The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-07-11
BEDTIME STORIES
FOR LITTLE
FOLKS
Halls DECORATION DAY.

The grocery store was full of Gus
toners on the morning of Decoration
Day, for everyone in Warrenton wa
busy preparing for an afternoons holi
day. Hal was on the jump every mo
ment till II struck, and when the clocl
finished he folded up his apron and pre-
lpared to leave.
Il can't let you off this afternoon
Hal said Mr.. Brown, the grocer. =
want those boxes in the cellar emp
tied and the whole place cleaned out
But, Mr.. Brown, faltered the boy
! his keen disappointment showing Oh
! his face. 81 have promised mother tc
lItake her out to put flowers on grand
fathers grave in the Union Cemetery
where the soldiers are buried. | am
Obliged to co.
"Obligpd? Tommyrot," said Mr..
Brown angriIy. You leave this store
this afternoon before 4 and you need
never come back Your mother can
lspend her time better than walking
Iabout with flowers. She had better
,train you to show some sense"
Halls face flushed. in that case,
Mr.. Brown" said he quietly, taking up
his hat, 81 think | had best find an
other job anyway. | mean to keep my
promise to my mother, and | will not
stand for any criticism of her in my
presence"
Poor people always put on the most
airs" sneered Mr. Brown. Go where
you like, and you will soon starve."
Hal went home with sad heart, but
on seeing his mothers pleased look at
his coming he smiled and kept his trou-
bles to himself A simple lunch and
the pair were about to start with
Zig basket OF wild blooms that the
mother had gathered in her walk.
AS they stood on the porch waiting
for a street car the sound OF thunder
doomed out, and dark clouds began to
rise over the town. a heavy storm
vas coming.
You had better not venture out !
mother" said the boy anXiously. at /
ooka as if it would pour sOcn."
hal" replied the mother, Il 90 not
ee how can fail to go l promised
ny mothersyears ago that would al
yays put flowers on fathers grave
very Decoration Gay, when the other
oldiers were remembered"
perhaps someone else will do it,
ut in Hal. Maybe there are some
Their members of the family who will
D out"
mo, son." continued the mother.
There are no other members of the
mily. All are dead, except my Uni
e John, who went West in 1863. He
your grandfather's brother and my
lcle, but no one has heard Of him f0T
,ars. He is the only living membc:
if he is living at all, which we do not
low. All the rest have gone years :
o."
Taking up the basket, Hal ran to
lrd car, waving his mother a fare
sll. He would go, storm or no storm.
: had no work to do now but he
,uld do this for his mothers sake
d trust to the future. By the time
reached the cemetery il was pour IS
, in torrents. Yet he carefully plac- ri
the flowers about tho headstone. Of
he turned to go he bumped into a r.
|. elderly gentleman pecring down br
sely at the lettering on the cross tn
PRAY. why are you decorating this in
we so anxiousy in the Storm" said
old gentleman. rs it not the spot ~;
ere lies the body of George Clarke? t,i
is nv brother and | have just come :;
m the "sSe 70 ii''' no leo
stand this is It. PerndpS, dts Sou -
m interesting in the same thing, you r
| tell me of his daughter, my niece,
| her son.
oh. then, YOU are my mothers Tn
On ..c,. be
John" exclaimed Hal she was 10
ling me half an hour ago of her 60
hers brother, who went West long UP
le ago. am Hal Campbell, and my Hs
Their was Ada Clarke" ~
When Hal returned from the Gene -,
les it was not in a street car, but IN ico
,ip touring car by the side OF ms co
at-uncle. And his future was no tn
u.o; Cor with his uncle's ba
y he went into business with great