The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
but the sleepy wrens clinging to the
old trumpet creeper along the caves.

old trumpet creeper along the caves.
II don't see," she began, II don't see
what Ted wanted to go away from
grandma for. She has kept us and
loved us ever since mamma died years
ago. And what if he should not get
well? There'll be just us two in Vine
cottage, o, dear!"
But inside the door sat grandma,
knowing why. Of course; Lefty was a
child; she didn't know. Over 80 years
ago Abner had marched away in the
prime of his life and manhood's
strength, and she was left with the chill
dren at her knee, to be loyal ''by the
stuff" and she knew why; and she
knew how, too. ~
The clear, martial music sounded on
the church square, and the people were
gathering from every direction. per-
feet sea of flags surging in from given
point announced the coming of the
schools, and the different "orders' -
The lovely wreath had been made,
wateTed with her tears and sanctified
by prayer for her grandson in south
ern camp.
And Lefty had gone with it,
trying hard all the while to be pa
triotic enough to keep back her tears
Grandma Neville stood looking proudly,
yet wistfully, the way she went ;.
And the boy? Yes, Theodore had
marched away down the square street
to the same national air that Abner, his
grand La Their. did. Would History re-
peat itself2" Would Ted come home
with honors, even though it cost sac
rifice?
A great fear cholxed her. She put out
her thin hands deprecatingly to some
unseen presence, and went out into the
sweet May weather. She went and
stood where she might see the crowds
go by. A white dove from the cote
came and perched on her shoulder,
while a songster in the old trumpet vine
caroled forth melody triumphant
and pure as Heaven.
| ''That means peace and victory!" she
exclaimed, with joyful reverence; 1.-The
good Lord will keep Theodore"
| There they come, the battle-scarred
veterans. There were not so many of
the Shields post as on last Decoration
day and their steps weren't quite so
steady as a year ago, but they had not
forgotten to keep step, had they?
| Next came the provisional guards,
Ted's schoolfellows; and Ted was ri
to-day. ~.
| 4 l., 80
through" and won his honors and his
sword.
But the rest were getting into line
now. The stars and stripes fioated tri-
umphantly ahead and the same merry
martial music rang clear on the notes
of yankee Doodle" as they came.
Therewere the merry lassies in white,
carrying armfuls of flowers and keep
ing time with springing steps to fife
and drum. In between the guards and
their sweethearts came the juvenile
band; boys in knee-pants with curls OF
childhood still on their brows.
They were preparing for harder
marches than this one, maybe; and
their music seemed the sweetest of all,
while the folds Of the old flag floated
over them. [ 4 %< Hs
She turned and went in the+house,
trying to hum MY Country Ills of
Thee" but gave it up at the end of the
second bar. Abner would have sung it
vigorously. but some way she wasn't
quite like Abner-the mother-neart was
In the way. "' !. 81
The sunshine flooded tho dining
room. 1t must be nearly noon now, and
Lefty would be tired and hungry.
There are many hard battles fought and
won without bayonet orabloodshed, and
though women must weep" they come
off victorious in scores of hard-fought
| battles when the world notes nothing.
! And the carol of the songster and the
caress of the doves white wing were
a talisman. .......
Lefty, coming in half hour later,
dusty and weary, was cheered to see
Grandma Neville smiling. b., =.
"Oh, you've had news from Ted; good
news?" 7''1' ''''7
The question came inaglad~ anticipa-
ton. .-es..s-s.s-,-...,. ,s.s,,,..x.s... -
No. child, I've had no news; but I
had an omen. and. it means good It'd.
ings." Lefty listened 70 ths incident Of
the birds l and adj. the Notwithstanding
heart. t,.a. ssss = a
Did such things mean anything. and
did grandma know? >e;1. r. g,,f..s.1r. Il
"a She hoped there was no mistake in
any Of it. 9~'s5'31 $ L. ft'-s3sis H4'' I. ~
: "You put the, flowers on your grand
fathers grave and. watered them we'll,
Letty?" y ia at5s>9 ,I,s,tzsEta.s ...s (
HI" Yes: and Mrs. Jensen said that in
ratio rs the. flowers, were fragrant the
memories were sweet and = patriotism