Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-05-30

A"s oA1S w oAuO bROAA -
low mound in a northern cemetery. One
was q magnolia sent from Carolina and
the other q rose plucked from q hardy
bush growing In an Ohio garden. The
cemetery was fragrant with the odor OF
many flowers, for it was the time set
apart by the nation to strew the graves
OF her heroes with blossoms of remem-
brance.
Inc day was drawing to q close. In
the west a great bank of crimson clouds
marked the spot where the sun, like a
brave soldier, had gone down after bat
tie with the forces OF darkness. Here
n there a lone figure still fingered be-
! the grave of some loved one Ia
whom the unequal struggle Of life was
O completed story. Affair the %retreating
bands sent up faint, broken strains ot
tunes rich with a thousand ~associa-
IONS The cooling dews of evening set
TED upon the broken flowers, cheering
theln TO renewed fragrance. For they,
too, had paid the penalty OF sacrifice
and in the freshness of youth and
beauty had been offered as symbols OF
the glory Of q country grown strong
through passion and pain,
How beautiful you are" whispered
the rose, shyly glancing al the mag
nolia.
Not nearly so beautiful as you are
replied h magnolia, with honest ad
miration. What delicate texture in
your leaves, what dainty coloring, whar
exquisite shape"
But you are SO large and creamy
White said the rose. II never dreamed
q hover could have such magnificent
proportions and yet retain its delicacy.
L am drunk with your rich odor. Surely
you are not of this country?"
Ot thls country, yes" replied the
magnolia, but not Of your state. ]
come from a far-off land of sunshine.
L grew upon q tree near the window
of a rambling old house that must have
peen very imposing in It's day. Thu
mistress Is now an old lady, with snow
white hair n hands that hardly have
the strength to pluck q blossom from
the Dough. She is alone in the world
but l heard her say as she was puttine
me III the box with several Others of my
KIND that she remembered The day
When the old house was alive with
laughter and song. MY father and
three brothers, and Ralph, all, all gone.
she sighed. They were brave and
noble; they fell at the front, and, what
ever the results of the struggle, were
heroes fighting for the land they loved
FOR the home they held sacred, for the
living treasures of their hearts. But
there were others who faced them, thai
went down with them to death, stirred
by the same noble thought, moved by
the same holy emotions. There were
two flags on every field. But the III
pose of those who followed and cheereG
and died for them was in substance
the same: Patriotism, honor, home.'"
why should they have killed each
other IL both were honest, fair anG
brave?" cried the rose.
Il know not, O., sweet, MY sister" an
sWered h magnolia, but thus m,
mistress said: We learn so slowly.
There has been so much Of fighting in
the world and to so little purpose. See
now the country has been enlarged,
but it Is quite large enough for all of us.
The northern women mourning thci.
brave fathers and brothers and lovers
as | MOURN mine will send to the bat
tlefields in the southland their tokens
of remembrance and love; they vii.
think of my sorrow as l think Of theirs
n will mourn as 1 mourn, not alone
for their own, but that any should have
gone down to death by the hand Of q
brother. So 1 send these blossoms rs
messengers OF peace and hope and trust
to those who are sending their bios
SONS as angels OF mercy and trust and
peace to me-"
You have come far" sighed thu
rose. You have brought q sweet ant
gentle message on your perfumed lips
l rejoice that l have heard it, albeit
that hearing has cost me my life. Blu
you, too, must die. And there must be-
many thousands more like you and
that lie whitening tonight upon tho
graves both north and south, hat yes
ter eve were radiant with life ant
dreamed not of decay. 1t seems almos
as If the battles of those other days be.
tween strong men were being repro.
duCed in this all peaceful world Of ours
Why should your life be shortened tina
these powerful les should show for.
giveness to ZACH other? Are not they
great and strong, and have they no.
words, tina you and / and all our help.
less tribe should tell the story with oul
lives?"
II know now how 1t is, sweet rose
but were 1t otherwise we should no.
now be lying side by side, knowins
each others beauty, drinking each 9th.
ers breath. l have found such new 10Y
in your companionship, seen such new
glories in your perfumed leaves, tina
death, however o IT Come, has added
to my life q thousandfold."
Il thrill with ecstacy like unto thin,
oh, queen Of blossoms!" cried the rose
"Andsin these, our confessions, ma,
there not be found the answer to tn,
problem of these wars? 1t may be al
the fighting vas for this, that l Nigh
lie close underneath your creamy wing
and, drinking all the gladness OF you.
beauty, die content"
1T may be So" softly whispered tn,
magnolia. 1T is worth the world I,
find a love so sweet. 1 am content"
Faint and afar off q bugle soundeC
taps" The moon unveiled above tn,
eastern hill and cast a gentle radianc,
on the land. And from the mound abov,
some sacred clay the rose and the mas
nolia sent up to heaven their last sweo
breath. And who shall say tina
throughout all eternity these two shat