The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-05-31
ToUn's First Great
Day of Decoration


/ and Tim Sullivan was early In the
public square making his few arrange
ments for the day. The shanty ana
tent town known as Boomer was siz-
zle OF excitement. Schwartz was sit
ting in his doorway practicing on his
accordion. The IL Chayka children
were having their faces washed. Ole
\ Oleson was polishing the toes OF his
shoes. for there was not enough black
ing in Boomer 70 so all the way round
his large feet. At ten precisely the
PROCESSION formed. with Schwartz at
the head. and 10 the strains OF the
Watch on the Rhine" marched once
around the square. In front OF Sui
/ livans they came 10 a halt. and the
| grand marshal OF the day mounted his
doorstep and faced them. At a signal
from the grand marshal the band rem
d-red the patriotic air The shoe
maker Has Ny slipper Lost on the
accordion. ana then sullivan took on
his hat and made the address.
Gentlemen and Mrs Chayka and
kids he said. It's Decoration day,
but am no fancy speaker l have 10
make the sneech because | am the
only veteran here but Schwartz. and
he is foreigner and don't count We
are going TO decorate with these beau
tiful flowers" He pointed 10 the gera-
MUM that Mary Chayka wa0folding
with these beautiful flowers" he
continued. the resting place OF part
Of one that fought TO save the Union.
! Tis the left arm OF him. And twas as
brave a left as ever lived. | speak
with knowledge. for ] accompanied
that same wherever il went in the
war. Let us. he said. give three
cheers for IL"
They gave three hearty cheers.
In conclusion" said sullivan. be
fore I 20 on with my speech | will say
this much for it-it never took 10 it,
legs and run away no matter how bad
the fight was. and when twas shot
with a rebel bullet II had TO be car
ried of the field Manys the time
when its poor comrade was tired out
II took the musket in its own hand
Twas a good arm. and no one knows
II better than Timothy Sullivan. for
twas my own. and the muscle on il
was like a chunk Of iron. ] honor that
arm" he declared earnestly. and /
honor the other one that still fills its
sleeve. and I nOnor the two legs OF
me that tramped the many weary mile
for the ine old fag. and I'm not
, ashamed OF IL"
Foley led the cheer that followed.
Arms and legs" said Sullivan,
and does any one say we should not
decorate where they lie. In the war
! there was armies. and regiments. and
, companies. and squads. and a general
: over all An in the soldier there do Be
, the head for the general, aud tn parts
OF him be the regiments and com
panies and squads. every part doing
4 its duty for the flag the best il can
: and one-tenth OF man that sticks W
\ for the flag Is more Of man any day
! than a dozen whole men that do not
] Ye may be asking why do l come dec
4, Grating me own arm. and am ! full Of
= vanity. like Think shame, then, e
Z think Il, 'Tis but an arm. but It's ths
Il arm Of an old soldier. and was IT ID
the same Tis the honor and memoir
. OF the grand old army am thinkinl
i Of. It's but the part Of a soldier "
= come decorating to-day. but Tim Sulli
= van is getting old. and one OF thes'
days yen have the whole OF him q
- decorate. Do so. Not for old Tim
y but for the memory OF all the boy
IL that went 10 the front. It's a gran
Y country and free. and united. and W
is will now go TO my backyard and deco
:. rate the place where rests the par
II OF one that fought 10 keep IL So"
He stepped to the ground. but n
- enthusiasm that had glowed on hi
~ face had departed Here were no oil
/, comrades. the last three or four hard
f. survivors. TO grasp his hand. but onl
N alien faces. faces full OF good will an
- faces that would be prompt 70 glo'
- with patriotism should a new DANCE
re menace the republic. but still the
IA we're alien faces. but family graspin
the grand meaning Of this one day {
20 the year Sullivan steadied himse
X. against the house.
Go on home" he said. 20 on home
np It's kind Of We 10 be comm out I
~ humor an old man. but It's but a
on arm. anyhos Tis but an arm an
''twould be wrong 10 spend the hoN
AZ. ers on an arm that should be kept II
nd a soldier Go on home. and mebb
fb- come next year. twill be- a soldier
de- grave ye will have 10 decorate"
or He sank down on the bench thi
is stood beside his house. and his pr
the cession. understanding. went ava
10 Only Foley remained.
Are ye feelin' Ill. Tim?" he aske
ia anxiously.
Ind "Ill," said Sullivan. Yes. III. Mix
I feel they'll sure have a soldier
len decorate next Decoration day. They
lor. not be disappointed next year. Mike
ave Sure, hope they'll not be-" sa
A." Foley. consolingly.-New York Hs
OF aid.