The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-05-27

eke spsn bling voice Of the man. 1T Il q
COOL many long years now, and I've kind
Of forgot bout most of 1t, but 1t was In
this way:
"It WAS just this way: John said TO me.
! 'Comrade, am feared, am, but faint
for myself. It's that the country will lose
this day Now" and the old mans voice
trembled, ~ was feared. too. but 1t was
because I was thinkin that my legs was
a-goin TO carry me off. knew should
run. They made US charge with our bayo-
nets all = 'inted at the rebs, and did"
At that the men stiffened involuntarily,
and the women all exclaimed under their
breath, Shame on himP'
go on, said the parson In a low voice,
and the room was still as death
"Sure enough, did run; never looked
behind me. just leaped out Of my place
and run But I'll tell you what made me.
whizzing by my arm, and John dropped
by my side. Just like this"
The old man put his trembling hand
down and brought 1t, with crash, on the
table, SO that several women already made
nervous by the excitement skipped invol-
unfairly out from their seats.
~ heard em say back of me, with O
smothered oath--I won't repeat 1t here
mo, no. cried Parson Bean sharply.
"And they called me John Dunscombe
as was running. presume In the con-
fusion that 1t was kind of mixed up, and
they couldn't tell whether 1t was me run
ming and John that fell, or John running
and me that fell. l couldn't hardly tell
myself" The old man drew his hand
across his forehead, land hain't felt right
about 1t for years"
ooh, what q shamel" cried several
voices. ITO keep it to yourself all these
years' cried another.
"Silencel" Numbered the parson, bring
Ing his hand down hard upon the table.
The old man wavered and seemed to
sink under the scorn of the faces upturned
to his.
go on, said the parson. Tell all you
know, Mr.. Sparks. This Is what you
came for, you know.
Eyes, yes!'' said the other feebly.
"Well, when got home IL did not seem
to make much difference to Johnnie was
dead, you know-whether he run or not.
So did not try to let 'em know the mis-
take.
as this all, now9" asked the parson as
Jason stopped.
Yes" said the old man, land hain't
never thought of IL much till you came for
me today and said Ii was time for me TO
get ready to leave the world In peace, as l
have got to now before long ms I'm goin
on nigh 50, and then you said I'd better
come and do it tonight. So here be-.
Pastor Bean raised his hand again and
said Let us prayl' and now all the peo-
pie did listen, and many were the tears
that fell down on the shawl ends and on
the laps of the women, while the men
wiped their faces vigorously with their
bandannas and pretended TO keep quiet
and composed
Afterward, when all was over, and they
went TO their different homes, a procession
of people went around by the little brown
cottage in the moonlight.
"Sh-shl' said the sympathetic women.
Don't let's wake them. Then we'll show
them good Decoration day as a surprised"
A good Decoration day indeed 1t was.
How can tell of the flowers that fairly
flew into the brown cottagel The freshly
gathered posies were taken by stream of
little children, beginning at daybreak, to
be handed in TO the grateful and astonished
widow and Hetty and the children, who
had had an early visit from the old parson,
with his story of contrition for his care
lessness in delaying all effort to free John
Dunscombes name from the stigma rest
ing upon 1t.
How can / describe Hetty her cheeks
pink with sudden joy, walking between
Reginald and Natalie, while Hetty car
ried wreath of white rosebuds and star
In the other hand to put on the grave that
she had longed all her life TO see decorated
when they sat on the back steps and un-
burdened their hearts, I'm glad II is over,
because 1t was so good. l should have
burst into pieces If 1t had lasted much
longer. Why, I've had perfect cyclone
inside Of me all day l'-Boston Globe.
Honor to Patriotism.