Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-06-30
AT OLD JIM'S GRAVE.

IL don't think it is fair, anyway"
said Ellie, as she gave the chips at her
feet a vindictive shove,
Il don't either said Bobby, as res
olutely. "Old Jim was soldier just
as much as anybody wasn't he? A
soldiers soldier, isn't he, even If he
does get old and die at the poor
FARM"
Course he isl" chimed in Bert,
stopping a moment in his wood piling.
"He went to the war, one OF the very
first ones, and stayed way through. l
heard pa say So"
"And he's buried over in the old
south LOTT" demanded Ellie, land
don't ever any one take any notice of
him or decorate his grave or any
thing?"
Bert shook his head.
"Well, don't think it's fair, any
way" she repeated again.
"Well, what are you going to do
about it?' asked Bert, pilng up two
sticks with thud.
Hes the only soldier here in town
and folks didn't think much of him
anyway. He hadn't lived here for a
long time fore he died and they just
brought him back and buried him
that's all. Folks didn't take much no.
tice and didn't nobody care
"You couldn't expect folks to get
up procession and Decoration day
services just on his account, could
you?"
"Somebody'd ought to-" returned
Ellie, refectively.
THAT doesn't count" said Bert,
catching up the AK and splitting some
obstinate sticks. "Folks-don't-uo--
what-they-ought." He spoke be-
tween blows.
Ellie was silent for moment.
II guess we'd better decorate that
grave ourselves" she said slowly.
Bobby started.
"And have a procession and every
thing" continued Ellie gravely.
81 don't suppose it makes much diff
ference who decorates, seeing it's
done. and | guess our flowers would
look just as good as anybody's.
"And you, Bobby. and Bert"-a bit
mcertainly-"and perhaps Betty and
Sam, we can have nice procession
and go there, and twill be just as
good as if the regular folks did it."
"You haven't got any flag" sug-
gested Bert, interestedly.
"That's So" assented Bobby, land
flags cost awful"
"Do you have to have 'em?"
Bert nodded.
'TwouIdn't be decorating without
one," he decided. "You have to have
it to stick onto the grave SOS to tell
he was soldier. II doesn't have to
be very big, but you've got to have
one"
81 don't see what we'll do" said
Bobby discouragedly. ITS only three
days off and we can't any of us go
over to town to buy one, and anyway
we haven't got the money"
"I'll make one" said Ellie.
"Oh! yes cam" as the boys looked
at her doubtingly,
81 don't suppose twill be very good,
but twill be flag all right, so |
guess twill do"
"We've got some carpet rags up
stairs and | know | can find some
pieces, cause my old red dress is
there. and there's lots Of blue calico.
Only Bert'll have to draw me some
stars. ! couldn't do that"
an cut 'em out of stiff paper and
you can paste 'em on" Bert suggest
ed.
"No"-Ellie schook her head. 1.-THE
rain would wash 'cm off. You cut 'em
out OF cloth and I'll sew 'em on.
Bert drew out clean handker-
chief. How many?' he INQUIRED
with an eye TO business.
"Thirteen,' Bohhv answered
promptly:
That's unlucky, isn't III" anxious
ly from Ellie.
"Unlucky nothing replied Bert
rudely. That's what we have to
have, and there amt going to be any
thing unlucky about this affair. You
just 20 ahead and plan, Ellie, and
we'll do just as yod say, and we'll give
Old Jim fine decorating"
He began TO outline the stars.
A solitary rider on horseback rode
down the grassy street.
He glanced sharply to the right,
then, dismounting, let down some
bars, and turned into the faint path
which led across the fields TO the lit
Ne unused cemetery.