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

singing before You overlook me on
the road. Couldn't some of You favor
| us now"
Il don't know that we know any
thing appropriate" said Horace Boyd.
after Il consultation, but we can ut
least sing America We know some
Of the old War-songs. too, but -
Sing any of them, or all Of them
exclaimed the veteran. They'd all
suit"
And so the boys sang "Amcrica,"
and Tramp. Tramp. Tramp; and
still their one listener asked Tor
more
Then Frank Lawton, the best de-
clainer in school, recited Lincon'S
| Gettysburg address, After that,
america" was sung again, except
| the last stanza. which Was scarcely
begun when Major Srraguc appeared.
The major had gallopcd past the
cross road shortly after the barge had
turned INTO it, and was nearly two
miles farther on toward Br"Wniicld
before he began to suspect that he
| had lost the trail. Then, finding by
inquiry that no barge had passed that
way, he turned back, and as he APP
| preached the crosS-road again he
heard the singing, which reused his
| curiosity. lie dismomtcd at the
gate, walked quickly into the yard,
and was as greatly surprised to see
the boys there rs they were To see
! him. But The greatest ast"nishment
appeared in the face of the man Ill
army blue.
| "Why, Captain Sprague!" he gaspcd,
3, rushing forward to meet the visitor.
The major stared at the man in pc-
wildcrment.
'Is it Sergeant Moves. or am !
drcalnng?" he exclaimed grasping
his old comrades hand.
For some minutes the two veterans
talked toge thor in low tones; the boys
stood at q little distance in cmharrass-
cd silence.
At last che major turned toward
| them.
."rhis man. he said, land his two
brothers, who are buried here, were
soldiers in my old company. |
| haven't seen him since his brothers
were killed and he was sent home
wounded / was transferred to an
other commend shortly aftorWard,
and later I heard that he had died
from his wounds. | never dreamed
to find him living here when | came
last year"
"No more did | dream that the new
principal Of the school at kcdron was
my old captain" said Hiram N"ycs
81 have cause to remember those
three men," continued the major.
,Sb.p I had bcpp left WDlIliuCt
on the field they riskcd their lives
to go out and bring me into camp.
"Now boys, you have been assisting
Mr.. Moves in his memorial service.
and he wishes me to thank you. |
DO thank you on his behalf and h'so
on my own You could not have be
slowed a memorial tribute more
wortnily than over these two graves
and in the presence of this brave and
true soldier Young men. | wish that
Won were here under different cir
cumstanccs, but we will say no more
al out that if you go Quietly back to
school"
| excuse me. captain, or major
rather" said Hiram Nuycs, earnestly.
"hut must they go back Just now
AS | understand it. they are under
engagement 10 pay batil '''''S'
course | know your objection, hut,
you see. they don't look at Memorial
day lust as we do-and boys will be
boys. But Youngsters like these Oh
YOURS have the right stuff in them
They'll be men soon enough ana Il
thoir country ever should need them,
I'll answer for 1t they'll pc tl'rc.
And when you and |, and al the resi-
of us, are gone, they'll keep up the
dry, and see that the soldiers graves
are not neglected. Let them play
their game. captain.
"Wnll. WE'LL said the major hastily
"you may so to BroWnfield, boys, TINS
time"
That night the major found on his
office table paper reading as iol-
loTS:
Resolutions of the Kedron baseball
Association, adopted May 80. 1871,
Resolved That we extend our
, ! thanks 70 Major SpraGuc for allow
H.. rs to fulfill our engagement az
| EroWHlicd.
Resolved. That, as regards the fu-
tnrc. we froWn upon all Dissertation
of Memorial day.
Resolved That a copy of these rcs"-
buttons be furnished to MAYOR
Sprasuc.
JAMES CLARK.
A true copy. Attest; Manager, kcd-
ron y. l.. \.
y s. We beat Brownlied eleven TO
four.
He read it through i second time,
smiling a little at tho sudden change
from the Formally Of the resolutions
to The boyishncss Of the postscript
Then he laid the paper away among
others carefully preserved.
"Nthough his name docs not all-
near at any place on that document, ,
said the major. ait is nevertheless a
certificate to the effect that 1ilrahi
Moves is better teacher Of patriot
ism ;han the schoolmastcr. "-lo uth :
Companion.