The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1904-05-27
AUNT BETTY.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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CO HERE was a spot of red on botl
of Aunt Betty's cheeks and /;
x spark of excitement in her fadet
blue eyes as she hurriedly limped NJ
the steps Of the large veranda Of tn,
County Poor House.
Il wonder why l have not thought o.
1t before" she murmured to herself a.
she hobbled OH through the long corri
dor. "Mr. Young is always SO kind, I'm
sure he will let me unless he thinks the
walk too much for me, but I know il
isn't. See how spry I'm getting to be
1t makes me think of my young days tt
get around like this after my long i'll
ness"
She hurried on until she found the
manager of the poor farm, Mr.. Young
who was entering the home through the
back, having issued orders to some OF
the workmen about the place. Aunt Bet
ty approached him rather timidly, and
her courage almost failed when she felt
his keen questioning gaze on her.
Good morning, Aunt Betty, what's
the matter? You don't look like your
self this morning. Why, really, you look
year younger; have you heard any
good news?" he asked.
mo, but tomorrow is Decoration
Day." she answered.
"Well, what Of that; don't we have q
Memorial Day every year? Nothing new
about that"
81 thought I'd just ask your permis
sion to go to the city in the morning and
spend the day in the old graveyard with
the soldier boys. Ny boy isn't there
but he is buried somewhere; he died
fighting for the flag, and so Decoration
Day is the greatest day of all the yeaI
to ME. l haven't been able. you know
for several years to attend the exercises
or watch the little girls all dressed in
white strew flowers on the graves.
should like to see them once more before
l die. 1 have no flowers to offer, but l
can shed few tears at each grave, and
in that way I can show my love and
gratitude to the noble boys in blue; my
boy, the noblest, truest, best of them
ALL"
Mr.. Young was touched and, taking
the old withered hand in his, said rather
huskily:
''You shall go, Aunt Betty, even if l
must neglect all my work to take you.
Good thing If there were more such loyal
hearts eager to honor the boys who died
fighting for their country. I'll take you
to town as soon as you want to go,
Aunt Betty"
THANK you ever so much, but would
rather walk. See how strong am and
how we'll l can walk with my cane.'
And the lame old soul hobbled up and
down the hall quite briskly.
"You remember how far the boys had
to walk, tired and hungry as they were.
Why, my boy wrote home one day that
he was so tired and sleepy some time
he couldn't help sleeping as they march
ed along. Surely l can walk two miles
to help decorate the gravs."
Aunt Btty arose earlier than usual the
next morning, and after putting on the
very cleanest calico dress she possessed,
sat down to wait for breakfast. She
was too nervous anticipating the great
pleasure before her to sit still long. so
she limped from door to door arousing
the other inmates. and when they were
all assembled in the sitting room, she
tried to induce them to join her thin,
auaking voice in singing "My Country,
IT'S of Thee"
Soon after breakfast she waved fare
we'll to them all and hurried with the
eager but stiff old limbs down the dusty
road to the city. 1t was only two miles,
but It seemed ten, and often she-sank
down with WEAKNESS and pain, fearing
that after all she had undertaken too
much and that she would have to ask
some passer-by to help her back to the
Door farm. While thinking thus she hap
pened to spy some daisies in a fence cor
ner close by. She crawled to them, and
with a joyous laugh plucked them and
nearly crushed them with loving ca
resses.
''Now I'll have a share in decorating
the graves, too," she murmured. 81 be-
lieye God had these to grow just for me.
I'll select the most neglected soldiers
grave in the cemetery and place these
on it. My boy is in an unknown grave,
but hope some one will think to put a
few such sweet blossoms on his grave
to-day"
With tears in her eyes and renewed
and determination, she arose
to continue the tedious Journey
At last she found herself in the old
the place seemed so still and
calm, and everything looked so beautiful
in the fresh morning light that the old
heart swelled with reverence. Kneeling
on the hard gravel walk, she offered a
prayer, then with awed feeling and quiet
step she dragged herself from one SOL
dier's grave to another, stopping at each
long enough to rest the tired limbs and
to caress the soil covering the grave.
When she came to what seemed to her
the most neglected and forgotten grave
she kissed the withering daisies and plac-
ed them at the head, murmuring, For
the sake of my boy" and then sat down
On the bench near by to eat her lunch.
Early in the afternoon the people be-
gan to gather. and by and by came the
procession. First the old soldiers with
ife and drum, then the speaker, resting
eisurely in cab, then the cadets. and,
asst Of all, the little flower girls. How
ler heart throbbed with the pleasure of
{ all. and how she longed to join in the
patriotic song the little girls were sing
ng as they passed! Never had Aunt
Betty enjoyed anything so much for
many year.
But her joyous heart, SO full of ten
lerness and love for all the braves who
lad suffered and died, was soon pierced
" the thoughtless hand and tongue OF
me Of the fairest little flower girls. who !
vas standing by the neglected grave.
''These ugly, withered daisies are not
it for anything" she was saying I'm
,oing to throw them away. Here. bring |
ne Of our plain bouquets. We want 10
ave the prettiest for the nice graves"
md selecting bunch of common yellow
oses she threw it carelessly on the
pound.
The tears sprang to Aunt Betty's eyes. !
Not much reverence or love in such an !
fering," she sighed. 'Ah, well, she is |
My child, and does not yet fully COM |
rehend the meaning of it ALL" Yet she |
ould not forget the careless speech. !
nd shadow fell over the day that had I
o far seemed the brightest and happiest .
t her old age.
The speaking having begun, she made ,
er way toward the stand. The orator !
+ the day, although very young man,