River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-05-27


Years passed, time healed the scars
in the landscape war had made. Not
FAR away. on the height. national and
confederate cemeteries adjoining were
laid out and beautified. I still lay
where | fell, reddening with rust, but
saw what was going or. and was often
inspected curiously by visitors TO the
cemeteries aud the battlefield. could
see the cemetery on the opposite decliv-
ity. its flag floating proudly as it rose
each day at sound of the sunrise gun.
loved to see the care expended upon the
rows of graves marked with snowy
keadstones, and knew by sort of in
tuition where. in one corner, lay near
together the schoolmates " no had died
that night by nv side. On Memorial
DAYS there were ceremonies worth see
ing, soldiers marched. sweet-faced and
sweet-voiced children sang. eloquence
recalled the war and its lessons. and
each grave became an emerald altar on
which sofi-eyed blossoms breathed
fragi ant incense, their scented prayers
rising toward heaven.
the war there strolled into the ravine
late in the afternoon young man and
woman. knew them for lovers before
I clearly saw their faces, for she leaned
toward him as they walked with the
unconscious naiuralness and grace of a
vine reclining toward its supporting
tree. On they came through the laur-
IL hnf ~
hacks against me, much as did those
soldiers of 20 years agone. She was a
flir-faced blonde. graceful as a fawn,
dimples in her peaehy checks. loyalty
in her true blue eyes. He was dark
s:alwart, manly. with the form of an
athlete and the eyes of a born protector
OF truth and innocence. Even before
they spoke I knew them. through in
tuition, to be the son ana daughter OF
the men who had died whefe they now
sat absorbed in loves young dream. As
they sat there, her head on his shoulder
and his arm where il should ", around
her taper waist, punctuated with kisses
l heard their story and more than
had learned before of the men whose
children they were. Birds chartered
about them. gaudy butterflies fluttered
IN their faces, vines festooEed like we'd
ding decorations IN dim church aisles
waved lazily in the caressing breezes
above. and they leaned against me as
confidingly as if ! belonged in loves
bowers instead of in the brunt of bat
ties | was their friend. The brave
are ever tender hearted. Iron cannon
thrill to magnetic currents with greater
readiness than many softer things.
"Nor did | look grim and forbidding
Roses of the woods had crept over me
and wreathed me with bloom. LaureIs
leaned lovingly over me. and vines
trailed in slender grace and beauty over
my rusted form. / was a picture o.
l peace, where
Winds blew sweet kisses from the scent
ed south.
/ Flowers waved love-signaIs from the can
! mons mouth.
'They talked of their parents. of theil
! own forthcoming marriage, of affairs a
home. of some property trouble where
in missing papers played an importan
part, which meant heavy loss to them
/ and of the thousand and one nothings
! all something's TO young lovers, whici
! interest those whose hearts have beer
/ touched by Cupid with the true gift q
seeing. 4 million things deemed i'm
are less so than the gossamer filament