The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-05-29

federation OF peace which was being
celebrated with flowers and flags, and
beating drums, in memory of the ST
lent heroes who long have slumbered
beneath. To the lonely grave on the
hillsides which Margie had adopted"
IS she quantity expressed it. they took
their way, ladenwith the flowers Arthur
had provided. While the children dis
tributed the floral tributes on the mar
row mound, Margie seated herself and
read aloud poem she had cut from the
morning paper at the breakfast table.
1t was so appropriate that Arthur &C.
cused her of writing it. The last stanza
ran thus:
There's grave on the hillside, Father.
Thy searching voice shall yet
Rouse up the sleeping soldier
For Thou dost not forget.
There's lonely grave on the hillside.
But. oh, before Thy throne
The humble shall be Eonored,
The unknown shalt be known!
Suddenly Arthur gave loud excla-
nation of Look there That is bel"
They looked, expecting to see gen
eral of the army in splendid rcgalia.
but they saw only little band of vet
Grams in their faded uniforms, led by
blind man who played melting mill
tary music upon fife.
Its my old blind mani never knew
that he had been a soldier. He never
told me-" Arthur said, breathlessly.
He looks like a hero" said his wife,
enthusiastically, and she did not take
her eyes from that noble and resigned
face until her husband had waylhiu
the old man and said to him.
so | have found you and you cheat
ed me nicely, never telling me you We're
once a soldier"
81 am a soldier-ohce soldier al
ways one," replied the blind man,
proudly, but sir, did not mean to de-
ceive yoll-it is the fortune of war that
caused ine to be poor and alone in my
old age"
Not alone" said Margie, laying her
hand gently on the faded sleeve, mot
while my husband and l live
The old soldier started violently as
he heard her voice. He took, off his
soldiers cap, stood erect, with one
hand raised to heaven.
"Who speaks?" he cried, whose voice
is it? Margaret, my wife-oh, God,
cannot see you!"
His weakness was pitiful - tears
streamed from his sightless eyes, but
his new friends soothed him, and at
last he consented to accompany them
home and, as Margie said, "be adopted"
He was very grateful, and told them
his story, the husband and wife sitting
on either side of him and the children
at his feet.
81 was a soldier in the Army of the
Potomac, and it was at the siege
of Petersburg, when recoEnoitering
with field glass, that splinter from
an exploding shell struck the glass
and shattered both my eyes. While
| was in the hospital my wife and child
died, and for a long time-how long
| cannot tell was a wreck mentally
and physically. At this moment have
not relative on earth. When | heard
your voice to-day'-he reached out
gropingly and clasped Margie's cling
ing hand-"it reminded me of henry
wife."
When Margie heard the name of her
adopted soldier-Darius Poole-she be
came thoughtful
"My father was soldier and that was
his name. He died at the battle of
Datnycl,nrr VIC 1,o rD1a+o1
never knew him, for l was only a babe
when he went to the war, and on my
mothers death was taken and reared
by strangers.
what regiment was he in?" asked
the old man. eXcitedly.
THAT | do not know, but | have par
pers which belonged to my mother
all particulars. Gen. Har-
tranft was his division commander.
] have tried to learn the particulars
OF his death, but could OILY find his
name among the hospital dead at
Petersburg"
Here Arthur interfered, dreading the
shock of JOY it would occasion his wife
when she should first entertain the idea
so plausible to him-that the soldier
she had already adopted might be her
own father.
Nothing further was said that night.
but it was very happy household tbct
settled down to rest when it came time
for lights out"
And it was only yesterday that the
Lyman children were heard saving to
their companions:
at has been Decoration day every
day since grandfather came home from
the war!"
IMRD0NIINII1 GLl INDD II0N