Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-02-01

meeting the mother and sister Of
James C. and putting into their
hands. these souvenirs of the loved
and lost. They remembered my name.
for James had often spoked of my
family in his letters home. and while
nav coming recalled one Of the saddest
events of their lives. 1t brought up
also the sunny days before sorrow was
known. In the course OF conversation
mentioned the names of our other
two friends, and asked if James had
ever spoken of them in his letters
home.
ITO be sure he has, many a time"
the mother and daughter both ex-
claimed land | think | can tell YOU
where Joseph H is now. He has been
living in Texas. and a letter sent to
him to this address will. l think, reach
him" And she put into my hand
name and number Of an office in
city of the state of broad acres. I
wrote that very evening. on my re-
turn to my southern home | received
an answer TO the effect that Joseph
H was the writer and remembered
me perfectly, as also the package he
had left with me which he would re-
ceive with great pleasure and many
thanks for the friendly interest / had
taken in his welfare. The letter was
full of war "reminiscences. and recall
lngs of old associations. and testified
to the generous heart. that still beat
so warm in spite Of time and change.
These ouvenirs-number two
were soon disposed OF. and now only
the last remained, that of John NJ
But neither Mrs. C or Joseph H
had the slightest clue TO his fate, and
/ had almost given up in despair Of
ever hearing from him again. when
after more than thirty years, I found
myself in the old town Of R-a again
the first time since the war. l began
to look up my old friends, and ac-
quaintanccs, though the chance of
finding many of them, | feared, would
be small. But the unexpected happen
ed. as i; often does. and in less than
an hour / was seated in the coy sit
ting room of an old friend who had
been one OF the leaders in the from
tier society of those days. and who
still retained a lively recollection OF
the pleasant times in those ante he'll
lum DAYS The tide Of talk and mUtu-
al recollections was At flood. when the
clock striking six. reminded my friend
that her son would soon be in. My
friends bright eyes shone as she left
the room a moment after laughingly
saying 81 have a delightful surprise
for you. gentlemen we both knew,
and were very fond Of in ante helium
days. is the pastor of our Baptist
church here" said my friend. land is
comirg to dine with us this evening
Ny son will bring him on the way
from the office. No, will not tell
you his name. That is the surprise
Imagine my intense surprise when,
n half hour later the son OF the house
brought in a tall, fine looking man,
who. on being introduced to me. burst
out into a delighted exclamation Of.
"Oh. can il be Mrs. k? Can it be
possible? Where have you been all
these years? Why. it seems but a few
months since I parted with you all.
Do you remember James C and JOS
eph H and with what light hearts
we three mustered to the war. Those
were very great and eventful times.
and we We're all very young and YER
dant. weren't We" and he laughed a
melancholy laugh. But l left some
thing with you. didn't I?' he asked
il usingly. YES" answered, your
cherished home souvenirs and other
things"
NY diplomas. Oh yes" and he
laughed heartily. He seemed very
merry over this remembrance.
Il used to think Of those diplomas.
on the march, he went on. and re-
ally believed my future would be 4
hollow mockery without them. But
all the same I'm delighted to have
them. What souvenirs for my two
boys-and they will remind me of the
time when l had more youth than
have now"
And it was really John NJ, and ne
got his package back intact, just as
he had left it. And he was glad for
all his cynicism. over his diplomas
and when he was alone i'm his room
that night he kissed the yellow letters
and there was a mist over the eyes.