The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
JOHN AND JOSHUA-By Frances Bent Dillingham;

, letter. He turned white when he saw 1t | for there was the same indistinct post
 mark; he opened it, sitting in the same
 place as yesterday. But there was only a
 tiny printed slip inside, the announce
 ment of the death of Mary Spring at the age of 70 years from heart disease on ! May 5; there was no place mentioned. , The little sister had passed beyond all ready and met Josh. The sergeants literal
 religious imagination could almost see the two consulting together.
 | "Of course they'd want me to have it, " | he murmured Providence is in it l That day he went to his closet and took down his one well-worn suit of citizen s clothes. He examined his boots to see if they were strong enough to last him on ! his prospective journey; he looked over his collars, his few and cherished neck
 ties. He sat down by the window brush 1 ing his coat and smiling hopefully at the great bouquet of a blossoming apple tree 1 just without.
 /, Presently he paused with his brush up- 1 lifted in his hand. T must go and see | the superintendent today about starting;
  Day; the other menll have to decorate | Joshs grave. But I'll go out there to- morrow
 Poor Josh," he went on, brushing soft | ly. NO stone to his head or name to his--'' Suddenly he paused; the brush | fell from his hand, the coat slipped to the | floor and the sergeant gazed helplessly before him. "It isn't mine,' he whispered after 8 pause. '.Id be thief; it's his, it's Joshs It's Joshsi It's all I can do and I'd oughter do it.
 The melodeon strains were hushed the wax flowers grew dim, the sergeant was suffocating in the warm air. Why didn' think of it before? Why didn't I?' | The tears came into his eyes, and two of them went slowly down his cheeks. He drew out his bandana with a jerk and rubbed his face fiercely and laughed at himself. What a fool 1 am! he cried; then, picking up his coat, he fell to work on 1t vigorously, with no smile on his lips, but a fixed purpose set about his mouth.
 That afternoon he visited the superin- tendent, as he had intended; but instead of asking for leave of absence for some time to visit his sister in the west, he asked for pass to town where a business matter needed his attention. When lhe sergeant came home that night his face was jubilant. He declared the hash was the best ever tasted; that he noticed com ing from town today what a fine loca- ton the house enjoyed. and he cracked several poor and unexpected jokes that delighted and reassured his old comrades
 In the privacy of his own room, the ser Scant kept up his cheerful play. ITO think I should have found that handsome be on the top of the hill; and that in scription, Twas an inspiration, an inspira- ton Then the sergeant paused with an awe-struclk, upward look 'Mebbe r. was," he said gravely. "mebbe it was" And he fell asleep that night like child with smile on his lips.
 The sergeants joviality seemed to in- crease as time passed and Decoration Day drew near. He doubtless felt as grand and glad as statesman planning in secret some coup d'etat which shall astonish and delight i.is nation
 On the 29th of May, when several men were arranging the bouquets which had been sent in for the morrow, one or them remarked discontentedly: Just as though these old weeds and those cotton
 flags were any good; why can't they give ms A monument for our lot, or headstones or something?' Then the sergeant retired