The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-05-26
WHAT THE LILY SAID

w n u
Tho May sunshine fell softly ON the
grassy mounds and white headstoncs,
on fnces young and old, dark and fair,
of those who had gathered to do honor
to the sleeping heroes whose Likelihood
had been poured out long ago for love
Of country. Eloquent lips had pnid
tribute to the loyal dead. Fires of pa
triotiam had been stirred by fervent
words and lcaped from eye to eye, from
heart to heart.
When tho notes of 1.-The Star Spangled
Banner" rang out strong and clear,
wild huz2as rent the air and old sol
diers waved their arms us though they
were bayonets. Then I'M old man walk
ed with feeble steps to the speakers
stand, and the wild clamor was hushed
as he stood with white uncovered head
beneath tho grand old flag no had loved
for threoscore years. AS he spoke of the
heroes that banner had waved ON to vic
tory OF tho precious crimson drops that
had been spilled in its defense, his quiy-
ering voice rang out full and clear, his
eyes grew dark and bright with tho old
patriotic fire. Then look and tone were
softened as lac went on
My friends, we stand uncovered be-
foro Mars, the mighty god of battle. We
speak with thrill ut heart of the grand
pomp and circumstance of war. We
have but to look about us to see that the
outcome Of it all Is gravoyards, blood
shed and heartache We have pledged
ourselves az nation. This Union
must and shall he preserved. 1t has
been preserved, but Mt mighty
cost Hands have been redeemed In
brothers' blood; fair hones have been
laid waste; great hearts We're crushed
under the brazen heel of war, From
Maine to Florida, from ocean to ocean,
we are band Of brothers Lot ms hence
forth stand shoulder TO shoulder, hand
to hand, heart to honrt Shall the red
tide of battle over again surge over our
peaceful fields? | know not what others
may say, but us for mo give me peace
or give me death. Among the heroes
who are sleeping about us is one who
fought under the stars and bars Beneath
tho gray coat, it may be, there throbhed
heart us true to country and to right
ms ever beat under n blue jnclxet. Let us
do honor to all loyal dead. Soon the
peaceful mounds around us will bios
som like the almond tree. Let the ten
der hand of matron, the fair hand of
maiden, place above the dead heart of
the hero in gray as we'll ms tho boy i'll
blue the lily of friendship, the white
roso of love. y
Among those who gave broathless
heed was tho little daughter Of the
guardian Of the cemetory--a small
maiden of IL years, sweet M May bios
SONS, fair ms tho goddess whose name
she bore. Her rapt eyes scarcely left
the Speakers face. and before the echo
of his voice died away little Flora slip
ped softly and silently to her own nook
In the great garden and quickly plucked
her fairest floral treasures II know
which is that poor boys grave, and an
other boy is buried right beside him.
Both We're So young TO die. will Ivy
my sweet white flowers over their dead
hearts just ms the dear old man has told
me. Maybe they will not feel so lonely. -
When the white rose had been laid on
the grave of the young Confederate and
the lily placed over the boy i'll blue,
little Flora still fingered beside them,
and when the gentle matrons and sweet
faced mnidens came with flower drop
ping fingers she begged that they would
crown her heroes with their laurels or
lay the blossoms at their feet. but 10
leave over thoir hearts only her own
fair offerings. Long after the busy
throng had departed, their beautiful
work well done, Flora sat beside the
graves, thinking of tho quiet sleepers,
reading over the simple markings of the
headstones One horo these few words
Conrad Everett. aged 10 years and
months;" the other only this: "A Con
foderato soldier, aged about 30 years. =
She wondered If Conrad's home was il
the frozen north. if the unknown had
lived whore "the flower of tho orange
blows" if they had little sisters and
mothers who had watched long for them
with yearning eyes and sickening
hearts. After awhile she laid her head
beside the higher face almost as fair,
and framed in curls that matched the
Hly's yellow heart-and listened with
closed eyes to the sweet, drowsy sounds
of curly summor-tho drone Of bees, the
twittor of sparrows, the brooklet's lull-
ably. Presently there mingled with
these faint murmur-weird but very
sweet. Soon she found it came from the
half opened lips of the lily bud which
brushed her check. flushing her breath
to listen. she caught the Whispered
words:
Ibid you know, fair little mortal,
that ON Memorial day flowers have tho
gift OF hearing and Of speech, that
souls come back into the bodies of the
gallant dead? The heart above which
rest has whispered in my ear what l
now will speak In thine. This is the
story:
1--WE were twin brothers, Donald and
], and were unto each other rs David
was to Jonathan, us the right hand to
the left, as the heart is to the brain
Our home was in the heart of Kentucky
blue grass, and it seemed TO us the fair
est in even that Eden spot of earth.
The queen of this palace of delights and
of two very loyal subjects was the
sweetest mother ever sent from heaven.