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

Hello, mother, horo's the Richmond
haper, and General Logan and the Grand
Army have asked everybody TO 60 and
hay flowers on tho soldiers graves all
over our hand. 1t says on the Both of
May. by order Of tho commander in
chief. John A. Logan, Headquarters,
Washington. "
Pens mother stood suite still with
her broofn in her hand. She was tidyin4
np the little cabin after supper
"Oh, mother, " tho boy won't ON, "if
You and l could 90 to Arlington aud soc
tho big tomb for the uulnowns and put
flowers on father aud SamP'
Mrs. Hunter wound her arm around
her boy and stood thinking for o moment
Of the ''big tomb" and the "9, III"
men whom it COMMUNICATED. Unknown
soldiers all She wondered if ALL
hearts Were aching over their dead like
hcTsI From what awful places these
naineless dead had been gathered He
and Sam must lie I'm that company
1T would be beautiful, Pen, to do
II, !" She said, "but we have no EIoney,
and it is q long way"
Il do believe l could make IL, 7" said
the boy, and then, ho added, "Couldn't
we sell somethingg'
Mrs. Hunter laughed ''What have
we TO sell but Garry and Peggy, and
there's plenty Of little sisters ia this
country.
Pen tucked his head under his moth
er's arm minute. ana them rapturous-
ly burst forth: 81 haveitl Roger Clarke
wants my birds eggsl lie offered me
Sl0W
& voice at the op"n door interrupted
him:
Good mornin, Mrs. Hunter.
heard Pen tellin you the news You
better let him go. It'll be q sight for a
boy to see. III look out for him. I'm
goin. I've saved up bit, and I'm goin
back to6es the old one legged fellersl
Last time l marched through the capt.
tai we We're ragged, tattered lot, and I
carried the old flag up Pennsylvania
avenuel By lingo, Pen, wen GO, and
It'll DO grand time. Obey the general s
orders, say. Speeches ard bands and
flowers for our oomradesP'
Old neighbor jackson, q Union SOL
der, lived close by the Hunters. He
had been very kind to the little family,
and they relied on his Judgment in all
doubtful matters. 1t was now decided
that Pen should sell his birds eggs col
lection and go TO Washington.
Perdleton Hunters father and his
eldest brother both had been at one time
reported killed in tho battle of the Will
derness Another report reached the
family that both had died in Wash
ington hospital 30 the truth what il
might, Mrs. Hunter and the children
felt sure their soldiers lay buried under
the tomb of the Unknown" at Airing
ton. How many woman, who can
never know it for certainty, has hoped
that her hero lies there, gathered by his
country into an honored gravel
Both armies had had band in prac-
tically destroying the prosperity of the
country from Washington to Richmond.
The old home of tho Hunters lay in the
path, and ONO night it got barned to the
ground.
The Unionist mother, with her three
young children went farther back from
the railroads. unable, friendiess az she
was, to cross tho lines northward.
Under their privations, sickness aud
poverty they had now sunk out Of sight.
Practically they were lost out OF tho
world. Their old friends and neighbors
were scattered from their homes 81 VOL
as they, ana thoTo was nobody 20 seek
them out
They TILED spot Of land around
their rude cabin and lived, they hardly
Knew how, from day 20 day Eut In the
hardest, bungriest hour Mrs Hunter
made their lot endurable to the children
b. teocling them that they were suffer-
ing for their country Enduring hunger
for tho government This and their Ia
rber and brother falling dead on tho bag
tledeld were parts OK one and tho same
grand, glorious tbingi And 10 did make
hunger easier 70 tho soldiers children
To Dc hungry aud say nothing was 20
thorn part Of the battle of the Wilder
ness and The glorious tomb ST Che Gun
known" 40 Arlington.
And had they not q wealth Of spisn-
dfd memOricaf st least had not pcuf
Pen had seen General Grant SO tire head
oi bic men passing through tho old
place. Phil Sheridan and bis cavalry
fad oiaiiered past their door The girls
rould remember their soldier father.
with bis soldier cap and tho biz b4aas
buttons on tho army blue coat Ia never
diod out Of tbo thoughts or the humble
family that tboy were part OF tho war;
that they had helped save tho Union.
as the slightest mention OF General
Grants name their fathers general,
tho girls, a. vol as Pen, lifted tioir
beads like little warhorsoa
And now Pen was going ~ The Deco.
ration day service at Arlington lis
jacket was neatly mcudod. % rood lunch
pnt uD a uay note ON coarse. grav.
ruled papw, the back Of au o.d Io,tar.
was tucked in bis yoat D3clat it read.
DEtg GugERtL Cassr-Itake tfe liberty a
f.Hoiu4 Fnu tlf uo ee iyry only son who
~ lay fV uD11 hsf .hrrsnnd brl.h
tr rrHH 3 s-FsaI hs1 vast NY lsy @,
49, r-uert lfart bis fetl.r s
hsHY EUgTFn
81 Arlington were "a. 600 people that
May day Bands played drges Soc oppo.
fi-o parts az tio cemetery The great
platform was draped with dlb.a GlQa
ond banners Colonel Heywood. with
f1r mar'res and Maruo band sat be-