The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-05-23

1V1 Boomer. Okla. among the
first corners, and the first
fhing he missed was the G. A. r. post
There we're many other things that
Boomer lacked, but the cheerful one
armed veteran did not mind these.
They were merely bodily comforts and
c~onveniences OF the improvements Of
civilization. but the absence OF a G.. A.
r. post struck him in his most salient
SPOT Il hurt his n romantic vanity
and injured him In his one cherished
pride. lie loved the G. A. r., and he
loved the old Tag, and his honest.
cheerful, hard working soul lived from
year 10 year In good natured unim-
poriancc. TO bask for n day in the
deserved honor that was his on Deco
ration day. On that one day he had
AWAY been. at Water Glen, the
rrSades; % the proud. as he marched
al the head OF the little procession TO
the resting place OF the veterans Of
Kiowa county. His armlcss sleeve
was none the less empty because he
lost hts arm IN the Water Glen saw
MIL and not in battle. The arm, how
ever lost. was a veteran arm. and had
bullet In IT,
Not that he cared about the arm
itself. 1t was a left one. and he had
Bis pension, and his tastes we're sim
pc. He could have lived well enough
Ia his shauty at Water Glen, but his
friend Foley got the Oklahoma fever.
and Sullivan went with him. taking a
tewn-site claim in Boomer.
The first Decoration day az Boomer
passed tamely for Timothy Sullivan.
There vas no band. no nag. no flow
ers. nc minister TO open the exercise.
no exercises 20 be opened, not even a
holiday. There were no schools to
close, There was no town 10 speak
OF There was not much OF anything
but stakes TO mark the claims. tents,
and a pump. but when the second
Decoration day drew near Timothy
Sullivan grumbled audibly.
i've a mind 10 send home 20 Water
Glen for my arm. said Sullivan.
1T could come in a box by the ex-
press company. and no harm done.
Twouid be a lne object lesson TO the
town OF Boomer 20 have the arm OF q
soldier with a bullet OF a rebel in Il
buried near by"
" Tvould So Foley agreed. with
as much enthusiasm as he could show
while lighting his pipe. 'Twould 90.
'Twould be the next best thing 70 hay-
ing yourself buried here. Tim"
Get me a pen ink and paper" said
Sullivan, "tu / write for A."
lie wrote the letter 90 his friend.
Larry Casey. az Water Glen.
dig up and send me the left arm
Of me" he wrote. by express. TO be
paid for al this end. "TiB buried In
abe back yard Of my old shanty. under
the horseradish bed. in the big tia
box. And hope you are the same.
Timothy sullivan"
Larry Casey did the work we'll. and
IN due time a box arrived AZ Boomer.
Sullivan did not open q. and he and
Mike Foley buried IL privately az the
rear southwest corner OF SuIiiyan's
claim They did not attempt nor even
dream 81 anything ceremonial 70 the
act. II was merely hat Sullivan. as
B might say, wan getting himself
foEethor. No one likes 10 be scattered
about the United States. They sim.
ply buried the box in the most con
vontinnal place and went about their
Business, which was principally doing
nothing and waiting for Boomer town
lots 90 rise In value.
hut as Decoration day drew nearer
Sullivan dwclt more r%egreth1lly upon
the absence df memorial exercise He
fclt q little delicate about himself pro
posing exercises 20 mcmorallEc his
own arm IL seemed a little like seek.
INK 90 sing his own praises. and he felt
a natural rcuceuce about proposing a
procession. he was glad. therefore.
when Foley spoke OF the ldoE as OF
one that had been fully decided p
Foley opened the subject by saying.
Twill DO hard 10 find flowers TO
decorate the arm on Decoration day.
Tim. Missus Schwartz will lend the
loan OF her geranium plant but there
be no others, except We pick the Wild
ones on the prairie"
"lIayo yo spoke 90 any one else.
Mike. of the procession. and all?r ask
ed Sullivan. brlghtcning 40.
"schwartz viii be proud 10 belong
20 h.. said Foley. with his accordion.
And the Chaykas will BE- IN Il, though
Tor why they don't know, except lis q
custom OF their country, and them hav-
ing took out their FIRST papers And
the Rooshun Schmernons will contrib.
ute themselves and N of their kids,
two being sick with the measles. or
there would be rs. And ole Olson Is
ono OF them that Will do honor 20 the
left arm OF 80 Not n did / ind 20
back out. Tim"
Foley. surprised ~ his " loqua
CITY. puaei vigorously at his pipe aud
frOwEed
.AnL I'M m iham.n be added. whom