The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-02-14

Mast. So
copyright, 1899. by the Author.l
"April Is. 1865, said a middle aged
man to a group of friends the other
day, twas one of tie most exciting Of
all my boyhood days.
"My father was a volunteer officer in
the northern army, ard during his ab-
sence south I had been living with my
mother on my grandfather's hillside
farm in one Of the middle states. The
farm was about two miles from the
nearest postottice, aud, as we were al
ways anxious for news, some one of the
family made a trip to the postoaice
daily for letters. On that particular day
it was I who went. l was accompanied
by my favorite playfcllow, a boy who
lived in the adjoining farm.
1--WE two had made many such trips
together and some Of them had been
rather anxious ones, particularly just
after important battles had been fought.
for on such occasions we were afraid of
getting bad news. This time, though,
we had no misgivings. We had heard
of Lees surrender to Grant at Apo
mattox only a week earlier; we knew
the war was nearly over and, stilnu-
lated by the bright spring sunshine, we
started out Us cheerfully as you please.
"But after we had gone about q milo
we began to be a little worried. From
a big bowlder alongside the road which
we called the 'half way stone we could
see the little village far below us in the
valley where the postottice was located.
In front of the postoffice stood a tall
pole which had held the starsand stripes
aloft in all weathers and every day for
four long years. That morning the air
was SO clear that we could see the flag
pole perfectly. and as we Gazed down
into the valley we noticed that the pole
bore no flag. Even as we Looked, how
ever, some ran up the bunting, but
not to the top, and when its red, white
and blue folds were Strengthened OFT By
the breeze it was only at half mast.
Whatever could be the m::tel we
couldn't imagine, but we lost oaG light
heartedness Immediately in our anxiety
to learn. Naturally our first thought
was that there had been a big battle, re-
su]ting in defeat for the north. That
Lincoln might be killed. never entered
our heads. 3
eve ran all the rest of the way down
Che steep hill roads to tho village. Just
before we reached tie p~ostoflice we cana
to the tavern. AS we were passing it
the form Of q man came flying out Of
tho front door as if unwillingiy and i'm
PEELED by some unseen force. Close be-
hind CAME the form of another man clad
in army blue, and it was apparent that
the first of the two had made some re-
mark exceedingly distasteful to the 9th
err.
"tIf I ever hear youspeak disrespect-
fully Of Abe Lincoln again. we heard
the soldier say as the other picked him
self up out Of the mud, Z shall hit you
in earnest.
".We'd have been glad to remain and
learn all about the trouble, but we
thought we'd best hurry along and see
why the flag had been put at half mast.
Il faIIlSSu dU tIS GCSlO1I1ICsG We lOuIlk rI
stoop and building crowded with villa.
gers and farmers. They all seemed very
solemn. Behind the counter the post.
masters daughter, who generally gave
out the letters, was crying. Squire
Emerson was standing on u box reading
something from o New York newspaper
that had a deep black border.
"s1They'v We killed Abe Lincoln, buh,
the postmaster explained in a whisper
Listen, and you'll hear the squire rea,
all about it.
Before the reading had progressed
very far, the soldier we had seen at the
tavern presented himself to Squire EN-
erson.
- Bill SWEET said he was glad thu
old scoundrel was dead, meaning Lin
coin, squire, the soldier explained, sanf
I pasted SWEET one between the eyes
Now I want to plead guilty to assault
and pay my fine, but if SWEET says j
again I shall hit him again.
HBut the squire wouldn't listen Il
the soldier. II he had fined him, ! thinl
the crowd would have mobbed tn
squire. 53t
"On our return we two boys toll
every one we met Of the fact Of Lin
coln's death. II was hard for any on
to believe us, but we had a newspape
with us that confirmed the sad news
Everywhere the greatest grief began a
once to show itself, and almost ever
farmhouse was speedily decoratedwit
come somber badge Of mourning. A
our own homes we had not only put u
flags at half mast, but we had Their
edged with black before hoiating them
Next day and for weeks afterward Their
was hardly d dwelling to be seen, eithe