The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-12-29

TIME day was warm. In the Sacra-
mento depot, the ever increasing
crowd sSayed to and fro, surging ser
the very track on which the overland
train would come with its burden of
troops from the east. The air was
heavy with the scent of flowers.
The long balcony in front Of the SUI
perintendent's office was filed with a
line Of gayly-dressed people, who stood
patiently looking at the moving mass
below them. There workmen from the
great RAILROAD shops jostled ladies in
dainty attire; and s~choolboys and
street urChins lodged under the arms
OF their elders, making for themselves
swift serpentine paths through the
crowd.
Almost in the center Of the station
q fat Mexican woman stood guard over
s baby buggy, in which sat a black
eyed infant clutching tiny American
aag in It's dirty little hand.
There was a sudden pressure from
the crowd at the end Of the depot, and
the band marched I'M.
ia the forward movement of the
crowd Gertrude SERVER found herself
forced 70 the verge Of the platform, and
not far from the nearest track. She
stood there with her sister, a piquant
fgdre ia lavender, One year Of mar
riage and two Of widowhood had taken
little from her youth, and she thought
with a smile that any possible acquaint-
ance among the troops from her old
home could notfailt to recognize her.
al vague excitement stirred her; an
underlined recognition 81 the potential
tiles Of the Incidents Of life. AS she
lsfi her home, She had plucked a single
magnolia as an offering to some one
She might chance to know. Now she
held the blossom carefully, that it
might not be crushed in the crowd.
The scream OF whistle was followed
by The rush Of the train into the
crowded station. Soldiers leaned from
the windows with wreaths of roses on
their heads, or stood on the platforms,
their hands full OF flowers. In the
midst Of the music and cheers women
pressed forward with baskets Of flow.
ers. holding them up to the windows,
I'm their wake followed a train of young
giriA some Of them demanding hard
tack and brass buttons, and others ask
ing for the soldiers autographs in
their albums.
Mrs SERVER stood still, eagerly scan
ming the carr as they passed, for the
glimpse Of a familiar face. Now, as
she tried TO move along the line, she
found herself hemmed in by the crowd.
Her sister had fallen behind, and was
talking TO an acquaintance behind her.
The train had stopped. Under the
command Of an officer, a detail of sol
diers, two from each car, marched
through the Waiting-room into a large
room beyond. where a committee of Ia
dies handed them baskets of provisions
ana boxes Of fruit. The baskets con
tanned sandwiches and radishes and
ouions with envelopes of salt, and po-
tato sailed done up in candy boxes. The
fruit consisted Of oranges and cherries,
witA lemons for the sick. The march.
ine the soldiers increased the noise
ia tie movement Of the crowd.
Che nasic of the band had changed
% Columbia, the Gem Of the Ocean
a boy IS 18 Or 10 leaned out of a win.
dow ana received a bunch Of earnatior
pinl5s with q smile. Mrs. SERVER
watched him with momentary amuse.
ment. On his head and about his neck
were gafa uds of flowers, and the but.
Ionholes III his jacket were decorated
with blossoms.
She passed ON, pausin0 a moment 10