West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-11-26


suls, and Go soldiers orphans, each carry
ing wreath and bouquet, sat together
ON the platform.
Anational salute Of 81 guns was fred
A poem was read. called 1.-The Hymn Of
Peace" written by Oliver Wendell
Holmes.
Captain jackson and Pen arrived in
time to march into the grounds Just rs
General Grant WAS taking his scat. The
bands were playing The sunshine fell
over the peoples heads and faces like
gold. It was wonderful sconol
There were thick. soft grass. such
beautiful trees and singing birds. Flags
were Tutoring and flowers were borne
about in huge baskets, and thcge were
armies of people laden with fragrant
blossoms. The white stones everywhere
cleaned in the sun.
AS the orphan children marched
round the gray tomb of the unknown, !"
piling against the stone their wreaths
and bouquets, and tho music played a
cad dirge Pen went up and laid the
pretty wreaths of myrtle and white flow
ers that his mother had made with the
others. He whispered to Captain Jackson:
''If mother could SEQ this, she wouldn't
cry so much. Oh, it's glorious to be a
soldierp'
pen, now it's time to give your note
to General Grant" said tho captain.
''They are coming down from the plat
FORM.
A blue coated officer handed the let
ter to the general. He opened aud read
it, every word The little, wrinkled,
crumpled bit of paper seemed to interest
him. He looked down at the small, eager
face and smiled. He went up to him,
leaving tho procession moment, and
took Pens hand in his own and said
warmly, 81 am glad to SEQ you, my lad.
Tell your mother General Grant re-
members her today and all she has
done"
The little follow in the monded jacket
looked so very manly, and as the gen.
eral passed on toward his carriage no
prince could be proudcr than this little
Virginia lad over General Grants mes
sage to his mother.
The flowers wore heapod 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 tho beau
tiful trees the tramping grew far off,
and the people said 20 one another,
How perfect IL all has beenp'
An old soldier at the gate proved TO
be former neighbor Of Captain Jack
son, and in talking be 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? Hunter - Hun - You
and the boy jump into our ambulance
and so down TO camp to supper You
are tired and the boy looks fit to drop
with excitement"
Over the cobblestooes TO the avenue
there was no other kind of street tn, IA
in Washington-the jolted down to the
barracks After good supper they sat
On the bench beside the open tent telling
war stories until Pen fell asleep with
his head on the old captains shoulder.
Hello, comradesl" shouted n soldier
as he threw himself from his saddle and
joined the group by the door
'Hellol' was tho answering greet
ing. I'm for all night?"
II hope go. Been on duty since a.
M"
The noise awakened Pen, who sat MP
and looked at the newcomer. John, {"
said the old soldier, there's little fell
Tor from down by the James river some
where. Maybe he can tell you about
your old neighbors.
mo danger Of that" gloomily re-
piled the newcomer. "All swept ont Of
tho country. I've had to give up looking
for my people-givcn mp" He leaned
his head on his hands and groaned.
just what did you say his namo
wasY' the soldier asked Of Captain Jack
son.
pen, tell him your whole name, q"
said Captain Jackson to the hoy.
"Pendleton John Hunter" said Pen
promptly.
Tho newcomer eprang TO his foot To
lifted the boy off the bench aud florcaly
asked, staring into his face, "And VIII ~
was your father name?"
John Pendleton Hunter. Pen comes
first in my name"
Slowly tho soldier went ON, with a
gasp and q catch in his breath, "Aud
what was your mother manor"
MARY Hunter"
The big, tall fellow, I'm his army blue
Overcoat, leaned "a littlo forward as III nc
might fall Ho caught Pen up I'm his
arms and said: "Oh, my boyl It is my
own little boy, Pong'
Tho other two men wiped their eyes
on their Coatsloeve8 and turned away
their faces. from his trembling voice
and tho tears that fell on Penis curly
hair they felt that the father heart was
almost brokon with joy
PEN cried, too, and thon be laughed.
When he could peep out from tho army
coat, he said with a twinkle fra his
brown eyes "And 20 think Two been
decorating my fathers grave. And I've
got q father ahvoi'
What more could tbo earth bold2
Then there was "a splendid Journey. a
wonderful journey that Pom noyCr for
got, in "a steamboat on biu0 waters and
on railroad train aud wagon rido far
back into tho hills 90 the httlo cabin on
tho Bic Of n clearing.
Pen always gets tho story n trifC
mixed up in telling 10 when itcouc,
10 the last point