The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-01-08
The STORY OF A WILD ROSE.
How 1t Was TranspIanted from a Battle
field to a Kansas Garden.


A very pretty story comes from Kan
sas, where queer things happen and
strange meetings occur. says a writer in
the Kansas City Star. i
Last summer the populists held their
state convention in Abilene, and two
men, we'll known in Kansas, came
forth for the governership and both
were beaten. They we're Col. W, a.
Harris of Linwood, and George M.
Munger of Greenwood county. After
the convention each went his way, not
knowing that once before they had met
in a bloodier contest.
A few days ago these two came to-
gether once more and with them was
Edwin Taylor, the potato king of Kan
sas. Jokiugly Mr.. Taylor referred to
one as a Johnny" and to the other as
a "Yank." Then they fell to talking
about war times.
Col. Harris spoke up. u have in the
front yard of my home in LinwoOd a
rose. The father or mother of this rose
came by me when was youth. 1t is
the essence of my wartime experiences
and the counting of my wife. The way
it became niue was after this fashion.
I was captain in Wilcox's brigade, It,
was at the battle of Seven Pines. A
portion of Casey's brigade held a stra-
tegic position on hill. 1 was detailed
to drive it out. We gunned them all
day. The 'Yanks' we're commanded by
a fiery little chap, who held his men to-
gether splendidIy. He was everywhere
at once. I trained some of the guns on
hin myself, but we could not get him."
"H-m-m," said Mr.. Munger.
GAS I stood watching him IsaW at my
feet a wild rose, the Hermosa. Idly I
stopped down and cut spray from it
and tucked it in my cap. All through
the day wore it and it seemed to bring
me fortune, for after much hard fight
ing We dislodged the enemy and scat
tered it.
"That night by the campfire I wrote
letter to the sweetheart waiting for
me in Luray, Va. In it I placed my
spray of Hermosa rose and then forgot
it. After the war I went to her and
she showed me a beautiful rose growing
in the garden.
1T grew from the slip you sent me
from Seven Pines, she said to me. And
all through the var, while she waited,
the rose grew and fOurished. We we're
married when I was mustered out 3
colonel.
II came to Kansas and helped build
the old Kansas & Pacific road. My
wife brought with her a little box which
| she guarded tenderly. When we were
settled in our little Kansas home she
showed it to me, and 10, in it was grow
| ing the Hermosa rose Of the Seven
Pines battlefield, the offspring Of that
/ wore in my cap when I drove che
brave little Yank' from his hilltop
And il Kansas soil it mas fourished
brsvely. Many a spFig has been eu'
from it TO be planted in other Kansas
gardens, until the Wild rose Of the
Seven Pines. plucked amid the roar Of
battle, gladdens the peaceful homes o
Kansas"
SWELL" sighed Mr.. Munger, who has
been listening and rejecting. Il vii
tell a story. It was in 1862, and at CHI
battle Of Fair Oaks. I had been sen
With little handful Of men to hold
brigade Of 'Johnniss. We took up gu
position on a bill, one of excellent stra
tegie force. While ne we're outnnmbeE
cd We held our ground as best We eoul
in the fac Of a Calling FIRE. The John
I. MES could not dislodge as. It vas yes.
bard fighting OF both sides. The 'Johl
MES poured shot into rs pretty iivsE
EkaF seemed e ain st ne. anG sc