The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-06-03
OUR OLD VETERANS.
Sarge Plunkett Watches the Impressive
Scenes on Memorial Day.

LOT WQOh LQe DAY Is cSleOraCeQ.
Thirty FIVE years have passed since
the guns Numbered at Fort Sumter, yet
it seems but short while to the old
folks; so short a time that the Incl
dents of those troubIous days seen as
but yesterday These memorial occa-
sions lend hailowed sweetness to
everything around. and it is TO be
hoped that the interest in them will
never grow less, but will go on, in
creasing down through the ages.
It should be thus, and especially
does it occur to me that little children
cannot be impressed too forcibIy with
the sacredneSS that surrounds toe oc-
casior. They should be encouraged
to take the liveliest interest, for to
theu will be left the duty of perpetu
ating and keeping the occasion
Let the children, sweet and lovely,
Bring that day the sweetest flowers,
And their hands IN loving kindness,
Scatter them in softest showers,
Above the graves where heroes sleep
And thus perpetuate and keep
A sacred day.
It will not be long-it will seem
mighty short when it has passed-till
the children of today will be men and
women. Last Monday I watched
mother at her work who was babe in
the cradle in the year 1861. 1t did not
seem long, as l ruminated over it,
since this mother was a babe, and yet
she was starching and ironing the
dresses of her own little children, and
before the line or march was taken
up they were ready, looking prim and
sweet with flowers to scatter.
This is as it should be, and I hope
enthusiasm will never grow less. Tnlr-
ty-6ve years ago as stood over the
cradle of this mother of to-day, I little
dreamed of what was to come, and
come so quickly. She had a sweet
mother IN those troublous days, sweet
as any now, and the last time I SAW
her she was fixing up clothes to 60
into her husbands knapsack. John
was this husbands name, and he was
the father Of the babe in the cradle
the mother Of last Monday. As l
watched this mother OF last Monday 1t
brought up many memories, sweet
memories and sad memories, so sad
that I could but shed a tear as 1
watched and ruminated. [ could see
her soldier father as he waited for his
clothing to be packed. could see
his foot fitting the rocker up and
down, up and down, it seemed so real
as ! studied upon it. And that war.
time mother came back to me so plain,
so plain. I could see her as she folded
the garments, so clean and smooth,
along with the gray jacket and packed
them into the knapsack. With every
garment came tear, but she kept her
sorrow hid--many times she turned
away to keep John from seeing the
tears. I saw the parting. Isaw many
sorrowful partings. Their hearts were
ready to burst when the little babe
was taken from the cr.dle to be kissed
goodby. The little babe thought it
was fun and jumped and crowed, and
I doubt whether she has ever realized
how good and brave a father she lost
when John was killed at Malvern Hill.
Then
Let the mothers-while there's any
And the sisters and the wives,
Of the noble Southern heroes
Who for country gave their lives,
Magnify Memorial bay
Teach the children in this way
Make it sacred.
watched with especial interest the
Did veterans in the procession. Ali
their heads are tinged with gay. The
youngest among them are growing
old, and their line is shortening fast.
These old men LOOK almos, pitlful
now. They are bent with age, aud
iimping with iofrmities, but thirty
i've year ago they stepped proudly TO
The tap of the drum, and I doubt If
there will ever be again such physical
as WAS fouod in an carly
Georgia regiment of volunteers. They
were as strong Of heart as they were
If limb-brave, true and willing
Granu Survivors or the conflict
Rebel veterans, old and lame
Raise your heads in pride of conscience
For with the dead you share the fame
That was won through tribulation,
Ia loved, but short lived nation
Bless this day.
Especially should ncble old Confed-
crate women be remembered On these
occasions. 1t was her part of tue
great tragedy to suffer III solitude.
They had not the privilege to die.
They could not join in tn songs of
he camp nor the excitement of the
,attles-they could ouly BE- patient,
md suffer, suffer. When the child
'en We're sick they nucsed them all
.lone; when the children cried for
oread it was for these women to hear
heir cries, and the children had none
'ut these mothers to feed them. There
we're many, many just such cases.
Sick children and an empty meal bar
el was the portion of many Con-
ederate mother for more than once
But they were as true as the Spartan
women OF old, and they should hold a
most atfectlonate nook IL the hearts Of
;oming generations.
What changes have the last thirty
years brought!
What changes will the uext thirty
'ears bring2
This cannot be answered, bat feel
n my heart that
When other thirty years have passed,
And all have gone who Wore the gray
weet little childron, with their flowers,
Willmeet and magnify this day
he South ) warm heart is beating yet,
md never, ner can forget,
Who wore the gray.
Eighty Children Killed.
QUINCY, Ills, May 26.-A report
las reached here that Rake, His. near
SOOdhOuse, Ills. a cyclOne struck