Oxford eagle., 1902-04-03

space OF miles-or years-dividing
them. With many the old. sweet say
ing that Absence makes the heart
grow fonder" finds verifcation, and
in distant lands the men and women
whose childhood was spent in slipping
the thousand sweets with which kind
nature has lowered the dear old
State-children whose bright natures
generously shared the warmth Of
sunny skies, the sweetness of singing
birds and the tender grace Of Southern
dowers-turn back in loving memory
to the days Of Auld Lang Syne which
they spent "at home" From one Of
these children We have just had a
letter, between the lines Of which we
read . tender love song for the old
life in Mississippi; nor could We fail
to note the minor chords that would
creep in, despite the bright story Of
her life in the far North and her cor
dial praise of her new home and
friends. The thing most near the heart
of this Holly Springs girl today Is the
hope that her loyal hands may bear
from the Minnesota captors the flags
Of the Thirty-ffth and Thirc-ninth
Mississippi Regiments, and at Dallas
place them in the hands once more of
some of the veterans who fought and
bled and almost died to save them
in the days Of our glorious struggle.
This lady is working hard to have the
Govarror NJ Niuposnfa or,,ar fbasr 10
turn. and If he does we feel assured
that one very happy woman will take
a long journey to meet the regiments
survivors at Dallas. Another thing of
which we have assurance is that there
will then be tears of Joy mingled
with the tears that fall for memory's
sake down the bearded cheeks of the
gallant boys" of the Thirty-ffth and
Of the Thirty-ninth. God bless them.
The Veterans. the Sons Of Veterans
and the Confeieracy's Daughters are
all just as busy as bees ever are. in
their pleasant preparations for the ap-
preaching reunion at Dallas. And
Just here there is little matter of
which feel constrained again to
speak With all my heart wish that
all the old soldiers, their wives and
their children, who love the cause"
AID Its precious memories. might go to
the reunion and enjoy every hour Of
the happy time and all Of Dallas gra-
efous hospitality. But II Is a most
unusual thing for all of these to be
able to attend. Some one must stay
at home, and too often 1t is the vet
ern who learned. forty years ago. all
the bitter lessons Of sacrifice. and
who. with the brave wife has had too
many chances to practice this hard
earned knowledge. This is not right
Nor would II so often occur il our
young people would only give a mo-
ment to thought.
To their hope-lighted eyes life looks
smiling down long. long road. all
covered with laurel and roses, and
their hearts are full of joy to be alive
and young. But the veterans-the
men who earned a deathless fame
have so short road, and its flowers
are hard for their dim eyes to find,
and harder still for the trembling
hands to grasp.
So II behooves us to stand close BE-
side them. Strengthening their arms,
aiding their vision and gathering the
roses for them This we may begin
to do by finding some old man who
Isn't going to Dallas" and help to
send him on rejoicing, He will 20.
They will all go il they possibly can.
and when one is found whose reasons
are purely financial, the Sons and
Daughters who are worthy Of their
proud inheritance should proceed at
once TO overcome these reasons.
There Is nothing sweeter in life
10 these old men than a gathering of
the boys round a CHEEKY camp
hre" and the interchange Of experience
OF incidents and stories such as no
otner men can tell. since in all the his
tory Of the world no other men have
seen or done such glorious deeds. But
II Is a sad truth that each year the
gap in the ranks grows wider, and the
hst OF missing" lengthens all too fast.
AT each reunion now "the boys" seek
IN vain for loved. familiar faces, and
nave learned long since how grievous
thing it is to wait for the touch Of
vanished hand, the sound Of a voice
that is STILL"
Close on the greeting of many an old |
comrade come tears at the thought
tnat taps" has sounded for some Of |
those who stood with them last year.
ana that its mournful notes may ere
another meeting sound for his own
going to sleep"
OUR boys and girls are not selfish. |
Many Of them can easily afford to 60
10 these reunions. and they ought to
20. They should do everything to keep
sweet and strong and true the fame
oi love and reverence for the Confed-
crate veterans. But they should do
more 1t should be their privilege as
wen as the duty Of every maid. spon- |
sor and chaperon (as well as every |
SOM to help some needy veteran to go. |
each Of these lovely girls would |
aeny herself but one dainty toilet, or |
even Its accessories (and she SO easily |
could. for our girls are lovely enough |
.tnout great effort to enhance their |
.nArms); IL the Sons" would give |
.heir friends one supper the less. or
ueny themselves trining extras. and |
.oa'd give this money to some man |
~e poor to go (and too proud to tell |
'n~ world why). or to the camp, for
neHoy ones. it would make the Dallas |
Union the happiest Of them all for |
S'r veterans. Nor would it be less |
.Appy Tor the children" because of |
seii-denial. know most Of these |
s VINO are to represent our State |
~ DALLAS. and I love them-and be-
sse tnat few Of them would refuse