Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-01

Immediately after breakfast the
next morning the conspirators began
to slip away from the school grounds,
Singly, or by tWoS or threcs. starting
in different directions, but convcrSing
at the old SriSt- mill on the river road.
There Jim waited with the barge. At
eight o'clock they We're fairly on their
way.
For the first half-hour the journey
was quiet. None of the boys felt quite
easy in mind, and those who had base
were uncomfortable in body. But this
| oppression did not last The nine
found an opportunity to remove their
outer garments, and presently the
whole company seemed to throw off,
likewise, their burden Of care.
They salutcd the farmhouses with
their elaborate school ycl they
gloried in advance over their down
ing of the BroWntield boys, and they
made the woods echo with song. In
short they were happier than they
ought to have been. and happier by far
than they would have been had they
known that the major had learned of
their deSertion, mounted his saddle
horse, and was now galloping in hot
pursuit.
AS the boys reached the top of a
high hill, they caught sight of a man.
walking a little distance before them.
They raised their school yell but sud
denly stopped, as they took in the
meaning of the mans Garb and can,
he carried two little flags in his right
hand: he wore a knapsacR and he
middle of the road.
"That's an old soldier, boys" said
Jim Clark we mustn't guy him.
Won't you let us give you a lift?" he
called out to the traveller a moment
later.
"Thank you, don't know but l WILL"
was the response. I'm not 50 good
on a march as | used to be-"
The man looked worn and feeble,
but his eyes had a pleasant twinkle,
college fellows, l pcrsume?" he VEN
turcd as he climbed into the barge
and bcamcd round on the company.
ooh, no, you ilattcr us" said Dick
Graham. Were only going to be-
The stranger did not seem inquisi-
tive, but he was ready listener, and
he soon learned a good deal about
his new friends, including all the
particulars Of their present escapade.
"Perlaps as an old soldier you think
our principal was right" suggested
one of the boys ".ircn't you on your
scrvicc?'
"Wcll, l have to do it all myself.
You didn't know you were taking {.
whole procession on board.
"ilow is that?"
"Wcll, YOU see, I'm the only veteran
in the nCighborhood, and there ar"
only two graves to Observation-Disclosures
of mine | belong to Il g. \. II. post
over in iirownficld, but that's quite a
distance, ana 50 they detail me every
year t" decorate my brothers graves y
He handed the little banners tn
Horace, opened his knapsack, ana
showed two wrcaths of flowers.
Some of the neiGhbors used to turn
out once III Il whilc,' he continued,
"but not lately. It's not very interest
ing AnG mothers too old to come
"Werc YOU and your brothers to-
SSlncf Ill TIE Wal
Yes, we enlisted together, and we
kept together for nearly four years.
And then We came home together
Ills pause Impressed them as full rf
old grief.
"rhat was what we used to talk
about, we three boyS-how we'd 60
home together to mother. The captain
had offered to get one of us a furlouSh
but we decided to wait till we could 90
together. Then, when the day Of
IIatcher'S Run was over, john ana
Sam were living dead, and | had been
hit twice myself.
"The captain came to me thr next
morning. and said. Anything ! can d.
for YOU, Hiram? Just let me take the
BOYS and go home with them. that's
all ! anSW cred
"And | got what I wanted. 1t wasn't
just what we had looked forward to,
but we came home together. and be
fore [ had got better of my wounds
the war was over.
II get off here" he said, as the
barge came to a croeS-road "The
graveyard is Just out of sight. beyond
the turn Hin obliged to YOU. and I'm
glad to have met you. My name is
Noycs- Hiram Noycs. | suppose
shouldn't remember all your names if
you tnld me"
There was n whispered conference
among the bows. MIR. Noycs.' said
jim, as spokesman, would YOU b,
willing to have us go with YOU"
The veterans face flushed with
pleasure II should DC proud to have
YOU" he replied,
Jim drove ny to the graveyard gate.
where the boys left the barge. and
forming IA double line. followed along
the grass grown path till they reached
the small, hcadStoncS under the Shad"
of pine tree. There they stood with
uncovered heads while the veteran
placed on the graves the tribute of
flags and flowers.
After a few minutes of silence, he
said, husJlily, "Thcrc. that's about all
there is Of it, unless YOU gentlemen
will help out I thought | heard you