The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-29

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faces and broad shoulders and proud
chins. They were muddy to the knees
With marching, they were ragged and
tattered, but they swept by to the
drums and flies, regiment after repI
ment and brigade after brigade: and
ofderlles clattered up and down with
yellow envelopes stuck in their belts.
and the shells were screening from
the rebel heights. He saw the COM
panles wheel and deploy; he saw them
strip down and form In line at Charge
bayonets." The big, black guns were
ieaplng the ruts in the road, with the
gunners cllnging desperately to the
calSSons. Then he saw the long line OF
gray rise up over the hill and pour
itself down the slope. He saw the
ragged, mile-long flash of the carbines
and he would have leaped forward to
the charge If for a single moment he
had heard the bugle's shrilI summons.
Uncle Luther's spectacles were
dimmed. He polished them off with
snaky fingers and looked again. Be-
hind the band there was a stretch OF
white that seemed to nod and twinkle
in the sunshine
They've got the children, too" he
faItered.
Then the old fellows in blue swung
at the corner, they were keeping mill
ftary line and something Of the old
spirit had thrilled their steps into an
unwonted precision. The band. wheel
ing with them. swept into Rally
Round the Flag, Boys" Uncle Luther
leaped forward on his one good leg.
waved his hat around his head, and
shouted "Hurrah, hurrah!" His head
was thrown back. his eyes flashed, his
breach came quick and hot.
Down with the traitor, UP with the
STAR hn nhonfnd In
old voice
Now they had reached the end Of the
lane. and Uncle Luther could make out
the full length of the parade. 1t was
by far the greatest celebration that the
toWA ever had known, and his heart
swelled with pride at the thought. Not
once did he recall his own disappoint-
glory Of the day.
Suddenly, Uncle Luther shrank back.
What were they trying to do? He felt
an impulse to run forward and tell
them that they had missed the way to
the cemetery, and that the lane ran
only as far as Jonathan DowelPs house.
But before he could decide what to do
the ole soldiers stopped, almost in front
OF his n little shop. The band had
swung sit to one side. It was playing
America" and the sweet, shrill voices
OF the children rose and fell with the
music. Uncle Luther sank back on his
box, trembling. Through a mist Of
great happiness he saw Uncle Tommy
and Capt. Enoch advancing toward him
side by side. He couldn't believe IL at
first; he didn't pretend to believe it.
TIN gettin' Old" he muttered, San
I'm not steady in my mind
But he rose to meet them. Uncle
Tommy carried an odd-shaped package
In his arms, and when he was near to
Uncle Luther he stopped and cleared
his throat. Every one was silent, lis
tening.
Il calc'late to make a speech" he
stammered; "but-we thought we'd
decorate the Twin this year. Luther,
here's new leg"
He held out the odd-shaped package
helplessly. Uncle Luther did not seem
to see 1t at all. He reached forward
and put his hands on his brothers
shoulders, and the leg fell down I'M
needed between the two old men.
Uncle Luther strapped on the leg
with trembling, inefficient fingers, and
then Capt. Enoch and Uncle Tommy
marched him out between them. Uncle
Tommy's own horse and buggy, dec
GRATED with ribbons and flowers, stood
In front Of the shop.
you're goin' to be the marshal of
the day." said Capt. Enoch.
"But-TOmrny-'
Get in commanded Uncle Tommy,
in a voice that was not to be disputed.
Uncle Luther, sitting as straight as
a trooper, drove out at the head Of the
procession, while the band,-Mith a rat
tie Of drums, swept into Hail, Co
lumbia, Happy Land"