The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-05-29
BY RAY STANDARD BAKER

and bald of head. with q remenfscen
sDxnkle In his blue eye, and a certain
apat6htllness in his step that quite belize
Ats age. Also ss had two good, stout
stasbF legs. sseASugh they were a bi
Bowed and STIFF, so that he thumpe,
amarty with his heels when he walked.
What Uncle Tommy lacked OF reaching
1atures standard of a man.. Uncle Luth
ar made up Hs was gaunt and STOPPING
aud so spare that one almost expected 4
hear him rattle In his old blue clothes Xix,
wtthered peas In a pod. Fine trouble line:
mapped his forehead. and his beard wa:
4ht1 and gray, when he walked. hs
anrched at every step and bore heavily or
Ids cane, for he had left hts good risht
bag on the bloody slopes at Chicksmauga
a1d for nearly ~ years he had atumped
painfully about on a wooden leg.
Uncle Tommy was bluff and prosperous
Hs lived in a comfortable house in West
Alden. and when ali his children came
Anms for Thanksgiving dinner. Uncle
Tommy's wife put aIi the spare leaves in
She dining table and carved two turkeys.
Uncle Luther had a !:ttie one-story
SAop across the couuiy line in The ad-
Joining town of Amery where he soideTed
Seaky milk pans and tinkered clocks. II
sas next the lane, in the farther corner
OF ais son Jonathsn's land, and he made
nv hir own bed and cooked his meals in
ne little room in The rear. He seemed at
7sast D years older than Uncle Tommy.
and he had become ~Queruicus ard Qaav-
ary, SO that Jonathan and his thrifty vile
Grohned under the responsibility Of look
Ing after him.
And that shows how Two brothers, who
have been boys together. men together.
and soldiers together. may drift apart
For years Uncle Tommy and Uncle Lilth-
ar had not met. except at gatherings Of
esd soldiers. and these were not pleasant
NnAsttngs. For the two little towns albeit
they Jay u on the wide Minnesota
prairie, with only an imaginary line be
tween them could not agree. II wXs the
KIND Of disseasion that grows rank and
strong in little communities where there
ars few outside interests 10 occupy the
intervals OF attention. And the old sol
Asers took IL up. and fought It Gus as val
4antiy as they had marched on YIcssburg,
They might hare had a Grand Army post.
Win reminiscent csmpsres. ard they
might have had Fourth OF July celehra-
tons and Memorial day parades: but as
certainly as Uncle Tommy led the hosts
OF West Alden In one direction. Anery
n Captain Bradley could be depended
Upon to march In exactly the opposite
AS for Uncle Luther. he always followed
Uncle Tonimy.s procession, wherever 1t
lead. Again and again the old SOL
dters of the two towns met IN the inter
ssts Of harmony Uncle Tommy would
come to preside, and Uncic Luther would
second the motions. and then they all
would stump off Into the Q~uagnlire OF dis
~eension. At such times the fires of a stir
ring past would blaze up In Uncle Lath-
faded eyes, his stopped shoulders |
rouid stiffen back. a faint flush would steal
his cheeks. and he would nod his old
head as IL in time TO martial music
that none but he could hear. Sometimes
ens tears came up to his eyes, and the boy
Who was fortunate enough to hear him
sAik thrilled with the quick pride of strife,
Ind ionged to shoulder a carbine and
march away to the music of the fife and
frun.
mortal day services. but they had been
6ispirited. Uncle Tommy, by
sheer force of character. had been mar
mai of the day. and Uncle Luther and a
~stragglers from A.nery had marched
With the parade; but Captain Enoch and
Ills supporters stood by with gloomy for
,earance. and offered no word Of ~encour-
cement. There was really little need of
day services, except In the alb
tract The cemetery, where the discord
4 the W towns was buried, lay on a
'are prairie knoll. set around with pre-
dss rows of %spindling cottonwoods that
half the summer with thirst
whipping winds and dust-and 1t con-
aimed no soldiers. graves. But Uncle
'pmrnyss parades marched up the road to
he cemetery gate and back again, and
Jncie Luther felt that the country's dead.
rherever they might lie. had been hon
red.
On h third year the old soldiers met !
rain thoroughly determined to be har- {
acrious. In 10 minutes time Uncle Tom
" was humping on the pine able with {
y cane. and several OF the other old SOL
lers were chnging TO Captain Enoch,s $
Dat tails. while the two men glared and !
lreatened. And then Captain Enoch exc !
uted a weli-planned flank movement. q
,uted Uncle Tommy, and ran up the
merry coiors. A few minutes later his !
lction. acting with the right OF might. y
aid decided upon ell the important fea. 9
rres OF the parade. And to further rout \
ncls Tommy ard his retainers. they a >
ctnted Uncle Luther to She honored no.
ton Of marshal OF the day. "
At hrst Uncle Luther was dumb with as r
He had as good light to be 9
larEhal as Uncle Tommy. They had be. q
nged TO the same regiment, and both n
"a reached the rank OF corporal, Uncle :
utner on one leg and Uncle Tommy on
49, iASiS AutitSI sdlWayS MAD Del y
10 Uncle Tommy as IL he had been q
J older brother, and It seemed to him !
lrdly short of sacrilege to appear az 3
ncle Tommy's rival. SO he struggled to Q
= feet. n held up a lean finger to catch I
Rutain Enoch,s eye.
I'D rather nave Tommy have the a
4ce, he faltered; hes better fitted for !
than I be- +
Uncle Tommy; was stor,ning down :
. room. h
Keep II" he roared. and hs went out. 5
nsnning the door after him. Y
Luther followed him q few stems. y
sffully, and then he dropped back In his
at, and listened dumbly while Captain !
ncch and the exultant revolters planned b
Z details Of the parade. $
KS Amery's turn this year gloased I
lptain Enoch.
uncls Luther walked up the road alone. B
q step was brisker than usual, and
ere Was 4 brighter CLEAN IN his eye. He !
not help feeling proud that he had 6
~ honofteds There were other men In /
merry who would have served better In
place-he knew that well enough, Tor G
mas old, p he didn't walk easily =
ne WA glad with JOY OF appreciation.
e ~ many years he had been an unao- I
crippled tinker. and when / last
s-.vsaE v~lae 70 aIm,S eVsin at the ex-s
OF his more fortuflateAh.other. he i
Observation-Disclosures