Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-09-10
A REUNION
A LABOR DAY STORY
BY ARTHUR PRICE

him to seven feet. He was the drum
major of the band and was tWirling
his big silver headed staff ana throw
ing it into the air with fine ju2gcry.
Behind him came the band and then
the man OF most 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
trowcl or whatever tool best represent
ed his trade and step ont to the in
splriting strains Of martial music.
Among those who lined the side
walks, occupied the steps Of the build.
ings and climbed the lnmpposts along
the line OF march was certain Mrs
OTooIc, who had recently come over
from ireland, with her was her son
Daniel, six ycars old, The mother was
Standing with the crowd on The curb
but Danny was pcrched with leg
on each side of II horizontal piece Of
iron under the lamp, straning his eyes
to catch the first glimpse Of sunlight
That would strike the brass horns Of
the band
"Thcy'rc comm, mothcr!" ne shout
ed, wild with excitement Every eye
within hearing of the boys voice was
turned in the direction he was looking,
True enough II line of mounted po-
lice wheeled around II corner and I'm
another moment the strains Of music
were heard in the distance. Danny
kept his mother informed of each ap-
pcarancc as IL was revealed to him ana
was not II little proud to think that
there were those in the crowd direct
~ beneath him who were benclitIng bv
his nformation
ION, mother, there's n giant with n
WooIly dog on his head THROWN up Il
big stick Reckon he's runnin' the
whole business
"Oh. mother. you'd oughtcr see the
man on II horse with Il whole lot q
other men on horses. They've all got
broad white things over their shoulders
and hold round sticks In their hands
with ribbons round EN-
The big horns grew hoHrscr. the bass
drum pounded louder. the piccolo shrilI-
ed harder. as the columns advanced
When mounted police riding abreast
came man on the sidewalk interest
ed IN Danny's description and his ca
gcrncss that his mother should see it
all handed her soap boy on which
he had been standing and babe her
mount II. She thanked him and. atcr-
ping up. had II fine view of those unss.
ing In the street. much to Dannys 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'Toolc.
there's your fnthcrw
Now, Danny O'Foolc had known ever
since he was old enough to know any
thing that his father had left him ana
his mother In Ireland when Danny WAS
baby to come to America. He was to
send money home ana when ne rot
enough together to send for his wife
and boy he would do SO For awhile
letters had come from him; then they
had Ccnsed. His wife had come to
America to look for him.
"Which?" cried Danny.
"Ihe man on the far side. him with
the red head Can him"
Danny, knowing only one way to nj.
tract his parents attention., shouted
Red hc0d"' with all the power of his
little lungs. The man heard him and
turning his head, saw Il kid on Il lamp-
post waving his hat ut 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 fa
Their with one leg ON each shoulder.
His father pulled him down into his
arms.
THE child?" asked O"roolc.
YES. It's Danny"
Danny got II hug that made him
cry out, and, drawing off as far ms hc
could, he punched his huggcr with his
little fist
Don't YOU hurt me that way uglnr'
he said iicrccly
"oh, Danny" said Mrs O'Toolc.
laughing through her tears. your ia
theirs SO glad to see yuu"
That ended the O"roolc famly's in
tercst In the Labor day procession
o'roole went with his wife and hoy to
their rooms. where he explained his
long silence lie had been suddenly
taken III and attacked with loss Of
memory II had partially returned to
him. and he had written his Wife, hut
she had already left ireland for Amer
len.
o"Foole was getting on his feet again
when his wife and hoy were restored
to him, and II WAS not long before II,
was able tn make them comfortable
That was Il number of Years age.