The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-17
LED BY THE FLAG

march was over the fair young wearer
was carried off in triumph by the old
soldiers, and one among them, borne
away by his enthusiasm. saluted his be-
loved flag by laying a kiss upon the
wearers brow.
Next she led the old Virginia reel with
a veteran in citizens garb--one who had
been only a private" Other young girls
with their aged partners, followed her in
the merry dance, each fair daughter in a
dress of white with it's fiuttering ribbons
| of red. 1t was an inspiring scene and
Fred Forester could recall nothing that
| approached 1t in his faraway western
home.
And the next day as he stood and
watched the old soldiers in line of march
-somemaimed, some grave some gray-he
declared that more pathetic scene could
not be imagined. But for him, tho hori-
zon frightened when the young daughters
| came by in carriages that were gaiy dec
Grated In Confederate flags and flowers
and each carrying a southern banner in
her hand. Through the principal streets
| of the old city the long procession
moved, where throngs lined the pave
ments, the galleries, the windows-cheer-
ing, applaudlng and many weeping-while
all the time the bands played the sweet
/ old southern songs.
What land!' exclaimed the young
son of the great west, as he raised his
hat in recognition of a bow and smile
from a familiar figure in gray. whose
carriage he had singled out at every turn
OF the parade. Little rebel" though he
had at first deemed her, was she now i'm
parting her rebel spirit to him? He be-
lieved SO, and he plucked the tiny flag
her gift-from his breast and waved is
aloft, amid cheers, as she bowed in ac-
knoW1 o and lnwQre6
! 1t in surrender?
| He was there to assist her from the
carriage when the grand parade was
over he followed her on her pilgrimage
to the lovely spot in Magnolia cemetery,
known as Soldiers Rest" where SEN
tinel in gray keeps eternal watch over
more than 100 OF the Confederate dead,
and at its feet she laid her tribute of red
and white blossoms. Then across the city
she led the way out to the old Catholic
cemetery, where sleeps the sweetest sing
er of all the southland.
Father Ryan, the poet-priest," re-
peated Fred, II never heard of him.
Your poetic, as we'll as your historic
training. has been sadly neglected, I
find" smiled Clarice, as she placed the
last of her patriotic-hued garlands upon
the pure white marble slab wherein was
engraved a f1ag-the conquered banner
you are teaching me Both history and
poetry every day, every hour"
With the veterans parade ended the
reunion, and all the morrow business
claimed the westerners; and when, al
last, matters had been arranged and
Fred Forester had suddenly decided to
cast his fortune for all time in the quaint
old city, it was past nightfall. Should he
venture to find his way in the unknown
40 III, l,,f u
wished no companion. The house he
sought he remembered as one of three
all alike, on one block Surely this was
it. He opened the gate and traverset
the path before him, well defined by thu
bright light that shone through thu
carved glass of the wide mahogany door
Peering in he saw just opposite a pictur
of the gerat chieftein, and above it |
Confederate battleflag Reassured h
tquickly pressed the electric button. 4
moment more and there stood before hin
u vision In white.
You found your way-alone?" she
asked with smile of welcome. "Ant
how"
And holding her hand in his he made
answer, thus:
Many circumstances have contrived to
lead me to you. First, fate lured me from
my far-off home to this old city, where
strange and a so-called enemy-the hos
pitality for which the south Is so famed
Next I discovered In you a spirit OF
patiotism which I have nowhere seen SO
Inherent as in the heart of a true daugh-
ter of the south; and then. loyalty that
| 1 have never before found In one SO
young. But tonight l am led to you
by the fiag-your flag he continued as
he pointed to the banner before them
(which I have worn for but three days
but which has already cast its witchery
DER my heart. Henceforth it Is my flag
as 1t Is yours-shall it not also be our
flag, Clarice?"
Who shall say that the girl represented
a "lost cause that night? Rather was
she oonqueror-and a generous one
for the great west lay in letters at the
feet of the south, and she, its frail but
loyal denfender, put forth her hand and
gathered 1t to her heart.