The National tribune., 1909-03-25

house, and took them away. He was
also a part of the bodyguard of Lincoln
after the assassination, and went with
the funeral cortege to Springfield, car
ing for Mrs. Lincoln and the children.
Pendel served under Lincoln, Andrew
Johnson, Gen. Grant, r. b. Hayes, Jas.
A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Benz.
Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William
Mckinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and one
day under William Taft-11 in all. For
40 years Tom Pendel never lost day
at the White House. 1t grew to be his
religion, his politics, his life. He aged
yisibly the last few years, but was faith
full to his duties, which had been light
ened to suit his age. Tom Pendei will
be missed. I knew him very well. in
deed, and it was a pleasure to talk to
him. He had fund of dry humor, and
never spoke ill of anybody. Peace to
his ashes.
"Just Gone Away"
There died in Washington the other
day a dear little lad, who, If he had
lived, would have been bulwark of
strength for the Grand Army of the
Republic and for the Woman's Relief
Corps. William Stanton Weaver was
the long name for just little boy who
had seen but 10 brief Summers and 10
days over. His father, Darwin Weav-
cT, WAS u brave SOlultT, anu his IiioIucT,
Mrs. Lucy Weaver. has been for many
years strong force in the Woman's
Relief Corps, the Woman's Suffrage
Association and many other organiza-
tions which are for the betterment Of
the human family. Mrs. Weaver has
been particularly strong in the patriot
ic work of the Woman's Relief Corps,
and that is where Willie, the little lad
who has just gone away, was an i'm
portant factor. He dearly loved the
work his mother did, and he was a
bright lad, very bright. A year ago he
was stricken with illness, and in few
days became totally blind. Thru all
the long months he never complained.
but was happy and optimistic and help
full. Every effort to locate the cause
of the blindness was futile till recently
Willie was taken to Johns Hopkins
Hospital, in Baltimore, and the trou-
BILE was decided to be tumor at the
necessary. The operation was fatal,
but there was no hope without it. The
last time that Willie appeared in pub
lie was to bring his dollar to the ''ex-
perience meeting of Phil Sheridan
Corps. and tell, as did all the others.
how he. earned 1t. One Of the items
was pathetic. Il had been to so many
doctors about my eyes that 1 was get
ting tired" Willie related. ''They told
me that I was to go to another, and
didn't think it would do any good, but
I said, We'll, will go If you will give
me a quarter to make up my dollar
for Phil Sheridan Corps and they gave
1t to me, and here's the dollar" hold
ing it up amidst prolonged applause.
Rev. DIR. Van Schaik recited the follow
ing beautiful poem over the fair, sweet
face of the little lad who has parted the
curtains between us in Immortality:
"Only a Leaf"
1t was only a little leaf
That hung for awhile on its bough,
It danced and fluttered, but life was
brief.
And its place is vacant now.
1t was only little leaf.
Did it pay to live at all?
The sun smiled on it, the cold rains
came,
And then it was doomed to fall.
It was only little leaf.
But on it did shine the sun,
The winds did caress it, the birds did
sing,
And it lived till its work was done.
1t was only little leaf,
But it took its gladsome part,
In the great earth's life, and at the last
Earth clasped it to her heart.