The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-05-30
SCYTHE HIS
MEMORIAL
IL HEN the territory about Waterloo.
NJ in New York state. was sparse
Rsnaias h Tree Where Youth Hang h
When He Went 10 War

" in New York state, was sparse
ly settled the principal industry
was the hewing of timber from the
forest along tho. Seneca canal.
At q point known as Log Landing.
midway between Geneva and Water
loo. the woodchoppers were wont to
gather and tell their stories Of early
Indian fights. and here young Lyman
Johnson. a farmer boy, first learned Of
the impending disaster to the union II
the southern states were allowed to
withdraw from their early affiliation.
It seemed war was imminent and spec
ulation was rife as to the time when
the actual hostilities would begin.
One day in 1851 Johnson. who was
then 81 years old, was moving a lot
on the farm. A neighbor drove up
bearing the tdings that the call to
arms had been sounded. Without hesi-
tation the youth walked to the house
and placed his scythe in the crotch Of
young Balm OF Gilead tree. His
mother asked him what the matter
was, and he said: ~
Mother. Lincoln needs men. am
going to war;"
"What, Lyman? You. my son. 60
Ing to enlist?"
"Yes, but do not fear any harm will
come to me. The war will be over in
q month. The southerners cannot face
the troops from the north for more
than that time. When return I will
NOW the rest Of the lot. Leave my
scythe In the tree until return"
His regiment marched to the front
to the stirring martial music, and was
often in the fighting line. The mother
true to the words of her boy, left the
scythe as 1t had been placed. johnson
came home year later on furlough
and laughed at the almost forgotten In
cident Of the implement and its posi-
ton.
He inspired hope In the hearts o
those who thought of nothing else thai
his safe return by saying: II will ye
be back to NOW that lot"
Soon after returning he was car
tured in skirmish and became pris
oner in q southern pen. from which
escape was impossible. Disease lai'
hold upon him and he died surrounde,
| by enemies. He was buried In an un
known grave with hundreds Of hi
comrades.
Meanwhile the tree grew apace ant
the blade became partially imbedde'
in the trunk of the tree. The bandit
rotted away, but the steel remainet
fixed in the wood.
A general proclamation was issuet
from the White House declaring ont
day should be set apart as time TO
memory of those who had falleI
while defending their country. 1t wa
the first Memorial day. Word Of thu
| proclamation was carried to Mrs. John
SON, but she had no grave to decorate
| She fain would strew a few flower
upon the spot wherein her boy lay, Blu
its location must ever remain a mya
terry. Kneeling In the garden, sh'
offered a short prayer. Then sh'
plucked few lilies from the plot sh'
tended daily, and, making wreath
she bore 1t to the tree which CAV
such q grim reminder OF her sacrifc
to her country. With q caress sh'
reached up and hung the wreath upol
the scythe point.
Memorial day has long become q
established anniversary. Many year
have passed since Mrs. Johnson va
laid to rest IN the village cemetery
The old homo ID exactly az It stood 4
the day of the civil war. but IL occs
pied by another family.
or the Johnson family brother
widow and her children are all VIII
are left. Every year. early In the morn
Ing OF Memorial day. the remnant Q
the family gathers beneath the scyth
and places thereupon wreath Of eve'
green and q tiny American nag. Wit
In q few feet modern methods hav
constructed trolley 1lne.. Hundred
carried by the cars gaze upon th
| tree, the scythe. the wreath and III
! dag and ask to b told the story Of u
Ibravs young soldier.