Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-05-24
For Those
Who. Died
By JENNIE E. T. DOWIE

"What' Memorial day for, anyway"
Sam Silsbee stood in his corn field
leaning upon his hoe, the morning sun
shining upon his shriveled face and
lighting up the red bandana which he
wore loosely knotted about his throat
He spit out a spear of grass from his
mouth and went on talking to Jason
Ellzins, who, also hoe in hand, was plant
Ing corn in an adjoining field.
''You know. Jason, just as well as
do, t is all foledrol about soldiers a-dy-
ing for their country! They just hap
pened to die. They was just after chas-
ing the almighty dollar, and as Sim Skies
said when he enlisted, twas a good
chance to go south and see the country
and get paid for it into the bargain"
WELL" replied Jason, poking round
with his hoe in the black earth, mo
doubt there was some scallawags in
the army, just as there is everywhere
but there was lots of brave fellows. l
wish could have gone; have always
felt streakled to think didn't, though
how to get away at the time, I couldn't
see."
"And suppose they did die for their
country said Sam, though don't be-
lieve hide nor hair of it, but SUP
pose they did, is that any reason why
folks that are alive to-day should make
fools of themselves Arranging and toot-
ing with drum and fife and a-scatterins
flowers on graves? IT'S enough to make
q horse laugh to see the men a-starting
out a-marching and carrying all sorts of
green's! And then the time that is lost :?
Did you ever try to figure it out? Well,
I've kinder sorter kept run of it in my
head, and If folks would work the time
they spend a-fooling round on Memorial
day, even at small wages, / believe
'twould clear wipe out the national
debit"
"Yes-yes!" answered Jason, shaking
his gray head, mo doubt all you say may
be true. But, after all, there is some
thing beside money to be thought OF.
Anyway, you can't complain that this
town has spent much a-celebrating. We
haven't never had a sign of a celebra-
toni"
Gracious goodness, SHOULD hope mott"
said Sam. II have tried to scrape too
close to get forehanded to have my
money thrown away for nothing. My
wife was bound to go up to my brother
in-law's last year on Memorial day, you
know it is quite place where they live,
and SO to pacify her went. You never
see such foolnonsense! Istayed around
till about ten O'Clock in the forenoon and
then I harnessed up and came home. for
couldn' stand it any longer! Thought
I'd seen fools before, but hadn't. What
do you suppose-why they had wreaths
made O. laurel, such as will p'sen sheep,
and any old sort of trash like apple bios
SONS and such! And they put them on
Rob Kendall's grave and sung some sort
of hymn over him. I guess he had
never heard a hymn before"
"True, true" said Jason, there was
some poor trash among the soldiers, but
even Rob is remembered for his one
brave act, and don't see what hurt that
can do! Nobody had set him up for
wrong, but because he did worthy &C.
toni"
I'm thankful said Sam, that we
haven't any soldiers graves in our
town. suppose If we had, somebody
would try to make splurge!"
"They want to celebrate this year."
replied Jason. "The young folks think
we ought to do something, and then
there is Jerry Long; know he feels the
way we do. He lost his arm as soldier,
and the town don't care enough about
him to even have the church bell rung
on Decoration day."
Jerry Long," answered Sam, strik-
ing out viciously with his hoe. Jerry
Long was another fool. He went and en-
listed. I remember all about 1t, and
he's been a cripple to pay for 1t, and
had to sneak out q living as he could,
selling things In his little store. Sup
pose I had enlisted and come back
with one arm; why I should have hati
TO shuSk along just as he has. Though
suppose his pension comes in handy,
though L don't believe in pensions. t
is a waste OF good money. How much
Willie give for celebrating? Not nuch,
Ireckon!'' Z a..
IT think he would do more than his
share" replied Jason. "A man that
would 60 for soldier would not shirk
much in anything" H.. {.
WELL" answered Sam, III Jerry Is
so mortal anxious TO have a celebra-
ton, let him 60 ahead. I'll give as
much as he will give-say. I'll give
twice as much!" s:$.e ~ - ~. =
DO you mean that, SAM" asked
Jason. s*.%. ::ss .@.. . + :,
Sam g i. hesitated. not expecting bis
I III | sstS >$s:*