davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
When Two Yeterana Meet.

Did you ever see two old comrades
meet on Decoration day? What pleas
ure it is to watch them; to see the warm
handclasp given and returned; to note
how readily they fall into the old mar
tialstep. Listen, and you will hear them
use the old nicknames, unheard for
years, repeat the stories told by the
camp fire and renew the old strategic
controversies, with all the old warmth.
Watch them as the band strikes up the
familiar air, or some old regimental
hero drives by. From them the weight
of years has dropped as mantle; to-
day, they are boys again Marching
Through Georgia."
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
An Exception to the Rn,e

Thirty -four years ago the last battle
OF the civil>war was fought Since then
many a battlefield has been titled by
the husbandmen; the tree which was
then but saping lifts hi gh its head,
and our flag has won fresh victories
oven seas. Soldiers homes have been
erected in token of our gratitude, pen
sions have been freely granted. mon
uments have arisen, homes for soldiers;
orphans have been founded, and Dec
Grafton day is kept all over our broad
land. Let us be thankful that we have
not waited until our soldiers died in
poverty and neglect, to honor them
Republics are proverbially ungrat eful,
but the American people have proved
themselves here the exception to the
rn1e
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
Meaning of Decoration Day

Of all our yearly feasts, Decoration
day is perhaps the most distinctly ma
tional. The adjoining of the soldiers
graves is but the outward manifestation
OF feeling which is all the stronger in
that our national history is so brief a
one. The men who fell at Chickamauga
or Bull Run need not share their honors
with the well-nigh mythical heroes of a
thousand years ago. They, themselves,
have written, the sagas of our own race,
in their life blood, and they will be
passed on to generations yet unborn.
Monuments have been raised in their
honor, but the story of their deeds, as
told from son to sire, will outlast the
crumbling stones. Little did these he
roes dream of all this, as they marched
out to do and die. They had no vision
Of honors to be heaped upon them by
a grateful people. With the simplicity
inherited from their pioneer fathers,
they marched out to meet the foe, all
unconscious of the heroism which is the
dearest heritage of their descendants.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26

came over her, in a flash, that she had
forbidden her friends to mention he1
sister or her affairs in her hearing.
Nancy, having done the same in her
own case. Her throat was dry, as she
said:
"And what did Richard Wilson say
when he saw his son in the blue?"
'He said" the guest drew herself up.
proudly, she said that as far as he was
concerned, the war was over "a years
ago, and if he had 40 sons he'd give 'em
all to the union now. Well, guess ]
must be going; Richard'n be tired OF
waiting."'
Nancy, oh, Nancy!"
'Em, sister Emil"
They were weeping in each others
arms. Nancy spoke first:
I'm, I was always union at heart, but
followed my husband, as a woman
should. I've got every rose from my
white tree out there in the buggy
thought you might like them fol-
Georges grave" ,.. -.
II just will" Mrs. Merrick cried
Then, stepping to the door, she shaded
her eyes with her hand. Good morn.
ing, Richard!'' she called to the patient
figure seated in the buggy. II just
wanted to tell you that peace has been
declared" ELISA ARMSTRONG.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
eA<149.e.lsAs..L.a.Al.ys
! The White Rose of Peace

HE rm-May breeze was taking
unprecedented liberties with
"a Mrs. Merrick's spotless white
curtains, blowing them to and fro at
will, but Mrs. Merrick was too busy to
notice the fact. She was in the kitchen
piling huge baskets with the blossoms
which had yesterday laden the lilac,
rose and SNOWFALL trees. She was an
elderly woman, gaunt and active, and
she talked to herself as she worked:
''There, I've done it all as George
would have liked" she said, The al
ways held that the privates should have
the finest flowers and the most of 'em.
I did want to save them white roses for
his grave, but l couldn't make up-my
mind to it somehow. I'll just lay one
bud over his heart and he'll understand.
They were his favorite flowers, those
roses, and 1 don't believe there's an
other bush in the country except the
one Nancy has. Mother brought 'em
to us from Baltimore, I remember.
Well, guess Nancy Won't donate any
roses for Decoration dAy!" She laughed
scornfully at the idea.
Nancy was her only sister, and both
of them, newly married, had seen their
husbands march out when the first call
for troops came, but George Merrick
wore the blue and Richard Wilson
donned the gray. Both had come back
four years later, George to die within
a decade from the effect of his wounds;
Richard, with one coat sleeve empty, to
go to work where he had left off, tilling
the farm, which was his wife's. Each
the breach between them had widened
until they did not recognize each other
when they met. -
mo, mine will be the only white roses
to-day" Mrs. Merrick repeated. She
started slightly as a shadow fell across
the floor. There you are, Capt Stone,' .
she said, still STOPPING over the has
kets; ''I'm all ready for you. X My
flowers have done wonderfully this
year, and isn't it nice day, too? It al
ways seems to me that something must
be wrong if Decorat ton day ism clear"
There was no reply, and she glanced
up, startled. On the threshold stood an
elderly woman in a purple dress. She
was short, stout, motherly, and her face
was scarlet. %@ e4FYerls Ell -
L Nancy" !, Mrs. 4Merrick cried. : She
sank into. a chair, gazing at her unex-
pected visitor. Her first impression
was that some Overwhelming 1nisfor-
tune, had befallen her and that her
sister had come to tell her Of it.
Eyes, En-, it's:me. I'll go right away,
If you say so. SIm$not one to go where
! ain'ts wanted, but Richard said
81 haven't told you you amt well
come, Nancy Wilson, Walk IN and take
g, chair, If the flowers are in your way
I'll move 'em; they're for the soldiers,
graves: 1suppose you've heard 81 Dec
Grafton day? q. z. Il
I'm stay here, thank you. Live got
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
OF HUMBLE BIRTH.
insignificant Origin of Some Of
Those WHO Have Won the Adj
miratiOn of the World.

Columbus, the discoverer of America
was the son of weaver.
The eminent French humorist, Fran.
ecary.
Ceramics, the illustrious Spanish au.
thor, was born of an ancient but re.
duced family. He early entered mill
tary service and served as common
soldier.
The great French dramatist, Moliere
was the son of atapestrymaker.
Terence, the celebrated Roman dra.
1natist, was at one time slave.
Homer, most illustrious of poets, was
at one time beggar.
The Greek poet, Hesiod, was farm
er's son.
Demosthenes, the most celebrated or
ator of antiquity, was cutters son.
The great English preacher, George
Whitfield, was the son of an innkeepe1
at Gloucester.
Thomas Wolsey, the English cardi'
nal and sta esman, was a butcher'i
son. .'' '''
Edmund HALEY, the English astron.
omer and mathematician, was the SOL
of soap manufacturer.
DR.. Thomas, bishop of Worcester, was
a inen-draper's son.
DR.. Mountain, bishop Of Durham, was
the son of a beggar. ,i.:.. ,...
Joseph Hall, bishop of Norwich and
theological writer, was a farmers son.
Virgil, the great Latin epic poet, was
the son of potter. ~...u =.
Horace was ashopkeeper's son.
.Plaufus, one of the greatest Roman
comic poets, was the son of baker.
The English photographer, DR.. Sam,
uel johnson, was the son of a book
dealer. y
Oliver Cromwell was brewers son.
Robert Burns, the Scotch poet, was a
plowman in Ayrshire. .'>-.'
William Shakespeare, t'the chief lit.
erary glory of England" was a yeo-
mans son. !" ~ " = '15s.'|
T The celebrated American engineer,
Robert Fulton, was at sne time a jew
eler's apprentice. r@' So IA u. Il
=" Daniel Webster was the son of a small
farmer. ~ s:5~.s,s 49, FL. i ,a:z5f
From the must humble origin, Thur.
low. Weed became one of the leading
journalists of the United States, and a
great political leader. ~ j.s s..es5,s.. "
William Cullen Bryant was the son
of physician. f. sses.f4 .as,.-ar .i@
ri Andrew Jackson was born at Waxaw
settlement, South Carolina. While the
future president was still mere child
his father died, and the family was
left in reduced circumstances, on half
cleared farm in new settlement. u
Abraham Lincoln was the son Of .
poor, farmer T; n ....@ lls
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26

tween. them, notwithstanding their
nearness to each other.
They could hear the training on the
green, although neither cared to hear
just then. Their eyes met. "To-mor-
row is his birthday, too, and he has
never been away from home on his
birthday before"
"But we can think of him, Lefty, and,
of course, he will remember US, of all
days, tomorrow" ."
"War is something dreadful, isn't it.,
grandma p the girl whispered across
the grand maternal knee. in a fright
ened way. -, .,...
'Dreadful things come out of war,
and grand things, too, Lefty. 1t brings
out the bravery and nobility of man
kind, and unfolds the love of country.
but the greatest heartbreaks of earth
are the hcartbreaks of strife. Have you
been to the office this evening, child q
eyes, but there was nothing" IsH
"Well, we will hear tomorrow, may
be. You must be ready early, Lefty, to
carry the flowers. ! cannot do it this
year, of all years. ] am not brave
enough; the martial music will hurt me
) so.> child; it always does on Decoration
day But l am loyal to the dear old
flag, and true to your grandfather's
memory, and to your brothers loyalty.
i would not have you think ! am disr
Z loyal, Lefty &.sGzf s
i 81 understand, grandma. :" And the
girl went softly out on the porch to
cry all by herself, with no one to see
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
The Old Regimental Flag.

How beautiful is the flag a it unfurls
It's spotless folds to the May breeze,
and how proudly its bearer walks, head
Ing the long procession! But, listen,
what is that cheer which swells far
down the line, leaping spontaneously
from a thousand throats? 1t is cheer
for another flag, which has been I'M
turied. See, it is soiled and torn and
faded; that dark stain. is the life blood
Of bearer; that hole marks the path of
bullet. Hats are lifted and eyes grow
dim with reverent tears as it passes, the
Did regimental flag which has cheered
brave men to win and die. The Decora-
lion day procession is gay with rib
bons, flowers and wreaths, but none of
til EN- is as beautiful to US as that
soiled, faded, glorious fag!.-a
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26

/
| the clover ana the sun of summer
Shines yes Al @e ii
EAnd the shadows onthe grasses are the
| ! shadows of the pines 49,
Comes a people forth to duty meath the
i banner of the stars. -
And the Nation Weaves a chaplet for the
r. heroes Of her wars:
For the men who went to battle for the
| slender and the true 49,. 49,,
Who: are sleeping in the sunshine in thei1
/ uniforms of blue a# +. go 5.e-.=. y =
Where the shenandoah's music wakes the
| %2. echoes of the glen. i:es#
And the Mississippi rushes past the busy
| haunts of men, I'll -
! From the shadow of Katahdtn. with his
| = eerie crest of SHOWS, ,ss,-.. a., .
! To the land, Of endless summer, where the
I Sacramento flows. s'"f, !. .:3
There are camps forever silent, for no
| !. drums within them beat,
And the bugles Of the battle blow nc
''Charge!" and no Retreat"
But upon heroic bosoms falls the scented
bloom of May. -
And grateful Nation kneeleth on her own
Memorial Day.
One can almost hear the music of the
mighty, marching lines
As they swept in ma tchless phalanx meath
the cypress and the pines,
But the lannon's rut Is hidden by the lily
| , and the rose. ....
And the veterans march together who in
NJ battle met as foes; 49,.
A grand, united Nation stands beneath our
| banner free. g..
| One In purpose. one in glory. from ma jestic
sea to sea-: IS
Fearing none, and crowned with splendor.
scars our eagle in the sun.
| AS proud as when he scared above the plume
of Washington. -,
Gently from the hands Of beauty love-in-
vested flowers fall
Not hero's grave is missing, there is love
enough for all: -.
Blossoms fair for those who battled where
the British guns grew still,
And a people rose to grandeur from the
slopes Of Bunker Hill!
Roses red and white for thousands who at
| ; home and far away.
In the shadow and the sunshine. camp for
7. ever and day; 49,:
Let the Southland's proud palmetto touch
the Northland's gentle pine.
Where the birds are singing sweetly on the
battles ghostly line. ,,...E
We've seen the sons Of those who met as
foemen on the plain
Beneath the folds Of Freedoms nag their
young blood shed like rain,
oAlA luS "ISlCASu "idllH OIL QaIe ueO
l. shrieking on the blast,
And Peace looked down upon our land and,
smiling, said: AT last!
One flag for all Americans. no matter where
they be! 49,
One flag above our heroes graves upon the
land and sea!
And flowers for the brave who sleep where
=: soft the breezes blow,
And the singing southern rivers thro' land
united flow.
The veteran crowns his comrade to the
music of the drum, :.
The Nation weaves heroic wreaths, and will
for years to come:
In the cycles still before us. in the centuries
to be
The rose will fall upon the brave who rest
tWixt sea and sea;
And Columbia, fairer, greater, as she
mounts the heights of flame,
Will carve on her respondent shield with
| ! pride each herOs name;1. j.
And the tide that rushes outward to the
countries far away
Will tell the beauteous story Of our lands
Memorial Day.
T. C. HARBAUGH
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26

true. wonder how Mrs Jensen knows,
grandma { She has no soldier dead. : So
Grandma answered evasively. and
Lefty was left in doubt still
Lefty" said grandma, presently, II
shall lay the table for four to-day. Alb
iner's plate opposite mine, rs in years
agone, and Ted's and yours on either
hand, as hitherto. It will be one Of the
memories Mrs, Jensen spoke off,
A. eventide Vine cottage at the end
OF the white street received d letter
from Tampa. Going on to Cuba to in
terview the 'Spahiarlls," he wrote.
Farther and further away.,' grand
ma said, and her lips quivered little
as she laid down her glasses But she
went over to the table, and, gathering
up the flowers left over, made q pretty,
fragrant wreath and pinned tito the
American and Cuban colors, just above
the bright, boyish face on the wall.
ut is because am proud of him. she
A month and two days went by,
.circling over the white street in Somer-
set with all the conflicting news of the
SpanishAmerican war. r. 5>..''
Then came the battle Of San Juan,
The wires flashed the news into Som.
erset the morning after the fight 81
Theodore's regiment was in that en-
gagement. Grandma Neville went out
on the long, low porch and sat where
the trumpet vine, Swallowed her silvered
head from the July heat, but she did
not cry, as Lefty did. Serenely quiet
she sat looking down the white street
down which Theodore had marched in
April. 49, -.
THAT song in the vines meant pro-
motion for the boy, and maybe this bat
tie is the time for winning it.; who
knows?" And the dear old lady bridled
her silvered head proudly.
Later came advices through the
press; the newsboys cried it all down
the white street that Theodore Neville
had been promoted to the rank of lieu
tenant for his daring and bravery; land
he didn't get scratch" shouted the
newsboys, triumphantly: j',:,
And Lefty went out among the doves
and wondered which one made itself so
famous on Decoration day.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
AbOut the si.e Of II.

Foreigner-Why is it that 80 many
American cities are complaining Of bad
water? is not the water supply under
the direction of city officials?
Alphabetically.
Foreigner-And are not those officials
elected by the people?
2Asnerican-Yes.
Forrigner-Then it appears to me-
you have not been careful to select Off
Gals who are good judges of water.
| IN. Y. Weekly. /
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26

did that man to whom you were
just talking say your affairs were mis-
managed?" asked Mr.. Meekton's wife,
severely. -
''Now, Henrietta, that was simply .
little aside; it wasn't intended for your
ears at all"
81 insist"
"Oh, well, If you insist; he didn't say
my affairs were mismanaged- He said
they were Mrs.-managed." -WashinR-
ton Star.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
No Honor Il Too High.

Decoration day will find new graves
this year; perhaps even here and there
a long, low mound upon which the
grass has not yet had time to grow.
You can cover them with flags and
flowers, that is all. But to- the living
veteran you can give the honorand ten
derness which make GLAD his declin-
ing years, remembering, not only for
one day in the year that he, too, gave
his best of youth and strength to make
ours "a union strong and great"
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26

That was = funny thing that hap-
pened ont IN Ohio the other day. . sid
the man with the saffron whiskers ana
. twinkle in his left eye.
The undertaken looked grave and
asked in sepulchral toness
what was that ::'
"An epidemic Of typhoid fever was
traced to the ice people used"
''That was not unusual"
s.And they arrested the iceman for
carrying CONCEALED deadly weapons
Town Topics.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
when the TWILIGHT Falls

How quiet is The cemetery when the
last speech is made, the last flower laid
upon it's graves and the last note of
martial music has died away: Then,
only the sentinel stars keep watch
,bove the silent ranks awaiting that
last trumpet call which alone shall
wake them from that hard-earned sol.
C2ier's rest. !r -.-
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26

Michael MacDonagh's Irish Life
and Character" contains some good
'bulls," of which the best is this:
lady one day heard servant knock
at the door, and afterward asked the
servant who had called.
ut was gintleman, ma'am, looking
for the wrong house. replied Mary.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
What Hurt.

"What's the NATTER" asked the
friend. You're not angry because that
man accused you of being the political
boss of this town."
'That isn't what he said" replied the
indignant citizen. '.He intimated that
I wasn't the Observation-Disclosures Star.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26

We have talked about the prowesS
OF the man behind the gun:
We have told in song and story
How he made the Arabs run;
But the highest pitch Of glory
For this brave, intrepid man
Is attained in Boosting of it
To the girl behind the fan.
The Rival,
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
In Two Chapters.
Decoration Day Story
BY MANDA L. CROCKER
II NV THE next room lay the roses
NN and lilies with the sweet

NV THE next room lay the roses
NW and lilies with the sweet
scented heliotrope he loved
$50 well; then there were the daisies,
the pansies and sweet alyssum as I'm
ishing flowers.
Over there on the wall, where the
streaming sunset light FURNISHED the
hilt, hung his sword, with which he cut
his way through in that deadly charge
at the awful battle of Shiloh.
Yes, there it was, where Abner was
wounded, and he, so handsome and
strong when he marched blithely away
tothe sound of the merry martial music,
came home cripple.
But she would always remember how
proudly he looked up to the stars and
stripes and touched the shining shout
der straps when, with sorrowful ex-
clamation, she took hold of his empty
sleeve. And somehow she caught the
patriotic fire, and was prouder of her
one-armed soldier husband than she
had ever been of the able-bodied Abner
He had lived to celebrate several Dec
Grafton days, and how much he made of
them.
Since he had gone to rest in an
honored grave she had always, tried
to do the same for his sake. To-day she
had a double incentive for being pa
triotic. IF y
Mrs. Neville counted her life as in two
chapters, and felt that the whole story
pulsed to the sound of fife and drum
We have touched on the first chap
ter, which reached it's blaze OF triumph
April 7, 1862.
But after the setting light had beau
titled the sword of sixty-two, it fell in
golden halo on boy ish, yet manly, face
beyond.
And the blending folds of the Amer
lean and Cuban colors just above the
picture marked the second chapter
which to-day was in the hands Of time
and circumstance, and was coming out
in story form as fast as they could "set
it up"
She was thinking of this so deeply
that she had entirely forgotten the CIR
at her side.
The silver hair and care-lined brow OF
the one, and the sweet, dimpled face Of
the other told that lifetime lay be-
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26

$50, you see, there are several things
that would interest you, and I'm sure
you would enjoy yourself very much.
Now, can't I persuade you to come
to our next mothers meeting?"
"Well, yer leddyship, you're kind;
but I never was a society woman!"-
Punch.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
STARTING q Boom.

Fr;ck-Did old Bender sell his car
rage and take to riding in the street
cars SO as to save expenses?
Burns-Well, guess not. He want
ed to set his neighbors good example,
you know he owns the trolley road
now.-Brooklyn Life.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
He Lacks Tact,

Bates-That nephew of yours called
me blackguard.
Yates-Just like Ben; no tact about
the boy. I've always told him that the
truth was not to be spoken on all oc-
casions.-Boston Transcript.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
Flowers for the Women.

F10VcFS TOT the WOmeN.
In decorating the graves of the SOL
diers, don't forget to lay flower upon
that Of his wife. Her part was almost
as heroic a one as his; he went to meet
the rain of bullets; she remained behind
to weep. to pray, to hope to fear She
shared his hecoism, let her share his
reward.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
The Curse of War.

Mrs. Henpeck Visiting her first hus-
bands grave)-Yes; here lies hero.
You would not be my husband to-day
had he not been killed in the war.
Mr.. Henpeck (fercely)-Yes; what a
curse war is.-Tit-Bits.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
A CrOss-COumfer.

Mr.. Peck-By jung, I had funny
dream last night It seemed that 7
was away Off in South Africa, where
diamonds were lying all around me In
heaps.
Mrs. Peck-Did you seem to see any
as small as the one in the engagement
ring you gave me?-Chicago Daily
News.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
Was a Foo1hardy Man.

Mrs. Skimpen-I think Mr.. Smith
must have liked the beefsteak pie. He
had two helpings of it.
The Tactless Boarder-Possibly he
did it on wager.-Boston Transcript.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
A Boomerang.

"He, laughed madly when she broke
plate over his head a.
Suddenly deranged?" ;.
"No; it was plate she had painted
herself" Chicago Record.
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
The Reason.

Jane keeps little lamp aIight,
Within a closet-day and night.
IT'S not Loves shrine-no-droTl device
She fancies it will scare off mice.
Chicago Daily News
The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-26
No Outward sixn.

81 am told that squallinger has be-
come Christian"
II don't believe it. saw him throw a
banana skin on the sidewalk the other
day."-Boston Journal. IS