The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-05-30
BY Manda L. Crocker.

,EE KIN hear the drums a-beatin' Jo-
siah."
Sarah Parkman stood in her
,nmple doorway, leaning her head little
s,rtber out in the May dusks, in listening
a,itude.
"What's that ye hear. Sairee:'
thin, angular man came out Of the cabin
and stood beside the woman. Tapping the
c,rncob pipe he held in his right hand
redtatively on the thumbnail Of his left,
NJ bent his gray locks to the breeze.
"What was it that ye heard, Sairee:' he
repeated, softly
Drums a.beatin'," she answered crisply;
-hey're gettin' ready for Decoration TO-
morrow
As If in emphasis, the wind blew briskly
mn from the quarter indicated by they
md the roll of drums came plainly to the
old mans ear
'Hurrah! hurrah for the old flag. Saree!"
And he began marching up and down the
white path running 10 the wicket.
Lets 20 termorrer; say yes, Sairee
Ne put out his bony hand through the
shadows until it rested on the ample shoul-
ters of his wife.
Josiah" she said warningly. When
We have served the kentry like 81. Paul, in
isstin's, an peris, an marchin's, an fight
in, and then wasted all your livin' on agents
m lawyers to get the pension due ys nigh
onto 20 years, and are no whit better of!
What. Shall we 60 over 10 Mcntone to-
morrow and parade around with them as
don't want us or don't miss u.s. guess
not! We've said we wouldn't mix in az in
ssee that day young drunken Dudley ear
red the flag instead o lettin' you; and
% far we've kept our word" Having thus
delivered herself, Mrs. Parkman looked
over the head OF her husband away into the
infnitesimal and shut her lips tightly.
You said that, Sairee," he protested,
ieebly, "an' we've kept your word; but
somehow l kinder feel as If I'd like to 60
srmorrer I'm a-gettin' older every year,
Sairee, an mebbe, by an by, won't be
hyar to go!"
The lank arm fell from the wife's shoul.
der and Josiah went back into the shad-
oxy cabin from whence her remark had
called him. His blood, usually slow and
sluggish, seemed warmed again BY the fire
Of the sixties, and ran qoickly through his
veins, calling up his latent strength. Whis-
ting the "Star Spangled Banner gayly a.
when boy, he began knocking around and
fmbing about among the primitive fur
niture in the emi-darkness. Sarah heard
him whstling and funblins, and knew be
was bent on going "termorrer.
"If hadn't mentioned them confounded
drums!" she said, half angry with herself,
why, he wouldn't a got the war fever TO-
night"
For a moment she stood irresolutely de-
batting the question. II wouldn't mind if
al through these years of pnchin' and wait.
| in he could have had . bit O that pen.
Eon money. / should think after he's
turned every chip from Maine to Californy
10 get it, such doin's would a took al the
hurrsh out O him; but it hasn't! Well!
III 60 tomorrow, If I die b. it, jest TO please
Josiah"
What ye doin'!" she asked . little later,
ssng inside and directing her question TO
the man whose patriotism vas rising fast
to the stimulation Of Yankee Doodle"
70, nuthin'." The tune dropped long
enough for the answer to his wifes ques-
tion, and then began again on higher
key, gathering momentum 20 il went.
But when she lifted the tallow dip and
looked around, Josiah was deep in the
"c6ist O. drawers as was onct hh mothers"
md she knew what he was doing
Amt them beauties, Sairee" holding
up to view a suit of blue and big hat with
g. A. K. on the front in gilt letters.
I'm a'goin' to air EN- up kinder, to-
night he continued, wistfuly, 'fer We
are a-goin' termorrer, amt We. Sairee?"
she folded her hands in her apron and
'at down before sne answered him; then
she said: 81 reckon so, Josiah, you're such
fool'
The next morning when hor husband was
osy "hitching uR" Mrs. Psrkman stood by,
rsnarking: ~ - had your pension, nov.