Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-31
A FunERAL At THE HOME.
How An Old Veteran is Laid al Rest al
Togus.

There is one feature of the life n IN,
Soldiers Home which is seldom If avar
touched upon by any Journalist who visits
the Eastern branch. The theme L. 40.
perhaps, "A pleasant one. bur # is some
times good for all of us to pause far .
moment in life's hurry and rapid rnotiou
TO contemplate for brief space its rest
its cessation, for
Leaves have their time to fall
And tlowers TO withcr at the north wind.
breath,
And stars to set: but all
Thou hast all seasons for thine own. q
Death
The funeral cortegc passing throurh
the streets of our cities and towns causes
most of us feeling of awe. ana of silent
sympathy for the bcrcayed relatives an,.
friends. if it is momentary and fleeing
but at the military funeral Of n soldiers
nome our sympathles are rather with the
veteran who has fought his last good
fight and crossed the Styx not Oh a
bridge Of pontoons along with the com
radcs who have assisted in its erection
but alone, in single boat with grim
Charon At the helm. His death he'd is
surrounded not by sorrowing relatives
and dear friends. but only Nv the faces
Of the nurses and hospital attendants,
comrades it may be in the fraternai ser
vice for common cause, vet whose ac-
quaintance dates only from his OCCUPANCY
of the cot which is his last resting place
until he shall 90 III over the hill. ana
whose grief at his passing away can bc
but of the shortest duration
at ,te -tinros.. W., nr. .,,,,i,,.. 80.
Home from town Via the narrow gauge NJ
the forenoon train some day when the
last sad rites over a departed comrauc
are to be observed. Just as w come out
from under the piazza Of Ihc station
building We hear the mournful noses Of 4
bugle waited across the camp hy the
summer breeze Even IL w Gr. unfa-
miliar with the sound Of The military bu-
gle the tone Of the can wou{d .t once
tell Us what I, must mean. ~ We cone
in sight ,I the Flagstaff W. nut cc tha,
the folds II "Dld Glory are Seating at
half mast. 4 li,tlr farther oh we are Nh
view of the chapel. at tnr entrance t.
which stands the sergeant Of the guard
in fun uniform we decide w viii en-
ter, but before Doing 50 VIC pause for u
moment ol jhe threshold ann HOOK about
us. Up fron the direction If thu hospi-
tai comes thy hcar.c. drawn ny coai
black horse ana followed by a'.l c-. nr; Of
eight mon uaGcr \. mmaud ". u rl1cInt
toward thc library 81, ..,,c ;hc d,tail Il
some forty NJ r.,y man III white glove
ANA belts, and uniforms trimly studded
with rows ~ shining brass buttons form
ing rapidly INFO line while down ny TN
opera house the band is coming from the
music room in step to the hushcd tar
tap, Of the drums The usher shows Us
to scat; perhaps another chance tour
list or Two may he there, impclled by the
same curiosity which has constrained VIZ
to come in, and three or four of the vet-
Grams whom the deceased has counted
among his friends at the Home are ASS
present. The coffin IN brought ID ami
placed before the altar. covered with tn
stars ANA stripes for which that not one
star may have been lost from its field ~
blue, the veteran IN his narrow bier and
thc comrades VINO bear him have 50 often
risiScd life and limb amid n" scrcamir-
shot ana she'll; ana following after the
escort files into place. The band plays
the chaplain offers rraycr-thc hurlai
service is read. The ceremony is briei,
but withal impressive
Again the comrades file silently on.
anu lining III. await, with uncovered
heads, while % the solemn music Of fu
neral march All that is mortal ol thcir
fellow soldier are brought down the aisle
and placed within the vehicle which is To-
take i, jo It'll last resting place un TIE
hill, in the city Of the dead. There Is
a momentary pause. ana thln tho com
mand is given. "Forward.-march. The
band strikes TIP a dirgc. ana
Ills comrades in the war.
Win arms reversed amt mutied drum,
Follow his funeral car
We watch the procession as it moves
slowly round the bend out Of sight, auI
just as it disappears from our view We
glance nj the flagstaff, The tlag IL AN
ready at the mast head, ana the corporal
Of The guard il Just fastening the ha-
yards. The camp as a whole is no longer
in muurning-in il day or two the place
of the departed veteran viii be filled by
4 ncwcomer-though few Of bis com-
panions who knew him best Still cherish
his memory.
We cross lots ana 20 up the hill ID TIL.
by path through thc woods.
arriving there in advance VI tho sIpw
cortc@c, which. however. soon APP
pears winding up the roadway through
the trees. We take our stand upon a lit
tie hillock and watch the line Of march
portion Of the cemetery, where i pau3ea
before an open grave.
SLOWLY and sadly they lay him down.