The Washington herald., 1907-06-10

! With a blare of brass and the sob Of
the wood wind the Sixth Separate Com
pauy of the State militia stepped briskly
past to the air Of a popular song. Pop
! Gleeson's feet involuntarily kept time to
/ the marked beat. but his face showed
signs OF disapprovaL
They ought TO play Georgia not
them vod-e-ville things" he confded TO
cap" Johnson. When we was with
Sherman you bet we didn't have no such
music"
Times is changed, Pop" was the SAT
reply. Il guess they'll make fun Of our
flies and drums"
Let en-" scolded Pop I'm klnda
sorry we didn't stay 10 Pleasantville."
It's the last rally" said Cap" chart
tably. Wen see some of the boys FOR
the last time I guess"
Pop shook his head sadly The divi-
! sion commander had asked that all near
/ by G. A. R. posts Join IN the Rutledge
celebration. The membership was fast
growing smaller. and he hoped that here
where the general lay at rest on the hill
side. they would hold their last rally
after the Memorial Day parade. The
| Beemansville post was little nervous
about their fife and drum corps with It's
/ limited repertoire of military airs. So
/ far even the smallest posts had brought
along the regular band from their home
/ town.
Then, from the direction Of the station,
came the shrill tones Of the flies and the
rattle Of the drums, and to the saucy
strains Of THE Girl I Left Behind Me"
the Poston post footed it bravely through
/ the mud TO their place in line.
Just back Of the music trudged a tiny
youngster, his little uniform complete
even 10 the sword that clanked with true
martial spirit at his side. On every hand
murmurs Of applause ran through the
crowds that lined the sidewalks. Pop"
chuckled.
There's a boy for YOU" he smiled TO
Cap" There's not many inches to
him, but every inch a soldier for all that
He might be a West Point graduate
That's what" agreed cap" 4 guess
he was born a soldier"
"Wisht l had little grandson like"
lamented Pop" but guess" his voice
sank into his snowy beard. Somewhere
he had a little grandson. but he had
never seen him. When Dick had married
the Spencer girl against his wishes there
had been an angry scene, and Dick had
flung out Of the house. Later he had
sought reconciliation, but his father
would have none Of it. even after the boy
had been born.
He watched with unseeing eyes the
other drtachments 60 past. They had
been waiting the arrival Of the special
from the East with the paraders. and
now that these had found their places
the word was passed and the head Of the
procession moved out
It was a long trudge for the veterans
through the streets 10 the cemetery
More than one dropped out to wait for
the ambulances that closed up the line
But they were all there around the mar
| BILE shaft that c0mmemOrated the leader
under whom so many of them had fought.
and they listened. some with streaming
| eyes, TO the vibrant words of the princl.
pal speaker their division commander.
None realized more than he how fast
the death roll grew, and he spoke frankly
| and tenderly Of the gaps that had been
made in their ranks. winding up with
farewell to those whom he might never
meet again.
It was too much for some OF the vet
Grams, and they CROPPED their way through
the throng about the speakers stand.
The governor was yet to speak but they
did not care for his coldly polished
phrases. and they sought the quieter
parts where already the tiny flags marked
the resting places Of the hero dead.
Pop" Gleeson was one Of those who
slipped away. and with tear-dmmed
eyes wandered down the green aisles.
He did not mark where he was going.
he simply wanted to get away Perhaps
he would be among those who were alb
sent next year Would Dick come and
lay flowers on his grave? He wondered
If Dick were here. Some one had told
him that the boy had Joined the National
Guard.
Hello" Pop" started and looked
down. The little veteran who had headed
the PostOn boys was sitting on a horse
block and eyelng him curiously.
You tired, too?' continued the boy.
II was tired, so I came away to sit
down"
Pop" seated himself on the cold stone
and drew the little fellow on his knee.
yes. I'm tired, too" he agreed. THE
old mans getting feeble, laddie, can
remember the time when I'd march all
day and then fight all night II had to.
I was with Sherman on his way TO the
sea. I guess you never heard tell of
that. did yer?"
MY grandpa. he was with EN-, too"
said the boy proudly.
What was your grandpa's name?" he
demanded TREMENDOUSLY
Thomas Sidney Luck" said the boy
promptly. Pops" head dropped For
a moment he had hoped that this might
be his own little grandson. this soldierly
little lad.
MY mamma SAYS that my grandma
was the bravest man that ever was"
continued the youngster. He killed
millions and millions OF men and he wore
a sword just like mine, and when he said
Fire. all the other soldiers shot of their
guns and then the enemy ran away and
grandpa chased EN-. He was awfulIv
brave, but he can't run now" he added
inconsequentially.
There's lots Of us who fought then
who can't run now" said Pop" sadly
I'VE didn't run then" he added, unless
It was after the enemy"
Il know. agreed the boy. My grand.
m. 81