Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-30

secured the fiax for the schooihpuss and made sure Of It's being in place and proper1y dispiayed. Hs tenght the children how to se1ute the nats ing but aa old rag will not suon for
 get tho storm of indignation he aroused as the old man seixed him by
 the collar and marched him into the to, retfact his words before the whole school. am afraid Captain was D
 called only Dy courtesy. but that was
 the title given him by the entire v1l-J lage, and no one remainsd to dispute
 his right to it. ssix
 He had always led the procession
 on Memorial Day to the villass cem-
 etsry, where . federation from the
 Grand Army of the nearest town
 placed fias each year on the ysafiy
 but this year hs was obiised to rfds
 to the sr4seyard, ana make his usual
 speech from the carriage in which he
 was seated. and leave the leading
 speech to the minister of the village
 church. The children as on former
 occasions bore in their hands punches
 of flowers and placed hem tenderly
 on each tow mound already marked
 by the flag, and then grouped them
 selves about the old Captain, and sang
 tom. With tears streaming down his
 aged face the old warrior Joined the
 rest in singing America as . finish, his
 shrfll cracked voice plainly noticeable
 above all the others.
 hold out much longer" said one to
 mother, as the people dispersed after the ceremony was over. He has ai-
 ways been so interested in all things connected with Memorial Day. With
 out him 1t would seem very strange.
 but we cannot expect to keep, him
 with us many more years.
 Captain Browns home was with his son. the postmaster Of the village, and soon it became known that the
 old man was aging fast. On pleasant
 days he crawled out into the sunshine
 and greeted his friends in his old
 cheery manner, but often he was miss ing from the old group, and to all questions only 8 sorrowfu1 shake of Captain was failing. When he saw his friends, he assured them that he should outlive them yet, and that he was good for more than they suspect ed The children brought him treas ures of fruit and flowers from the orchards and woods about, and so the year wore away. Christmas came and went, and still the Captain was with them. Didn't I tell you I'd not rive up so quickly" chuckied he, I'll lead you next Memorial Day. see if don't"
 1t really seemed as if the old man was right about it. His only ambi- ton appeared to be to live till May should once more be with them. Town Meeting came earlier in the month | than Memorial Dey. To that the old gentleman was carried much to his delight, repeating his old time boast that he had voted for every president since Lincoln, and was not going to fail his party now. He was a mere i lad when he enlisted, and was too young to vote for the martyred presi- dent
 Town meeting over, Memorial Day was his next determination, and his powerful will kept him up with won- | derful success. The morning of the | S0th of May dawned brightly. and great was the rejoicing that the Cap I tain was still among them The pro-
 gram for the day was the same as ever, except for the Captains speech.
 which he was obliged to omit. He stood with hat raised reverently while ! tho children saluted the flag, and | gathered about him in patriotic song. l but his voice was not heard.
 As the last notes died away, he was seen to sink back upon the cushions Friends rushed to his aid, but there he remained, eyes fixed upon the fag and smile of peace and contentnent upon his face, but the soul had fled | to it's rest Tears showed the grief | of those who loved him, but all were ! forced to admit that the end he had I wished for had come as he desired. | There under the old nag which he | so loved, in the presence of those whom he had so often stirred to add | ed patriotism, death had come to him as the messenger of the great
 Leader of ali, and the smile on his l lips indicated that he rested in per- AN IDLER.