Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1899-05-25

the committee. The day before Dec0ra-
ton day the congregation met. A vesti-
bule ran across the front Of the church
from the side doors that opened out on TO
the small stone porckcs. and there the
men cast down great armfuls of fragrant
evergreens. The little wooden soldier
monuments, painted white. were brought
into the yestibule TO be trimmed. The
chatter and hustle began with the work.
Little groups formed. Busy fingers soon
lowered the heaps OF pungent green. Then
often some young man and maiden would
slip ont together to gather n new supply.
And were IL not for others who built up
the dwindling piles OF spruce, the workers
would wait long for the two who first
went. When they finally came back, he
with his conscious face hidden behind the
odorous green branches, and she, no flush
ed and shy, the merry jests were at their
expense. But, though prosecuted, the
faces OF the lovers showed that II was
| good to live.
Within the church, behind the pulpit on
the platform, two white columns rose, out
lined with the woven green's, their sides
hung with wreaths. These were connect
ed by a broader structure on which were
the words: Roll OF Our Honored Dead" !"
and In smaller black letters, In two long
columns. we're the names OF those soldiers
| lying In the little cemeteries beside the
church. Spaces were left for the lunches
Of flowers, to be added In the morning. At
the top of each column the white statue
of an angel stood. Long ropes Of green
were draped about the high gallery, In the
rear where the choir sat and about the
side lights and windows were more grace
full loops.
As dusk fell The lads and lassies had
made their engagements for the next day
possibly for life, and home duties were
calling the matrons. The little groups
hurried away and the church was left In
quiet. Each white pew door Is closed
upon the green. well-pounded cushions or
the narrow. high-backed seats within
The little footstools are In prim array
The hymnals and the palm lear fans stant
neatly In the racks. The gilt pipes of this
organ In the gallery show above the rail
and the moon-faced brass clock on th'
front Of the gallery ticks In loud, meas
ured tone. The odor Of the fresh-eut ever
greens Is like some heavy incense. Th'
pulpit looms up high and dark with tn
big Bible, the hymnal, and the little bool
OF psalms arranged upon 1t in sever
pyramid. The moonlight creeps into tn
quiet there. touching the names OF "Ou
Honored Dead" with Its cold fingers, tw
by two, up the long columns. till the rol
stands clear.
Through the village, as the evenin
grows, the sound of the band practicin
diligently Is heard. A neighboring ban
. Joins In the ceremonies of the next da
' and the rivalry Is keen. All the littl
: girls with long hair, at the important az
Of 7 are to assist in decorating the graves
I Each fond mother braids her small vests
: virgins hair In tiny strands to produc
!. the required crimpiness. A warm, spic
! odor from pantry and kitchen in the HON
! where the out-of-town speaker IL to
: entertained speaks for him q comfortab
!, inner man. One of the prominent men {
y the village Is TO make fiveminute speeC
y at the monument ''To Our Unknow
Dead" He has rehearsed It for houl
! In meadow behind hay stack.
y The day dawns. The dew is brushe
y away by passing skirts as the wome
. hasten TO their gardens to pick their choi
y est flowers culls unsparingly. Ear
i In the forenoon the vestibule of the churC
= Is filed with fragrance. Flowers of u
y garden, cultivated so tenderiy and gat
y cred so willingly, are there, and gre
!" masses of snowballs, branches of do
= wood. with their white petals crimst
J, u splashed, the sweet mock-orange the ros
y towering almond, all add their beaut
- - The work presses: bouquets to tack on
- the little monuments. and each TO be ca
!. riei to Its place; great lunches of flo
=, y ers to be placed In the church window