The Springfield herald., 1897-05-28

prairie schooner" crossed our path,
with its jingling kettles hung low un-
derneath the wagon, grazing the tips
Of the grass.
twenty-five miles before another re-
lay" said the driver, "and 1t will take
us all day."
If the driver had been communica
tive the hours might have passed
quickly; but he was taciturn. Such
pay as he drew from the stage COM
pany was well earned for between the
stubborn mules and the sometimes bad
road he had a hard time of it.
Toward evening we drew up to a lit
tie shanty, the first building we had
seen for twenty miles. and alighted for
supper and to change mules.
An old woman and her son kept the
house. She was ''glad to see me-" she
said, for women don't come this way
much. and l get lonesome"
We had expected to move on after
supper, but the driver came in to say
that the relay mule had strayed away.
and We should have to wait till morn
ing.
The old woman was delighted, nor
were we sorry. Staging" was losing
it's fascination. and we felt much
Obliged to the relay mule for running
away.
He'll be back bright and early In
the morning." said the old woman.
"Elnathan, he tied the big dinner bell
onto his neck SOS to be sure to find
him. To-morrow's Decoration day; did
you know it," she asked, as we sat by
the corn-cob fire.
We had almost forgotten It, Our
hostess went on:
I'VE always decorate. Elnathan and
me. There amt any graveyards
around here, only Just one single soli-
tary grave" She wiped her eyes,
which had filled with tears. "See 1t
out there. that bit of white loomin' up
close to the oarn?"
We could distinguish in the cleaning
what looked like a headstone, and told
her so.
YES" she went on, that's grave.
It's my old man. Jerud: Elnathan's
father. He died three years ago. and
we buried him out there. That head
stone you see amt marble-its plat
ter that Elnathan bought up to Wichi-
ia. We couldn't find no headstones
proper, SO he got the name and date
painted on this and set 1t up at the
head. Like to look at it?"
We answered that we certainly
should like to see it, and followed her.
In the barn-yard were our mules, some
prairie hay, bunch of last years corn
stalks and Texas cow with wide
branching horns, look of defiance in
her bony, repulsive shape. The fence
was made of cottonwood rails, and to
the south of it, on .he outside, was the
grave.
At the head was a very large Queens
ware platter, with "Jerud Whitehead"
paiuted across it in black letters 1t
stood straight up, like any headstone.
and though. as the old woman said,
.it sometimes topples over, especially
in the spring when the ground thaws,"
it was little trouble to right it again.
I'm going to decorate Jerud's grave
tomorrow" she said, on our way back
to the house.
WAS your husband soldier?" we
asked. sadly and respectfully.
NO. she answered, mot exactly:
but he would "a been. They was going
to draft 'em in our town one time, and
Jerud he was took with rheumatic so
he was confined to his bed for month
He was awful sorry, for he did want
to fight for his country; and he said
he'd just as soon be drafted as to vol
unteer-it showed how bad they want
ed him.
Then another time" she went on,
Squire Smith offered him five hun
dred dollars to go as his substitute;
and was willing, for we needed the