Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-11-28
! fort to their parents and the pride 0

| transmitted to the grandsons. All
wanted to enlist. Samuel. Henry and
John. in their order, the eldest 20. A
company of bucktails was being or
ganized at the county seat. There were
just enough bucks hides nailed on the
south end of the big barn for each boy
to have one Of the famous insignia.
Thanksgiving day rolled around; but,
for the first time in the history OF the
Hawkins homestead. it went by un-
observed. It was spent in council in
front Of the great fireplace, where all
Of life's problems were threshed out
for them. The great fire roared, the
few scattering snowdakes beat against
the windows under the bowling nor
easter, but there was no cheer within.
A mother, father. were called upon 10
lay on the altar of their country, II
ness Abraham has been perpetuated in
history. though the blow which was
spared to him blighted many Penn
sylvanta home of which history makes
no record-a call to which many par
ents responded with devotion SO noble,
SO self sacrificing. that there is no COM
bination Of words in the English Ian
guage to fittingly portray It,
1t was far into the day following
| when the conference ended and the
embers died on the hearth. 1t was de-
cided that Samuel and Henry should
go. and John remain at home. Sleep
settled over the house, but not on the
sat on the settle beside the fireplace
with her in his arms. as he did the
night after the crane was hung and all
the guests had departed She lay on
his heaving breast and sobbed out
her heart for the costly sacrifice she
mad made. but with a conscious pride
that she had done so much for her
country In it's hour of peril
Another season rolled around. There
was no t1dfngs from the terrible battle
IN which the Bucktails were engaged
and won deathless renown, till Thanks
giving day came the news that both
samuel and Henry had been beheaded
by a bursting shell. as they were fol-
lowing Colonel Kane over the enemy's
ramparts, and had been buried with
thousands of others in a nameless
trench. A few embers flickered in the
great firenlace at the end Of the hall.
only the clocks dull tick and the sound
of weeping broke the stiffness Of the
big house. sNAe
Ihen came the call for more troops
and John expressed determination to
go. They discussed it long and PRAYED
into the late vigils of the night Tor
guidance.
Only on y boy" his father said
Ihey never could let their youngest 20 :.
Two already We're lying dead
Under the feet of the tramping foe.
But after the evenings work was done.
And the frogs were loud in the meadows
over his shoulder he slung his gun
And stealthily followed the footpath
damp
Across the clover and through the wheat,
With resolute heart, and purpose grim !;
Cold Were the dews on his hurrying feet
And blinded bats, fitting. startled him.
John left brief note of love and
esteem. He said the spirit of the revo-
iut1onary grandsire was too strong in
MIN for him to resist Would they par
don his disobedinece, the first in his
HE, but his country needed him so?
Can you imagine the shock to them?
The gray hairs multiplied in the moth
er's head until it looked like snowbanks
IN FEBRUARY, and she stopped percep-
tloly. while J.. Hawkins went about his
work as one in daze, hardly sensing
what had happened. The hearth fire
hlckered in the great fireplace.
The two still sat together there,
The red light shone about their knees:
For all the heads by slow degrees
Had gone and left that lonely pair:
. voyage FAST o vanished past!
The season rolled around. The time
of Thanksgiving once so much loved
and celebrated, j. & Almira Hawkins
We're beginning to dread, fearing that
some yet unknown terror would be
manifested to them at time in which
prayers OF praise should reign in their
hearts and their home. The blow fell.
News came that John had been cap
tured, and there We're later tidings con-
f1rming his death while trying to es-
cape. 1t was the last straw for them
IN the sanctity of their silent home
they asked God over and over again
why He had smitten them so, and there
seemed to be no reply to the wall Of
their desolate hearts. The hearth Are
yet hickered
The red light shone upon the floor
And made the space between them wide:
They drew their chairs up side by SIDE.
Their paled cheeks Joined, and said
Once more: 20 memories! o past that ts,,,
had Ihanhsgiy yEa;n day T,a the W
union service at the Methodist church
at the county seat, and 1T was to be a
memorial to John Hawkins, the Young
cavalry officer It would be fitting. the
neighbors said, If the aging sorrowing
parents could be present. So, smotll-
ering their grief, they occupied the
Hawkins pew. set apart for their fami.
~ worship for more than Is years.
The old wooden church was festooned
With. flags for the mere boy. who. like
hundreds Of other Pennsylvania lads.
had gone to southern canebrakes. to
fight and die IL need be. There .vve,,.,
white-haired Rachels mourning their
children and refusing to be comforted
The little awe-struck children were
clinging to mothers and sisters. for
fathers and brothers We're all at the
front .-AS
There was solemn quiet as the e.rav-
bearded circuit preacher told how the
life OF one more promising boy. the
fathers pride, the mothers toy had
been sacrificed to the Unsuitable Moloch
OF rebellion and his unquenchable
blood lust. There was heartful PRAYER
for the soldiers in the field, camp. hos
plta! and prison pen. and militant be-
seech1ng for the ultimate triumph Of
the union armies. The aged preacher
was pouring out his very soul in in
vocation. when there was a cIatterinr
OF horses hoofs on the frozen road
outside. 9 jangling OF spurs and scab-
bard as John Hawkins hurried into, the
edifce to head off the funeral service,
He was too late. q - ! -
The aged minister opened his eyes IN
amazement. The congregation rose and
cheered till 1t seemed as IL the roof root
would come off. Alrfiira Hawkins
promptly tainted, while j. Hawkins
gathered his n1ourned as dead son II
MS arms as the audience burst forth
singing Praise God. from Whom All ii
Blessings Flow s,,.f -.
For southern prisons win sometimes
I. p. -