The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-09-04
A REUNION
A LABOR "a STORY
By ARTHUR PRICE


him to seven feet. he was the drum
major Of the band and was twirling
bis big silver headed STAFF and throw
ing it into the air with fine jugglery.
Behind him came the band and then
the man Of MOI real Importance. the
grand marshal. followed by his aids.
Then came the different unions march,
ing in line, every man looking happy
on this clear September day that he
could lay aside his hammer or his
trowel or whatever tool best represent
ed his trade and step out to the in
spiriting strains of martial music.
Among those who lined the side
walks. occupied the steps Of the build
ings and climbed the lampposts along
the line Of march was a certain Mrs.
O'Toole, who had recently come over
from Ireland. With her was her son..
Daniel. six years old. The mother was
standing with the crowd on the curb.
but Danny was perched with a leg
on each side of a horizontal piece OF
iron under the lamp, straining his eyes
to catch the first glimpse Of sunlight
that would strike the brass horns Of
the band.
They're comm, mother" he shout
ed, wild with excitement. Every eye
within hearing of the boys voice was
turned in the direction he was looking.
True enough, a line of mounted po-
lice wheeled around a corner. and in
another moment the strains of music
were heard in the distance. Danny
kept his mother informed of each ap-
pearance as it was revealed to him and
was not a little proud to think that
there were those in the crowd direct
ly beneath him who were benefiting by
his Information.
"Oh. mother. there's a giant with q
woOlly dog IN his head THROWN up q
big stick. Reckon he's runnin' the
whole business.
"Oh, mother. you'd oughter see the
man on a horse with a whole lot o
other men on horses. They've all got
broad white things over their shoulders
and hold round sticks in their hands
with ribbons round 'em.
The big horns grew hoarser. the bass
drum pounded louder, the piccolo shrill-
ed harder. al the columns advanced.
When mounted police riding abreast
came a man on the sidewalk interest
ed in Danny's description and his ca
gerness that his mother should see it
all handed her Il soap box on which
he had been standing and babe her
mount it. She thanked him and, step
ping up. had a fine view of those pass
ing in the street. much to Danny's sat
isfactiOn.
The drum major passed. the band
passed. the grand marshal and his aids
passed Then came the Carpenters
union. the Plumbers union and the
Masons' union.
"Oh. Danny" cried Mrs. O'TooIe.
there's your father"
Now. Danny O'Toole had known ever
since he was old enough to know any
thing that his father had left him and
his mother in Ireland when Danny was
a baby to come tt America. He was to
send money home and when he got
enough together to send for bis wife
n boy he would do 50. For. awhile
letters had come from him; then they
had ceased. His wife had come to
America to look for him.
which, cried Danny.
THE man on the far side, him with
the red head. Call him.
Danny. knowing only one way to at
tract bis parents attention. shouted
Red head!' with all the power Of his
little lungs. The man heard him and,
turning his head. saw a kid on a lamp
post waving his hat at him. Then,
lowering his eyes. he saw his wife
looking in his direction. Leaving the
ranks, he came across the street. el-
bowed his way through the crowd to
his wife. and she fell into his arms.
Meanwhile Danny. feeling that he
was not getting his share in this fami-
~ reunion. dropped down on to his ia
ther with one leg on each shoulder.
His father pulled him down into biz
arms.
1.-THE child?" asked O'Toole.
Yes. It's Danny"
Danny got a hug that made him
cry out. and. drawing of as far as be
could. he punched his hugger with his
little fist.
Don't you hurt me that way aginr'
he said fercely.
"Oh. Danny" said Mrs. O'TOole,
laughing through her tears. "yOur ia
theirs 81 glad to see you."
That ended the O'Toole family's in
terest in the Labor day procession.
OToole went with his wife and boy to
their rooms. where he explained his
long silence. He had been suddenly
taken il! and attacked with loss Of
memory. It had partially returned to
him. and be had written his wife. but
she had already left Ireland for Amer
lea.
O'Toole was getting on his feet again
when his wife and boy were restored
to him. and II was not long before he
was able to make them comfortable.
That was a number Of years ago.
Since then Danny O'TooIe has grown
IN hn n ctolrvvort uur,ru to10nrr hoe