Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-05-28
AUNT BETTY.
~~~~~~~~~~~

y spark OF excitement in her faded
blue eyes as she hurriedly limpcd up
khe steps Of the large veranda of the
County roor House.
II wonder why have not thought of
II before she nurmurcd to herself rs
She hobbed Oh through the long CORR.
dor. MIR. Young is always so kind. I'm
sure lie will let me unless he thinks the
walk too much for me. but l know IL
Isn't. Sec how spry I'm getting to- be.
II makes me think of my young days to
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 workmcn about the place. Aunt Bet.
~ 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 ncws:" he asked
"No. but tomorrow IL Decoration
Day" she answered.
"wcll. what Of that. don't we have n
Memorial Day every year? Nothing new
about TINT"
81 thought I'd just ask your permits
eion 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
Sighting for the nag. and so Decoration
Day is the greatest day of nll the year
60 me. haven't been able. you know.
for several years to attend the exercises
a. s,so t,h kA v,rt. all 81 ,,,
white strew flowers on the graves.
should like to see them once more before
j die. l have no flowers to offer. but
can shed n few tears Mt each grave. and
I'm that way I Gun show my love and
gratitude to the noble boys in blue: my
hoy. the noblest, trucst best of them
all"
P Mr.. Young was touched and. taking
the old wthcred hand in his. said rather
huskiiy:
"You shall go. Aunt Betty. even IL
must neglect all my work to take YOU.
Good thing IL there were more such Loyal
hearts cyger to honor the boys who died
lighting for their country. III take you
TO town rs soon rs you want to go,
Aunt Betty"
THANK you ever 80 much. but I would
rather walk See how strong I am and
how we'll | can walk with my cnnc!"
And the lame old soul hobbled up aud
down the hall quite briskly.
"You remember how far the boys had
70 walk. tired and hungry NJ 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.
ell along. Surely I 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 10 door nrousing
the other inmates. and when they We're
all assembled in the sitting room. she
tried to induce them to join her thin.
uuaking voice in singing MY Country.
'Tis of Thee
Soon after breakfast she waved Il fare
well to them all and hurried with the
eager but stiff old limbs down the dusty
road TO the city. II was only two miles,
hut il 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 passcr-by TO help her back to the
moor farm. While thinking thus she hap
pened 10 spy some daisies in n fence cor
ner close by. She crawled To them, and
with a joyous laugh plnckcd them and
nearly crushed them with loving ca.
resses.
Now III have share in decorating
the graves. too" she murmnred. Il be-
Iieye God had these 10 grow just Tor me.
I'll select the most neglected soldiers
grave in the cemetery and place these
on it. Ny boy is in an unknown grave,
but hope some one will think 10 put a
few such sweet blossoms on his grave
to-day"
With tears In her eyes and renewed
strength and determination, she arose
10 continue the tedious journey.
At last she found herself in the old
cemetery; the place seemed so still and
calm. and everything looked SO beautiful
In the fresh morning light that the old
heart swelled with reverence. kneeing
on the hard gravel walk, she offered n
prayer, then with awed feeling and quiet
step she dragged herself from one sol
dier's grave 20 another, stopping AZ each
long enough 20 rest the tired limbs and
10 caress the soil covering the grave.
When she came 10 what seemed 70 her
the most neglected and forgotten grave
she kissed the whitening daisies and plac'
ed them at the head, murmuring, For
the sake Of my boy" and then sat down
on the bench near by 10 eat her lunch.
Early in the afternoon the people be
gan 10 gather, and by aud by came the
procession. First the old soldiers witt
fife and drum, then the speaker, resting
leisurely in a cab, then the cadets, and
last OF all, the little flower girls. How
her heart throbbcd with the pleasure o.
IL all, and how she longed 10 join in thu
patriotic song the little girls were sing
ing as they passed. Never had Aun
Betty enjoyed anything So much 70
many n year.
But her joyous heart, so full Of ten
derness and love for all the braves VIII
had suffered and died, was soon pierce
by the thoughtless hand and tongue o
one OF the fairest little flower girls, wh
was standing by the neglected grave.
.',rhese ugly, withered daisies are no
fit far ANYTHING" she was SAYING. 1T