Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-06-04
How Patriot Decorated.


thy of its name. IF it knew itself, as
it thought it did, it was full to over
flowing Of patriots. True, 1t had no
soldiers graves to decorate, and not
even pensioner lived in the township
but these Deficiencies were excusable
because Patriot WASH started until af-
ter the war, andits people were mostly
sturdy young folks from the North
western States, pioneer farmers and
lumbemen.
The place already boasted of two
sawmills, three stores and over three
hundred population. A small river,
with a rapid current, from the near
mountains brawled through the broad
ening valley. we'll wooded with vauable
timber. The river was full Of fish the
forests and mountains were full OF
game. Patriot was place where
healthy boys roasted on the top rail
and had exciting times, because every
family kept two or three guns and a
dog; and every boy big enough to lift
shotgun went hunting or fishing al
most whenever he pleased.
How do I know that Patriot was pa
seeing it had no soldiers
graves to decorate and no pensioners
to parade? Well, YOU ought to hear
those people talk politics-especially
about our foreign relatious-in the
sawmills, storesand post-othce lfthero
is any nation among the eifete empires
and kingdoms of the world that Uncle
sam can't whip with one hand tied
behind him, Patriot would like You to
name it. If there should be need OF
them, every man and boy, and some
women, of Patriot would enlist in I'm
Gle Sans army
What if they didn't enlist in the
last war? That was before there was
any such village as Patriot. And in
the Indian outbreaks nobody asked
them. Those two times don't count.
In the next war Patriot will be there
early, with all her rifles loaded and
her pockets full of cartridges. 1t will
be bare humanity tonotifv Great Brit
ain, Spain, Turkey and all conceivable
foes to beware of the day when Patriot
shall meet thee in battle array. But
this story was not started with intent
to discuss grave international issues.
As have already said, Patriot had
never observed Decoration day because
it had no graves to decorate. Some Of
the more enthusiastic spirits felt, per-
haps. that it would be good stroke
for the township to import veteran
and bury him but this method Of sup
plying the public need was never Sc
rouslv considered.
Nevertheless, the village did have
one war reIic-NIiss Margery Quick
stein. She was the township plain
sewer and dressmaker Miss Margery
was the qmetest. kindliest, homeiest,
little old maid in the territory. Every
body liked her, but she was SO quiet
that everybody forgot to notice what
hard times she had trying to make a
living in a pioneer community, where
money was scarce. though everything
necessary was plentiful She owned a
corner lot, with the finest shanty in
town upon it; and she fondly dreamed
that some time, in case Patriot ever
should grow to be a city, her property
would be worth a fortune, though it
was now assessed at only one hundred
and fifty dollars.
Miss Margery was reputed to be the
surviving sister of two brothers who
died upon the battle-felds Of the I'm
ion. To look at her, it seemed queer
that she could ever have had a lover,
but she had, long ago, and he was
killed in the desperate charge up St
Mary's Heights. Hel mother died Of
grief, and she kept house for her father
until he died
When all the old, familiar East had
become to Miss Margery only the Gem
etery of her love, her hopes and her
family, she drifted away to the vast
new West-it may be with a vague
hope to find a new life-and settled IN
Patriot, where the world was young
and there were no graves
The village agreed that this year
Decoration day should be celebrated,
notwithstanding its lamentable lack Of
anything to celebrate. Patriotism
needed a larger vent than casual dis
cussions by sawmill and postofice loaf
ers Old flags were gathered and
darned the brass band practiced
huge sawdust van was transformed into
a gorgeous chariot, whereOn Columbia