The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-05-24

by Foley as consent.
Decoration day was fresh and clear,
and Tim Sullivan was early in the
public square making his few arrange
ments for the day. The shanty and
tent town known as Boomer was a 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 TO go all the way round
his large feet. At ten precisely the
procession formed, with Schwartz at
the head, and to the strains of the
Watch on the Rhine" marched once
around the square. In front Of Sui
livan's they came to halt, and the
grand marshal of the day mounted his
doorstep and faced them. At signal
from the grand marshal the band rem
dered the patriotic air The Shoe
maker Has My Slipper Lost on the
accordion. and then Sullivan took of
his hat and made the address.
AeullGlucu anu hlS Chdy M anu
kids" he said "'tis Decoration day,
but am no fancy speaker. have to
make the speech because | am the
only veteran here but Schwartz, and
he is a foreigner and don't count. We
are going to decorate with these beau.
tiful flowers" He pointed to the gera.
MUM that Mary Chayka was holding.
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 l accompanied
that same wherever II went in the
war. Let u.s." he said, give three
cheers for it,"
They gave three hearty cheers.
In conclusion" said Sullivan. "be-
fore / go on with my speech | will say
this much for tit never took to its
legs and run away, no matter how bad
the fight was, and when twas shot
with a rebel bullet it had to be car
ried off the field Manys the time
when its poor comrade was tired out
IL took the musket in its own hand.
Twas a good arm, and no one knows
IL better than Timothy Sullivan, 70,
twas my own. and the muscle on IL
was like chunk Of iron. | honor that
arm he declared earnestly, and !
honor the other one that still fills its
sleeve. and honor the two legs of
me that tramped the many weary mile
for the fine old flag, and I'm not
ashamed of it,"
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, and tn parts
Of him be the regiments and com
panies and squads. every part doing
it's duty for the flag the best It can,
and one-tenth of a man that sticks up
for the flag is more Of a man any day
than dozen whole men that do not.
Ye may be asking why do come dec
vanity, like Think shame, then, TO
think it! 'Tis but an arm, but It's the
arm of an old soldier, and was it tn
arm of any other soldier | would do
the same. 'Tis the honor and memory
OF the grand old army | am thinking
Of. IT'S but the part of a soldier We
come decorating to-day. but Tim Sulli.
10. oil
days ye'll have the whole OF him to
decorate. Do so! Not for old Tim,
but for the memory Of all the boys
that went to the front. 'Tis a grand
country and free, and united, and we
will now go TO my backyard and deco
rate the place where rests the part
of one that fought to keep it So"
He stepped to the ground, but the
enthusiasm that had glowed on his
face had departed Here were no old
comrades, the last three or four hardy
survivors. to grasp his hand. but only
alien faces, faces full OF good will anS
faces that would be prompt to glow
with patriotism should new danger
menace the republic, but still they
were alien faces. but family grasping
the grand meaning OF this one day OF
the year. Sullivan steadied himself
against the house
Go on home" he said; go on home
It's kind OF We to be comm out to
humor an old man, but tbs but an
arm, anyhow. ''Tis but an arm and
"twould be wrong to spend the flow
ers on an arm that should be kept for
a soldier. Go on home, and mebby.
come next year, twill be a soldiers
grave We will have TO decorate"
He sank down on the bench that
stood beside his house, and his pro-
cession, understanding, went away.
Only Foley remained
Are ye feelin' III, Tim?" he asked
anxiously
I'M" said Sullivan. yes, III, Mikel
feel they'll sure have soldier to
decorate next Decoration day. They'll
not be disappointed next year. Mike"
Sure, ! hope they'll not be-" said