Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-11-21

been sacrificed to !he Unsuitable Moloch
of rebellion anG his "unquenchaple
blood-lust. There was heartful prayer
for the soldiers in the field, camp, nos
pital ard prison pen. and mllltant pc
seeching for the ultimate triumph of
was pouring out his very soul In IN
vocation. when there was Il gathering
of horses hOOfS on the frozen ROAD
outside, q jangling of spurs and scaD-
bard as John Hawkins hurried into the
ediiice to head off the funeral service.
He was too late.
The aged minister opened his eye in
amazement. The congregation rose n
cheered till it seemed as if the roof
would come off. Al1nira Hawkins
promptly tainted, while j.. Hawkins
gathered his mourned as dead son in
his arms as the audience burst forth
singing Praise God, from Whom All
Blessings Flow"
For southern prisons will sometimes
And yield their dead to life again;
And the day that comes with a cloudy
dawn
In golden glory at last nay wane.
The news of Johns death was all a
mistake. of course. The plucky lieuten-
ant was captured with his escort. but
their valiant fighting had saved the
Urn train. with its supplies and am
munition for Grant, Notwithstanding
they We're carried int captivity. But
John. with others. had escaped the
guards, Travelled by night. was shell
tered by friendly negroes during the
day, and, though pursued by blood
hounds, had at last reached the union
lines. John had dispatched a message
to his parents, but as they lived II
miles from the nearest railroad station.
somehow they never received it.
When John, on his way home. ar
rived at Tt. the last railroad sta
ton, he met Il man from the county
seat. who greeted him as If he had been
raised from the dead. He told John of
h memorial service to be held that
Thanksgiving morning in honor of the
supposedly dead young cacalry officer.
John. not waiting for the AIRLINE stage
which connected the railroad with the
county e hired a horse and rode
post-haste to head off the services, if
possible. Farmers along the route of
the plank road wondered at a union
cavalry officer. in full uniform, riding
at top speed, his horse fiecked with
foam. "A messenger bearing important
dispatches" some said.
One of the biggest fires that the fire
place had ever contained roared in the
hall that night. j. & Almira Hawkins
sat IN one chair, While ohm related to
them the details of his capture, how
ne saved the amy train by sacrificing
himself and his command, his pronlo-
ton to a captaincy and his furlough.
Are o going back?" was his moth
er's comment after the exciting and
gallant tale was finished. "If they send
for me-" John. But" he
added. comfortingly. lit looks as if the
war was drawing to a close. Grant is
turnins Lee at every point. and it cam
not be long before the backbone of thu.
c~onfederacy is broken"
mother interrogated. That's only
where a reb winged me while / was
making my escape. The doctor says it
VIII be six months before will be
able to re-enter the SERVICE,
AS they were going up to bed, ].
Hawkins said to his wife. "Almira, did
you ever Know Il happier Thanksgiving
night than thfs?" Her eyes filled with
a gray mist as she put her head down
on his shoulder and murmured, "Only
one, DEAR"
Next morning Almira Hawkins rose
at daylight to begin preparations fol
the delayed Thanksgiving dinner. She
put on a clean Bingham dress, brushed
back her silvered locks, tied a blue bow
at her throat and tripped down stairs
Ihere was already a roaring fire in
the Kitchen. where ]. Hawkins sat
sousing in a pail of scalding water two
of the biggest yearling hen turkeys
already beheaded. to properly cele-
brate the day.
He was picking the feathers dill
gently and chasing even every elusive
~pinfeather to cover. She ran up to
him, and amid the cloud of steam aris-
ing from the not very good smelling
occupation, kissed him on both cheeks
She got a quick breakfast of the things
John liked best. and went up to his
room as she used to, to call him.
There he lay, fast asleep on his two
1eather beds, his curly head resting OH