The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1902-07-04
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| IuS uduu anu cldSpeu II Warmly.
Grand Army. In one of the buggies, a
very shabby one, sat Rachel, driving
a colt whose fiery spirit chafed against
the foot pace to which her firm, strong
hands on the reins compelled him, and
by her side, holding the furled post
| flag, was her father, bent and with
| cred little man.
81 see that copperhead Pendleton
and his boy were at the exercises" he
observed to his daughter suddenly. 81
think 1t would look better if they
stayed away, but l guess the young
fellow wants to make himself solid
with the boys until after election.
What's the matter with you, Rachel?"
Nothing at all, father, DEAR, she
said family, unless got up too early
this morning."
From the cold ashes of fratricidal
strife, of hatred, anger and all I'M
charitableness to a glorious new birth
OF love divine. a new country, united
and undivided forever more,'" ne
quoted from Barker. 81 don't feel any
call for glorious love for the men who
tried to kill their country. l say that
if they let us alone we are doing well
to let them alone, without loving them
Yes, they're united and they had bet
ter stay united, too. I'd have been
man to-day and not wreck if it
hadn't been for them
DO you take their part?" he asked
in sudden gust of passion.
mo, no." she cried. III hate them,
too, for your sake and the sake of your
wrongs"
mot hate them, Rachel" said the
old man, more gently, "but-'
The fence of whitewashed pickets
that surrounded the little cemetery
was reached and people were already
tying their horses to it and unlocking
towards the gates, bearing their bask-
cts and armfuls of flowers with them.
AS Rachel got out young Pendleton
approached her, but her look was so
cold and repelling that he drew back
with sinking heart. The veterans of
the Grand Army, pathetically infirm
and crippled, many of them, were |
forming into line and Rachel turned to |
her father and was surprised to see
that he seemed oblivious of his sur
round1ngs. His gaze was bent thought
fully afar and his lips were moving.
Rachel drew closer to him and caught
the words hatred, anger and all I'M
CnallISplenesS, ana again, oil love
divine" Then one of his comrades
called to him and he limped painfully
to his place and unfurled the flag.
The address at the Soldiers Monu-
nent concluded, the people dispersed
% lay their flowers on the graves. 1t
had been another of those addresses
hat Rachels father had always styled
'mushy"-full of the forgiveness
one country and one flag"
ak, but somehow the veteran, lean
ng on his daughters arm and NOV
ng from one grassy mound to another
With the flowers that she carried, Cid
lot feel so genuinely indignant as
Usual because of this, and, presently
urning aside, he took from the basket
wreath of white field lilies and. leav-
ng Rachel, walked over to a grave be-
ide which an old man was kneelins
With bent head. and laid it beside an
ther wreath that lay there below the
eadstone that bore the name of Jared
toberts, til Virginia cavalry, C. S.
l. The man looked up. 1t was the |
Pendleton." |
Thanks. comrade," said the ex-Con- {
ederate, simply. holding out his hand. /
nd the irreconcilable Union veteran 2
ook the hand and clasped it warmly. q
t the same moment Rachel felt a
ouch on her shoulder and, turning. .
let Dicks triumphant smile. :.
1t was long time before the two \
ID men finished their talk; in fact, "
ley were still talking when Rachel
me and silently stood beside them.
ick stood little aloof.
Father said Rachel. -
He smiled at her little shamefaced- =,