Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-05-28

federation of peace which was being
celebrated with flowers and flags, and
beating drums, in memory of the 81
lent heroes who long have slumbered
beneath. To tie lonely grave on the
hillside, which Marrie had adopted
us 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 Il poem she had cut from the
morning paper at the breakfast table.
1t was so appropriate that Arthur &C.
cused her Of writingit. The last stanza
run thus
There's a 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 honored
The unknown shall be knownl
Suddenly Arthur gave loud excla-
nation of Look there! That is he!"
They looked, expecting to see gen.
eral Of the army in splendid regalia.
but they saw only little band Of vet
Grams in their faded uniforms, led by
q blind man who played melting mill
tary music upon fife.
ITS my old blind man-Inever knew
that he -hi.d been soldier. He never
told me- Arthur said, breathlessly.
"IIe looks like hero" said his wife,
enthusiastically, and she did not take
her eyes from that noble and resigned
face until her husband had waylaid
the old man and said to him:
$50 have found you and you cheat
ed me nicely, never telling me you were
once a SOLDIER
II am a soldier-once q soldier al
ways one replied the blind man,
proudly, "but sir, did not mean to de.
ceive you--it is the fortune of war that
caused me 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 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.
~ was soldier in the Army Of the
Potomac. and it was at the siege
of Petersburg, when accommodating
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 long time-how long
| cannot tell was wreck mentally
and physically. At this moment l have
not relative ON earth. When heard
your voice to-day"-he reached out
gopingly and clasped Margie's cling
ing hand-"it reminded me of her-my
wife!"
When Margie heard the name OF her
adopted soldier-Darus Poole-she be-
came thoughtful.
my father was soldier and that was
his name. He died at the battle of
Petersburg. We may be related.
never knew him, for was only q babe
when he went to the war, and on my
mothers deotb 7 was taken and reared
bv strangers
"What regiment was he in?' asked
tbe old man excitedlv.
"Tbat 7 do not know Int have pa-
ners which belonged to nv mother