Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-11-17

THE day was warm IN the Sacra-
mento depot, the ever increasing
crowd sDvayed TO and fro. surging over
the very track on which the overland
trsiR 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 a. the moving mass
below them. There workmen from the
great railroad shops jostled ladies in
dainty attire: and schoOlbOys 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
fat Mexican woman stood guard over
. baby buggy, I'm which sat black
eyed infant clutching tiny American
Gag in its dirty little hand.
There VIVA sudden pressure from
the crowd al the end of the depot, and
the hand marched In.
In the forward movement of the
crowd Gertrude Soriver found herself
forced TO the verge Of the platform. and
not far from the nearest track. She
stood there with her sister, a piquant
Squire in lavender. One year Of mar
riage and two Of widowhood had taken
httle from her youth. and she thought
with a smile that any possible acquaint-
snce among the troops from her old
home could not fail 90 recognize her.
vague excitement stirred her; an
undefined recognition Of the potential
tties of the incidents OF hfe. As she
left her home, she had plucked a single
magnolia "a an Offering TO some one
she might chance 10 know. Now she
held the blossom carefully, that IL
might not be crushed in the crowd.
The scream of a 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 20 the windows.
In their wake followed a train of young
girls, SONG - 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 ears as they passed. for the
glimpse of a familiar face Now. as
she tried 10 move along the line, she
found herself hemmed in by the crowd
Her sister had fallen behind, and was
talking 20 an acquaintance behind her
The train had stopped. Under the
command OF an officer, a detail of sol
ders. two from each car, marched
through the waiting-room into a large
yoon beyond. where a committee OF Ia
dies handed them baskets OF provisions
and boxes of fruit. The baskets con
tanned sandwiches and radishes and
onions. with envelopes of salt, and DO
tato salad done up in candy boxes. The
fruit consisted of oranges and cherries
with lemons for the sick. The march.
ing of the soldiers increased the noise
and the movement of the crowd.
The music OF the band had changed
TO Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean.
boy OF Is or 10 leaned out OF a win
dow and received bunch of carnatior
pinks with a smile Mrs. Scrive,
watched him with momentary amuse
ment- On his head and about his necl
were garlands Of flowers, and the but
tonhoies of his jacket were decorated
With blcssomss ..--