The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-05-23
ToWn's First Great
Day of Decoration

by Foley Is 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 shaAty and
tent town known az Boomer was a siz-
zle Of excitement Schwartz was sit
ting in his doorway pracdcing on his
accordion. The II Chayka children
were having their faces washed. Ole
OlesOn was polishing the tees 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
liyan's they came TO 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
dered the patriotic air The Shoe
maker Has Ny slipper Lost" on the
accordion, and then Sullivan took on
his hat and made the address.
Gentlemen and Mrs Chayka and
kids. he said. a." It's Decoration day,
but am no fancy speaker. I have 10
make the speech because I am the
only veteran here but Schwartz. and
he is a foreigner and don't count We
are going 10 decorate with these beau
uful flowers He pointed 10 the gera-
MUM that Mary Chayka was holding.
with these beautiful flowers" he
continued. the resting place Of part
Of n that fought 70 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 Il went in the
war Let us" he said. give three
cheers for t."
They gave three hearty cheers.
In conclusion" said Sullivan. DE
fore ! go on with my speech will say
this much for TIT took 10 its
legs and run away. no matter how bad
the fight was. and when twas shot
with a rebel bullet Il bad to be car
ried on the field. Many's the time
when its poor comrade vas tired out
81 took the musket in It's own hand.
Twas a good arm. and no one knows
Il better han Timothy Sullivan. for
twas my own, and the muscle on Il
was Ike a chunk Of iron. ! honor that
arm, be declared earnestly. 'aud I
honor the other one that sim hns its
sleeve. and I honor the I've legs OF
me that trampcd the many weary mile
for the fine old flag. and I'm not
ashamed Of a."
Foley led the cheer that followed.
Arms and legs!" said sullivan.
and does any one say we should not
decorate whore they lie. In the wal
there was armies. aud regiments. and
companies. and squads. and a general
over all. An IN the soldier there do be
the head for the general. and IN parts
Of him be the regiments and CON.
panies and squads. every part doing
It's duty for the nag the best 81 can.
and one.tenth OF a man that sticks up
for the fag is more o. n man any day
than n dozen whole men that do not
No may be asking why DO / come dec
Grating me own arm. and am I fun OF
vanity. like Think shame. then. 70
think It! It's but an arm. but It's the
arm OF an old soldier. and was Il tn
arm OF any other soldier I would do
the same It's the honor and memory
OF the grand old army / am thinking
o. ris but the part OF a soldier ye
come decorating to-day. but Tim sulli,
van Is getting old. and one OF these
days yen have the whole OF him 60
decorate, DO So Not for old Tim.
but for the memory Of an the boys
that went To- the front It's a grand
country and free. and united. and we
viii now go 90 my backyard aud deco
rate the place where rests the part
OF M that fought 60 keep % So
he stepped To the ground. but the
enthusiasm that had glowed on his
fare had departed Here were 90 old
comrades, the last three or four hardy
survivors, 10 grasp his hand. but only
alien faces. faces full OF good viii and
faces that would be prompt 90 glow
With patriotism should a new danger
menace the republic, but stll they
were alien faces. but family ~grasplng
the grand meaning OF this one day OF
the year. sullivan steadied himself
against the house.
Go on home he said; 90 on home,
It's kind OF ye % be comm out TO
humor an old man. bus It's but an
arm. anyhow. 'ris but an arm aud
twould be wrong TO spend the now-
ers on an arm that should Do kept for
s soldier. Go on home. and mebby.
come next year. twill be a soldiers
grave 80 viii have 10 decorate
He sank down on the bench that
stood beside his house, and his pro
e~ossion, understanding, went away
Only Foley remained
Are ye foelin' IN. Timf" he asked
anXlously
"irl" said sullivan. Yes. an. Mikel
I feel theym sure have a soldier 20
decorate next Decoration day. They'll