Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-05-27

wildwood roses. Somehow these care
never seemed as free and fragrant
They are too prim and precise, like spin
sters on parade. And as for the Iau-
rels of praise? What are they to the
laurels which rubbed their pink cheeks
lovingly against me in the shaded ra-
vine, under the canopy of vines? But
they make much of me here, inst allied
me with music and speeches, garland
me with flowers on Memorial days, iaud
me to the skies. Lovers lean against me
in the summer evenings. and whisper
their dearest condolences. relying Ipon
my discretion, and old soldiers pat me
lovingly, and they tell of stirring scenes
| III which I and my kind played star
parts and made the well1in ring. Near.
he stands the soldiers monument, and
nearer still the tall staff from which
floats the glorious star spangled banner
for which I fought and fell.
Il saw my young folks (have not I
the right to call them mine p wed and
made one. They paused to greet me
! on their way to the church near by, and
1 saw through the open door the dear
little bride with canopies of flags and
1iOHCIS dOONC DcdI,
sunbeams colored gayly by stained
glass windows crossing her golden hair
in tinted benediction. She stopped to
| pat me lovingly as she leaned on her
noble husbands arm returning home
| ward, and 1 verify believe they look
upon me as sort of cast-iron shrine,
| for they often come to see me and ex-
| change condolences, talking to me as
To f,-;o Of Io 70
| slider quite one of themselves.
''One day, about year after the we'd
ding, Inez brought d pudgy, small,
rather shapeless copy of herself to see
me, introduced US and bespoke lasting
VOWS OF fidelity. between the young
| patriot and myself. He is about six
| years old now, comes to see LIE, hand in
| hand with smaller sister, and they
| both sit in my lap and take liberties
with me unrebuked. He once filed me
| with firecrackers on the Fourth of July
and set them off. 1t took me several
days to overlook that prank, for the
crackers were imported Cinnamon, and
[ did not like their weak, suffering
| travesty of real explosions. On the
whole, however, we get along very well.
He cannot pull my hair, as he does his
fathers, nor poke his prying young fin
| gers into my eyes. AS to my mouth.
| that is toothless, and >barks only at
enemies of my country and flag.
Near by, visible across a corner of
| the park lawn, is their home. On the.
wall is framed picture, the portrait
of the two dead soldiers, one in blue
and one in gray. Over it are crossed
peacefully the swords they wore, in
| token of lasting peace as well as lasting
remembrance, and draped above it a
silken flag, the beautiful flag of our
| country, its stars bright, its hairs typic-
| al of the red blood shed for its sake.
Very lovingly it droops over the por
| traits, and its folds seem to cling
caressingly about, the man in gray as
| about the man in blue. In that home
! there is love and respect for the soldiers
| of north and south. Peace, blessed
| peace, reigns supreme.
This is the eve of Memorial day. I
| am garlanded with flowers and have
| been honored as brave veteran should
| be by those he served and saved. The sun
| is setting, and not far away, on the beach,
/ see the family group 1 love; the hus-
| band. IneZ. the two playful children,
and in addition a sweet-faced babe in
arms. The sea is like mirror of mol
ten gold. but near the shore its surface
dimples into smiles and it lisps loving
nothings to the listening sands. Out
| lined against the glorified sky. with its
wondrous panorama of crimson and
gold, pearl and amber. fleecy outlines
made of angel plumage, tall pinnacles
tipped with flame, floats proudly the
| flag we love- And far away on dis
tant hill. where rows of tombstones
CLEAN Whitley, l see the two headstones
which point like fnger-posts toward
| heaven, punctuating the beauty of love
and friendship. 1t is a picture of quiet
| peace, the calm after the storm. the
tranquil sequel to the tempest and tur-
MOL OF war. Noting the lieadstones in
| the confederate cemetery which adj
| joins the other l see that they also
are covered with flowers, placed there
| by those who decorated the grassy
touches of the sleeping boys in blue.
| God rest their souls, Lord keep their
| memories green"
l. EDGAR JONES.