfect it all has been.'
An Old soldier at the gate proved to
be Il former neighbor of Captain Jack
son, and in talking he inquired, WHO
did you say this little chap was, cap
tain?"
Pen Hunter. His father, John Pen
! dleton Hunter. was killed in the battle
Of the Wilderness, or died afterWard
We never got the particulars straight,
but they do say their bones lie there
Johns and his eldest boys, Sans"
Hunter? Hun-ter-Hun- You and
the boy jump into our ambulance and
go down to camp to supper. You are
tired ana the boy looks iii TO drop
! with excitement"
over the cobbleStOneS to the avenue
there was no other kind of street
I then in Washington-they jOlted down
to the barracks. After Il good supper
: they sat on the bench beside the open
tent telling war stories until Pen fell
asleep With his head on the old cap
tain'S shoulder.
Hello, cOmradeS-' shouted Il soldier
as he threw himself from his saddle
and joined the group by the door.
Hello was the answering greet
ing. In for all night
Il hope SO. Been on duty since 6
Il. m
The noise awakened Pen, who sat
j John said the old soldier, here
is a little teller from down by the
James river somewhere. Maybe he
can tell you about your old neighbOrS."
No danger of that gloomily re-
piled the newcomer. "All swept out
Of the country. I've had to give up
looking for my people-given up He
leaned his head on his hands and
groaned.
Just what did you say his name
was?" the soldier asked of Captain
! Jackson.
Pen, tell him your whole name, .
said Captain Jackson to the boy.
"PendIeton John Hunter" said Pen
! promptly.
! The newcomer sprang to his feet.
| He lifted the boy off the bench and
] tiercely asked, staring into his face,
And what was your fathers nameE'
! John Pendleton, Hunter. Pen comes
! first III my name"
! Slowly the soldier went on, with a
gasp and d catch in his breath, And
what was your mothers name?'
/ Mary Hunter"
! The big, tall fellow, in his army blue
overcoat, leaned a little forward as
if he might fall. He caught Pen up
in his arms and said: oh, my boy!
! 1t is my own little boy, Penr'
| The other two men wiped their eyes
on their Goa tsleeyes and turned away
their faces. From his trembling voice
and the tears that fell on Pens curly
! hair they felt that the fathers heart
was almost broken with joy.
Pen cried, too, and then he laughed.
! When he could peep out from the
army coat, he said, with a twinkle in
his brown eyes: And to think I've
been decorating my fathers grave.
And I've got father alive!'
What more could the earth hold?
Then there was a splendid journey,
a wonderful journey that Pen never
forgot, in a steamboat on blue waters
and on a railroad train and a wagon
ride far back into the hills to the
little cabin on the bit of a clearing
Pen always gets the story a trifie
mixed up III telling it when it comes
to the last point.
Mother was SO white and still and
father was so silent-well! l thought
sure they would die. Then we al
cried and laughed, and my father
didn't die in a hospital but Sam was