Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-06-04

4duhe0e SAofO'
During all those first years follow
ing the war-so embittered and ter
rible were all Its memories-that
mound down by the msgnolias was a
spot Stunned by us all.
But time mercifully and divinely
softens even embittered memories such
as ours. l think it was on the day
before Memorial day, 1875, that as We
prepared our floral tributes for the
ceremony, my mother stole quietly
away from the group on the piazza,
and taking a handful of blossoms, bent
her steps to that solitary little mound
under the magnolias.
In wonder our eyes followed her,
and when she returned, Josephine eI-
claimed:
why, mother, where have you
been ?"
"Let US hope, children, that some
where In the North kindly hearts are
doing the same for our own nameless
graves therefor your Uncle Pinck-
ney and Cousin Will Gresham" she
replied, gently.
We we're too much surprised to an
swer,
Afterward, no memorial day was
allowed to pass that some one Of US
did not rake off that little mound
and freshen it with few flowers.
So the years passed till 1888.
That we should ever know anything
further concerning this lonely little
grave under the magnolias seemed i'm.
probable. 1t was merely one of go
many thousands of namsless graves,
South and North.
That spring of 1888, as it CHANGED,
my sister and l were at home from
Savannah. Ny widowed Aunt Lena,
too, from Atlanta, was visiting Us.
1t was the evening of April 2Sth,
two days after our Memorial day,
when all save the bouquets in jars
and glasses had withered on the
graves.
The afternoon had been very warm.
We were sitting out in the pia zSs, to
enjoy the approaching cOolness of ev-
ening and hear the mocking birds and
Presently their came to our ears the
rattle of an approaching vehicle; and
slowly the decrepit old carriage at the
railroad.station, which served arriving
travellers, came toiling to our gate.
"Who can our visitor possibly be2'
was the thought in all our minds, for
living friends were now few.
A lady in mourning stepped down,
with an air of uncertainty, and came
up the walk. With hospitable intent,
my mother descended the steps to
meet her.
"Is this the home of Mrs. Leigh ?"
the stranger asked.
~ am Mrs. Leigh" my mother re-
piled. "Will you come ini"
~ am Mrs. Warrenton from-fro m
New England" the stranger said.
az fear 1 may not be welcome. Ny
motive for coming to you is a strange.
sad one" She paused, with a little
catch in her voice.
"You are very welcome" my moth.
er replied, gravely, Josephine set out
a comfortable chair.
The stranger seated herself, and af-
ter a pause, spoke again:
II do indeed hope that the question
l am obliged to ask will stir no un-
pleasant memories of past which We
who have suffered desire of all things
to forget. Nv brother and my son
both fell in d terrible war She
glanced pathetically at my mothers
face. They were, of course, on the
Northern side" she added. "My bro.
ther was killed at Antietam but my
son was with Shermaa's army. and
was finally reported missing-and that
is all l have ever been able to learn
Mrs. Warrsnton paused again, to check
fast-coming tears.
81 know positively that he was
alive at Dalton" she continued. "Af.
ter that l can learn nothing. But
mothers heart Graves more; and still
in the hope of learning something as
to his fate, l have iOurneysd South on
this sad quest. At the house Of a
family near Kingston they told me Of
the unidentified grave Of Federal