Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-06-16
THE STAR sPANoLEo BANNER.

rose over the eastern hills In n sky OF
violet and pink. chasing away the
dcwdrops that biusbed In sweet confu-
elon on the grass and flowers before
hls coming Soon sound OF merry
voices was heard buglc blast the
rata.ta,.iat of drum. and a process
sion Of children emerged from Tim
Rrighams big yard into the stIll
nuict street and marched over the
bridge TO the little brown school house
ON the island.
In rough frame cottage nestlIng
among tho rocks which the sea tapped
nj high tide old John Carey lav dying
For twenty.four hours he had not
stlrred or spoken. Occasiopailv the
watchers forced spoonful of milk be
tween his rough bearded lips and
during the last hour. Mile Kerr
widow Of Johns old comrade. Jim
Korr who was lost on Georges banks
IN the big gale Of 'o3. had twice held a
looking glass close to the dying mans
lips 10 catch the faint breath that eye
could not see
The road wound around the Hill
above the cottage The drum beat
louder the bugle blown by childish
TIPS sent It's blast more freely out on
The morning air M the procession
ncared the school house, They were
going to raise the flag that day--the
dear old flag with It's stars and stripes
which their own little fingers had
'olled all winter to buy. Miss Forbes.
the teacher. though born long after
the war had closed. had listened dur.
irg the wonder period of her child
hood to the grand old army tales
which her veteran father repeated
over and over again. and had become
so llled with devotion and.lov for the
flag that she felt II the gravest duty
NJ her llfe to impart the same en-
thuslasm to her Young charges And
so that year the pennies and nickels
md dimes had been eagerly dropped.
one hy one into the flag box. by the
little ones who had already learned
the meaning OF voluntary sacrifice for
the love of country. and had given up
their playtime and their sweets that
the stars and stripes might wave sloft
io It's honor and glory. above their
school
The school house was but stones
throw from Johns cottage From the
windows Of his bedroom there was a
Tood view OF tn. little one roomcd
building Miss Forbes was at the
door this morning awaiting the chill
dren and as they approached. she
raised her clear. strong voice. in
,.tr t, IL, ha 70 la
words
"oh say can YOU see by the dawn's
early light
What so proudly We hailed at the twi.
lights last cleaning"
The children took up the song. and
u he strains were waited on the soft
morning breeze through the open win.
low Of Johns cottage The dying
man, whose oars were already deaf to
the whispers of loving friends the
knotthd tollworn hands that for years
had hauled mp the line. weighted with
rs scav prize through the hitter cold
Of winter on Georges banks. now
recbly clutches the bedclothes. The
faded old eyes. to which no comrades
tone could bring a last faint glimmer.
now opened, lighting with the keen
fash ot days gone by with n last SUI
prcmc effort John sat up In bed. The
past. the notified past OF his long life
rose In one scene before him
-Hark'" he cried fecbly. they are
singing Nes-the nas-waves over
Charleston. Victory Victory Its
hcr yolcc-Listen Nellie--my wife.
His feltering accents Joined the
| children in the last chorus
The star spangled banner. oh. long
may II wave.
Ger the land OF the free. and the
home Of the brave"
As the notes died away he pointed
10 a small 'ln trunk that stood on his
bureau
The chist- bring-the chistl" he
gnsped Old Millie hnstened to place
q in his trembling hands. Unlocking
II with the key that hung by cord
atoInd his neck, he drew from within
the ragged end OF an old flag. dis.
| tnlorod by rain and sun. torn by bul-
lets. and stained with blood Within
l's folds lay faded miniature-the
pl, 'ure OF young man with strong,
gentle face and rich brown locks
This, too, had been notched by a hul-
let and dishgured with blood At the
taking OF Charleston. after four years
Of service to his country, John Carey
had fallen, seriously but not fatally
wounded, the metal frame OF his wifes
picture. whom he had loved ~ few
men know Row to love. and had lost In
one short year. turning aside the bull
let that would have entered his heart.
He was at the front and he fell.
clutching piece OF the nag which
the shot OF the enemy had torn away.
Why had he not died then gloriously.