Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-05-30
A MEMORIAL DAY INCIDENT.

ITS not much I'll have to lay on
Jamie's grave this year." said Nancy
Brown, as she looked from her open
door over the small yard; only a few
punches of lilacs, and two peonies.
That late frost almost spoiled the
lilacs. But it's not so much the flow
ers I'm thinking of as of the blot that
still lies on my dear Jamie's name!"
Dropping upon her knees the mo-
ther prayed. AS Nancy Brown arose
and went about her simple prepara-
tions for the next days memorial SER
vice a serene look lighted her plain
face, sweet peace filled her heart, for
she had left her trouble with her Lord.
Nearly twenty years had passed
since this mother watched her boy as
he went down the steep path before
the house, and out through the little
gate, to join the boys in blue.
1t all came back to her now. She
could see again the lilacs that were
bursting into blossom when he went
away, and even hear the droning hum
OF the bees as her Jamie, so tall and
handsome, turned just outside the
gate, and flung a kiss to her, calling
out, Don't worry, mother dear. 1
may come back a captain, or a lieu
tenant, and then how proud you will
be Of me-"
All, the bitterness of that home
coming who can tell! He came wound
ed, emacated, weary, only to linger
few weeks and then to die. And
then, even before he was laid away
came the rumor that James Brown was
deserter. People pitied the mother
but they clustered in little groups to
whisper.
ut is well that the poor fellow died
before 1t was known here" Nancy
Brown overheard and a great pain
pierced her heart, never to be healed
during all these long years.
1t was dull morning, with a leaden
sky overhead, when Mrs. Brown with
her poor little flowers took her way to
Jamie's grave. Others passed by her,
some in fine carriages, some on foot.
She did not raise her head, but passed
on down the road.
Mrs. Brown was nearing "Jamie's
corner" as she called it, when looking
through a mist of tears she thought
she saw number Of people standing
about her sons grave. What could it
mean? They had never noticed his
grave that way before. And what was
this slab that marked the grave, with
the words. james Brown, who gave
his life for his country?" And who
was the fine looking man who stood
beside it? What was he saying?
THE James Brown who lies here
was a brave, noble fellow. There was
another James Brown in the same
regiment who deserted. l know of
what l speak, for l was the colonel of
that regiment"
Happy Mrs. Brown was led to the
grave of Jamie by her pastor while
the colonel came forward to congratu-
late her on having been the mother of
such son. The grave was heaped
with flowers; the mother could scarce
ly find room to deposit her "lilacs and
peonies" until the colonel stopped and
made place for them, saying:
THE mothers flowers shall rest
above the heart of her boy"
Then Nancy Brown knelt by the
grave of her Jamie, and raising her
eyes to heaven said:
Il thank thee, o my Father, that
Thou hast heard me; the stain is re-
moved; to thee shall be all the glory,
both now and forever"
1t had been kept a secret from Mrs
Brown, when Col. Hamlin had visited
his native state, and hearing Of the
stigma resting upon the boys name,
had fully cleared him. Then the
neighbors planned to purchase the
slab and cover Jamie's grave with
flowers as token of sympathy with
the mother who had suffered so long.