New-York tribune., 1907-06-02
II SCYTHE HIS MEMORIAL.
Remains IN Tree Where Youth
Hung 1t When He Went to War.

When the territory about Waterloo in this state
was sparsely settled the principal industry the
hewing OF timber from the forests along the Seneca
| Canal A. a point known as Log Landing. midway
between Geneva and Waterloo the woodchoppers
were wont to gather and tell their stories OF early
Indian fights. and here young Hyman Johnson
a farmer boy, first learned OF the impending dis
aser to the Union If the Southern states were al
lowed 10 withdraw from their early afnuatIon Il
seemed war was imminent and speculation was rife
as 10 the time when the actua! hostlties would
begin.
one day In 1861 johnson. who was then twenty
yenrs Old was moving lot the farm. A neigh
Dor drove up bearing the tiding that the call 10
arms had been sounded Without hesitation the
youth walked 10 the house and placed his scythe In
the crotch Of young Balm OF Gfead tree. His
mother asked him what the matter was. and he
said;
Mother Lincoln needs men. am going to
war"
what. Lyman? You. my SON going to euIist2''
Yes, but do not fear any harm win come
The war will be over in n month. The Southern
ers cannot face the troops from the North for
than that time. When l return 1 will NOW the
rest of the lot Leave my scythe in the tree until
return
His regiment marched To the front TO the stirring
martial music and often in the fighting line
The mother. true to the words of her boy left the
scythe as it had been placed. Johnson came home
year later a furoUgh and laughed at the al
most forgotten incident Of the implement and its
position.
lie inspired hope in the hearts of those vino
thought Of nothing else than his safe return BY
saying Il will yet be back to NOW that lot
Soon after returning he captured in a slir-
mish and became a prisoner in a Southern pen,
from which escape impossible Disease laid
hold upon him and he died surrounded BY enemies
He was buried In an unknown grave with huudre Is
of his comrades
Meanwhile theatree grew apace and the blade
became partially imbedded in the trunk of the
tree The handle rOtted away. but the steel re-
maiued fixed in the wood.
\ general proclamation was issued from the
White House declaring day should be set apart
as time for memory OF those who had fallen
while defending their country 1t was the first
Memorial Day Word of the proclamation was car
RED 10 Mrs johnson, but she had grave TO deco
rate She fatn would strew few flowers upon the
spot wherein her boy lay, but its location must ever
remain mystery. kneeling In he garden she
offered a short prayer. Then she pIucked a few
lilies from the plot she tended daily and making a
wreath she bore II 10 the tree which gave suCh A
grim reminder of her sacrifice her country With
Il caress she reached up and hung the wreath upon
the scythe point -
Memorial Day has long become an established an
nlVerSary. Many years have passed since Mrs John
son was laid 10 rest in the village cemetery The
old home. rs II stood In the day of the Civil War
Is exactly as II was then. but is occupied bv an
other family Thomas Buck and those Eatherel
about his fireplace tell of the hanging of the scyh
to scores of eager listeners each year