Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-08-22
AN OLD HoMe.weEk MEETING.
From the PHILADELPHIA Item

Jim. Let's see the document" and |
as Jim" handed him the official en-
velope Abram Clark's eyes sparkled, |
for sure enough there was the famil- |
lar coat-of-arms, the picture of a |
Green mountain stock farm, surmount- |
ed by a stays head, with beneath all |
the soul-stirring motto, Freedom and |
unity"
A food of memories swept over him, |
and it was some time before he |
vouchsafed a response to the inquir- |
ing look of his neighbor.
ITS an invitation, Jim. The gov
ernor has set apart the week of Aug |
II to IS, for the purpose of bringing
home former residents. He calls
it old-home week.
"Old-home week, Ell? Those words
thrill me with a chain of memories.
Jim, that dates back to September,
81, when |, lad of 90 first realized
what the word home meant. Faith
er and | enlisted in Co. B, LIST cavalry,
and the realization came with the
order to mount.
Il had to say good-by to mother;
that was hard enough; but there was
lass in a pink gown to whom |
couldn't say even those words, so l
just caught her hands, pressed them to
my lips and rode away with hot tears
streaming down my cheeks.
I'VE camped at Brattleboro for two
months, then went to Annapolis for
three months, then came the scrim-
mage near Woodstock, when we
chased the reds from Mount Jackson
into Winchester. Father was one of
| the few who fell, and although she
hod loft N
stand the shock.
| well, | had some hard knocks, but
when my three years were up, l re-
| enlisted and was in it to the end. for
| the very night before Lee surrendered
to Grant at Appomattox, April 9, '65,
Col. Hall ordered Sergeant Rogers to
| seize two pieces of artillery that were
! annoying our troops.
| HE made the charge with only sc
men; he got the guns. but l got laid
| out and during my three months in
| the hospital news came from home
that the girl in the pink gown had
married Nat Chase, who had gone
back a captain.
"He and / always were rivals in
everything, and at last he got ahead
and | was so broken up over my loss
| | could not go back, so drifted West
and started this ranch; but. Jim,
4 there's going to be a break, for |
shall take this 'old-home' week chance
to revisit the scenes of my youth.
The gala week had opened, and as
starter Burlington had given the
home-comers a reception that would
long be a fragrant memory.
On the morning of the 18th, a COM
mittee-man esped a stranger as he
stepped from the Boston express, and
with that kindly feeling born of en-
thusiasm, accorded him hearty well
come.
The stranger desired to reach his
native town.
This way, SIR" said the enthusiast
heartily. Here's carriage that will
take you out, and | wager that driver
!, will post you on current events. He's
native, all right
Abram Clark seated himself beside
strapping youth, and as they speed
ed along the familiar roads the boy
J asked, What is your manner"
Ever hear of Hank Miller?'
l queried Abram, as a smile fitted
across his stern features.
mo. You were here before my
time, guess"
| L
, where bound? Got folks here, o.
= did you hire out?"
81 guess you'd call it hiring out, TO
in my day got Is cents an hour work
= ing for Frank Kent. Ever hear o
}, him."
t well, | guess. He died, you know
and Charlie got the place, and whel
e he died young Frank got it. See?
= Abram nodded. "Do you know tn
e Clark place." he asked.
" 81 should smile" was the reply
TITS all ruins now. Old Clark go
killed in the war; that killed hi
u wife. and the double loss so brok
up their boy he never came bac
u here"
L where is he?" inquired Abram.
5 "Out West somewhere. He keep
a the taxes paid and he paid for a bi
monument in the graveyard, but h
y never showed up himself"
d What is your name?"
a NAT Chase. Heard the name b.
1t fore. amt you?" he asked as his con
n. panion started.
IN Certain. sure, There was Ion
IS line of Nat Chases. Who was you
re mother?"
n sally Morgan. Know her, too?"
r mo. Who was your grandmother
Maybe there's two generations, sine
10 l worked here in go"
q. "Whew! Right for you. Mr.. Mile
~ Did you know my grandfather, Cap
40 Nat Chase? He was married
nj June, '65, to Ellen Dearborn"
IN What" exclaimed the startled pa
10. senger, didn't he marry Fanny Tur
10 err?
h. oh no. Fannie Turner new,
Nv married. Folks say Abe Clal
- went back on her, but we a.
glad he did, for she's an angel. YC
know the brick school-house down {
a the turnpike? Well, she's taug
L there nearly 40 years. She's qui
\ little body, self-reliant, always ear
est, always pleasant, always yo
4 friend We stop at her home, for
bought some pink ribbon she ordere
Halo! she's coming now. Going O
er to Joe Gains l guess, to nurse b
wife. She's always doing SUI
N things"
Al Nat drew rein, and with spright
~ step the woman approached. Abra
- watched her with bated breath, o.
~ thought alone in his mind. Phi
" ribbons"-pink, the color he had to
YE her was his favorite for her!
Their eyes met.
She turned deathly pale, and, re
iD0 would have fallen but that