The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-05-27

fashioned windows, tells q beautiful tale
when the wind sweeps across its two re-
manning strings. The mice quit their
feast among the popcorn and the spiders
even cease to watch for prey when the
old violin begins to tell its sweet story.
Near the old knapsack hangs gro
| tesque hat with bell crown and wide brim.
The two are great friends, and they fire.
quently exchange opinions concerning the
ways Of the world as viewed from their
| point Of observation.
"You see," said the old hat one day af-
ter the violin had told its story, folks
to-day are different. They ride on cars
run by condensed lightning; such thing
| was never dreamed of in my day."
''There wasn't much said about it in my
| day, either" uttered the knapsack. 81
notice one strange thing; when Memorial
| Day comes around most Of the folks seem
| to forget that there ever was war"
Eyes, you are right; now the war Of
| 1872"
"Pshaw! That's a long time ago.
mean the great civil war, the greatest
war of history. I was through that war
| and know something about it. Now what
do you suppose all that uproar over in yon-
der field meansT'
Celebrating the civil war, l suppose" !"
said the old hat; then added questioning
| ly, "but what is that rusty looking spot
on your side?"
"a few drops of blood spattered upon
me at the battle of Big Bethel, June Ii,
| 1861. Never mind that, though, it is an
incident l do not like to recall. What
| l want to talk about is the present; over
| in yonder field the sons of men are OBJ
serving Memorial Day in their fashion,
| "Yes; but they do not celebrate for my
war, 1872, you know
"But that was long time ago. The
war l had hand in was only"
"And one of your buckles is gone. I've
often noticed that, but didn't want to ask
| about it,
! 'That buckle saved the life 5f bright
young fellow who carried me through the
battle of Manassas Junction, July 21.
1861. But do not bother about such
| things. Those chaps over In the field
are celebrating things. They are having
| q baseball game and some twenty-odd
| thousand people are gathered there. 1t
is strange, isn't itT'
every strange" came the response from
the old hat. The breeze came through
! the quaint little window and ruff1ed the
hats nap. $50 what you fought for has
been forgotten"
"Humph! They have turned what was
intended to be a sacred day into a day
of sport, recreation, frolic, fun, games
Perhaps 1t is best so; do not know, and
perhaps am too old to learn" The KNAPP
sack shook its battered sides as it ceased
/ speaking.
Been through the greatest war his
tory tells of and now you are forgotten
You've got hole in your side; where did
you get that?' asked the veteran of 1912,
bent upon questioning.
"Balps Bluff, October 21, 1861"
"Fits nicely with play ball. May 81,
1898, ehY"
Don't ask pointed questions, old fel-
low. I hate questions anyhow. At Ce-
dar Mountain, August 5, 1862. lost my
| best friend. Shot through the heart poor
boy! was taken from his person, and
after that l drifted from place to place.
/ saw blood then, enough to float ship.
The battle of Chantilly, September l,
1862, was horrible, frightful carnage.
The worst battle ever took part In was
the hattie of GETTYSBURG, July 2 1868,