The Tupelo journal., 1905-07-14

tried, first MIN McGaughy, ant
after his death, r. S. Thomas
now of Plantersville, in Lee coun.
ty, a man who has done as much
to keep alive the memory of the
old soldier, of the Lost Cause as
any, and more than most, evel
ready to show the right as we
saw it, and to scatter the flowers
Of remembrance Ger their last
resting places, commend their
virtues and honor their hard ser
vice for their country, attend all
the gatherings in their honor and
interest, and give Of his means
to relieve the destitute among
them. Capt. Thomas was him
self a gallant soldier of the Lost
Cause, and hence knows how to
sympathize with the old soldier.
/ knew well Capt. Thomas IA
ther, having heard him preach,
in my boydood days, at Moores-
vile, Hopewell, Richmond, Full
ton, and other places, and met
him in his home, and enjoyed his
hospitality, and none knew him
but to love and honor him. Capt.
Thomas has made a. competency
by strict attention to business
and economy, and might now re-
tire from business, but the old
soldier, whose active life has led
him not only through the tolls
and hardships of the march and
the battle, but after the war has
been active in all the busy marts
of life, feels that action is the
strength and hope of life, and
what would become of such a
man at Capt. Thomas age to
quit work? No, | am sure he
feels as | do, that we should la
Dor on and wait-wait for the
discharge at the end of the war.
One beautiful custom. which he
inaugurated and keeps up all
through the years at the ceme-
terry of old Union, fills my heart
with delight. In the old grave
yard there, there are several sol
dies buried, some, if not all of
them, being a long way from
their old homes, and every year,
in the month of July or August,
the flowers are scattered Ger their
graves as if they were our kith
and kin, and regular memorial
services are held, and due hon
ors paid to the dead. | can but
feel that could their loved ones
in the old home country know
how gently and kindly the deft
hands and loving hearts of old
Lees fair and brave, treated the
last resting place Of their loved
and lost, they would themselves
rest more contentedly over the
thought of their soldier kin being
covered by Mississippi soil. And
comrades of the Lost Cause,
if / could know that this custom
prevails on the sandy beach of
Fernandina, Fla, if | conld be
assured that the old soldiers and
their sons and daughters meet
there around the old soldiers
graves as the grass springs. the
leaves bud and the flowers bloom,
and entwine chaplets for those
graves, it would gladden. the
heart of an old soldier; for my
brother lies buried there beneath
the ever-moaning pines. But
some will say, the dead will rest
as sweetly and their dust be as
carefully watched over by the
dear Father above as if strewn
with flowers every day. Be it so,
and yet the hand of the Divine
Painter fashioned the Rose of
Sharon and the Lilly of the Val
ley so that Solomon in all his glo-
ry was not arrayed as even one
of them for a purpose, and to
what more noble purpase can we
use them than in remembrance
of the lover of his country, and
how more sweetly and lovingly
apply them than by scattering
them on the bier Of those we love
or respect? So, let the grass that
springs, and the leaf that falls,
and the flower that blooms be
wreathed by ready hands and
loving hearts into beautiful gar
lands and spread upon the graves
of the sleeping soldiers Of the
Southland, even if this cause did
go down in ruin and defeat, and
the survivors are we'll satisfied
with reunited country. All yes,
Capt. Thomas, you are right.
Keep the memory of their noble
deeds, glorious achievements and
wonderful self denials fresh in
the minds of the people, and
some day, some good day, some
golden day, the people will rise
up en- masse and cover your cas-.
ket with flowers, loving flowers,
Of sweetest fragrance and most
beautiful petals; for we are in.
formed in the Book that even 3
cup Of cold water given in His
name shall pot lose its reward.
II C-LL1~->- n-L--