Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-05-25


Combining business with pleasure, l
see,' said Addie Forbes, coming into her
grandmother's parlor, where her cousin
Fred sat scribbling away for dear life
with lot of old china before him.
Certainly, Addie. Make hay while
the sun Shines you know. This is the
first vacation l have had for three years.
| always meant to write a description of
Grandmas china for our paper, so why
not do it now? 1t will take me only an
hour or two, and l can get a neat little
price for it, Reporters are always on
the lookout for material, and this will
work up nicely Let me see, Grandma,
is this the pitcher the Revolutionary
soldiers used, or the hlue oneY
Neither one. child" said the old lady,
adjusting her glasses 1T was this big
brown one. My mother brought it with
her when they moved Il the Western
Reserve in Ohio"
The pencil flew along til Addie grew
impatient. well, good-by, Fred" she
said, leaving the room, Il came to take
you for drive, but it seems you are too
busy"
Hold on a minute. Addie. l want the
drive and viii be through in FIVE min
utes."
As the drove along the smooth road,
enjoying the first breath of spring, Adj
di said. IF you are always on the look
out for stories for ysur paper, there is
one that might interest you" pointing
with her whip to a huge granite block
tn the cemetery.
Tell me all about it," said the young
man. eagerly.
"I'll give you the skeleton of the story.
and you can clothe it with whatever gar
ments Of flesh you see fit. To beg.1
at the beginning do you remember old
Mr.. Richards?"
THE cid man who was always mourn
ing for his son who was killed in the
war? OF course l remember him. Is
ne still aliveY'
Eyes, he is alive. and quite active. but
Ais son was not killed ilithew That
Is what my story is a" )ut Ten or twelve
years ago the old mai went away for a
few weeks, and when he came back he
brought his sons body with him. Short
Iy after the private funeral at the old
home Mr.. Richards put up that elegant
monument. 1t gives the day and year
of Joe's death. corresponding to the time
his father went away, but does not give
the place"
Didn't the old gentleman ever say
where he found his SOM"
$40; that is the odd part about it
He never mentions him to any one. In
fact, he always avoids the subject of
war, and you know how he used to spend
all his time talking about it. People say
his son was deserter. and was ashamed
to face his father. Mr.. Richards was
always DO ,Sting how brave his Joe was
till after he was buried here. Every
Decoration Day the grave is literally COW
cred with flowers, but the old soldiers
never go near it."
'Who decorates it if nc. the old sol
diers?''
"Why, his father You have no idea.
Fred. how that feeble old man looks af-
ter that little plot of ground. | suppose
he is afraid folks will suspect the truth
il he neglects it. Rain or shine, he
faithfully carries flowers to the cemetery
as long rs he can find n blossom. I'll
venture TO say no other deserter was
ever so honored. If you want story
ef real devotion. you certainly can find it
III John Richards"
"Why don't the soldiers decorate it
just to please him?' asked Fred, bent on
obtaining aoll the facts.
"Why, they say they will not honor
any man who deserted when his country
was in peril. You ought to hear some of
the veterans. They say it is a disgrace
to have the flag floating over his grave,
and a lot of other things that / can't re-
member"
How do they know he was a desert
err" went on Fred. relentlessy.
MY goodness, Fred, | can't give you
IL %
Everybody says so, and it looks very
queer the way he was buried, and ALL"
where did you first hear this story,
Addie? l. will make a very interesting
one for the paper"
"Old Mrs. Green told it to me when
I was a little girl. She said she could
hardly sleep nights thinking of that trail
tor living in the same cemetery with her
three boys who had given their lives for
their country" explained Addie, who had
reached the advanced age of seventeen.
Isn't this Mrs. Green's house we are
coming to? Let's stop a few minutes
and can ask her ell the particulars.
Mrs. Green proved TO be the W. per-
son to supply all the details. She talked
rapidly till she found that her visitor
was writing down all she sud. What
are you putting in that book!" she in
guired. pausi-tg in the midst of graphic
acrOunt OF what she would do il ever the
deserter's grave was decorated en- Memo
rial Day by any one save his father.
''Oh. simply want to report the facts
In the case to the War Department ct
Washington said Fred, carelessly. 1t
viii be very interesting to them to find
out what became OF deserter from the
army"
For the lands sake" screamed the
old lady. Don't say that I said this TO
you / hain't never really heard that
Joe Richards deserted, but folks said IL
looked mighty queer. Are they Likely to