The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-05-25
Ahner was 81 when he "cut his way
through and Won his honors and his

sword.
But the rest were getting into line
now. The stars and stripes loated tri-
umphantly ahead nj the same merry
martial music rang clear IN the notes
of Yankee Doodle" as they came.
There We're the merry lassies in white.
CARRYING arlnfuls of flowers and keep
ing time with springing steps 10 fife
n rum. In between the guards and
their sweethearts cane the iiuye:lile
band; boys in knee pants with curis of
childhood still on their brows,
They were preparing for harder
marches than this one, maybe; and
their music seemed the sweetest of all.
while the folds of the old flag tioated
over them.
She turned and went in the house.
trying to hun MY Country IT'S of
Thee" but gave it up at the end Of the
second bar. Abner would have sung IT
vigorously, but some way she wasn't
quite like Abner-the mother-heart
The sunshine flooded the dining
room. 1t must be nearly noon now, and
Lefty would be tired Inc hungry.
There are many hard battles fought
and won without bayonet or b~loodshed,
and though women must weep" they
come off victorious in scores Of hard
fought battles when the world notes
And the carol of the songster and he
caress of the doves white wing We're
a talisman,
Lefty, coming in a half hour later.
dusty n weary, was cheered to sea
Grandma Neville smiling.
"Oh, you've had news from Ted; good
news?"
The question same in glad anticipa-
4
mo. child, I've he'd no news: u I
had an men, and it means good tid-
ings." Lefty listened to the incident Of
of the birds and the song with Ques-
tioning heart.
Did such things mean anything, and
did grandma know?
She hoped there was no mistake in
any of It.
You put the flowers on your grand
fathers grave and watered them well,
4 Letty?"
Yes; and Mrs. Jensen said that in
ratio as the flowers We're fragrant the
memories were sweet and patriotism
true. I wonder how Mrs. Jensen knows,
grandma She has no soldier dead"
Grandma answered evasively, and
Lefty was left in doubt still.
Lefty" said grandma, presently. II
shall lay the table for fou today. Alb
ner's plate opposite mine. as in years
agone. n Ted,s and yours on either
oAAN GO NJ SA3S vi AS
memories Mrs. Jensen spoke of"
At evening Vine cottage at the end
of the white street received a letter
from Tampa. Going on to Cuba to in
tcrview the spaniaras,.4.he wrote
Farther and farther away" grand
ma said, and her lips quivered a little
as she laid down her glasses. But she
went over to h table. and, gathering
up the flowers left over made a pretty
fragrant wreath and pinned it to the
American and Cuban colors, just above
the bright, boyish face on the wall
st is because lam proud of him." she
, said.
circling over the white street in Somer-
set with all the conflicting news of The
Spanish-American war.
Then came the battle of San Juan
: The wires flashed the news into Som.
erset the morning after the fight.
Theodore's regiment was in that en-
, gagement. Grandma Neville went out
, on the long, low porch n sat where
' the trumpet vine Swallowed her silverec
r head from the July heat, but she die
not cry, as Lefty did. Serenely quie1
she sat locking down the white street
+ down which Theodore had marched in
April.
, THAT song in the vines meant a pro.
; motion for the boy, and maybe this
battle is the time for winning it; who
knows?" And he dear old lady bridleG
her silvered head proudly.
Later came advices through the
press; the newsboys cried it all dowr
J the white street that Theodore Neville
had been promoted to the m of 6
lieutenant for his daring and bravery;
and he didn't get a scratch" shouted
: the n~ewsboys, triumphantly.
And Lefty went out among the loves
and wondered which one made ttseli
SO famous IN Decoration day.