The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-05-26
Ole GOVERNORS TpIBIITE
ATlerOorial Day Story byAdele BROWN, 4asta@4
EUBEN HENS HAW
chewed a bit of oat straw
ruminantly as he sat in
his barn door one morn
ing in May. Already the
cherry blOssoma warp

"-ANLF MS ndIn uoOl one morn
nN ing in May. Already the
cherry blossoms were
sending down their white shower OF
petals.
In the opposite corner OF the barn
door sat the chairman OF the select
men of the village. lie had just paid
Reuben what the farmer considered a
wonderful compliment.
of course said Reuben, Il expect
TO be present at the exercises that day.
'Tain't often this town has centen.
NAL, and amt likely TO see another"
smiling whimsically. when | heerd
the Guv-nor was comm | was more'n
anxious TO go, cause he's got n name
like an old friend of mine-nicest boy
you ever see-shot way back in Ga in
a skirmish-same night ! got this hole
IN my leg | kinder think the Gov'nor
may be some kin OF his'n. Maybe III
have a chance tc get speech with
him"
Sure you viii We don't care for
oratOry, MIR. Henshaw We want plain
facts, and youll give us these. Good
morning"
Long after Mr. Whitney's top buggy
had disappeared over the crest of the
Hill, Reuben sat in the barn door and
mused In imagination he was back
in the autumn morning long ago, when
the fifteen volunteers Of the little vii
lage marched away. How gay they
were, or pretended to be! The maple
trees had spread a Haunting carpet Of
scarlet and gold for their feet The
leaves rustled merrily as they march.
ed, heads up, faces front The girls
waved and cheered, but the mothers
knew and hid their faces. He could
see his mothers white face now. We
smiled, as he recalled Samantha's face
that morning, round and rosy, with a
wealth of curls en- either side, and
blue eyes meeting his eyes shyly. She |
had pressed a small package in his f.
hand when he went to say good-by the |
evening before. He waved his thanks /
as he passed her in the crowd Dear /
little daguerreotype, he had il still, |
faded but beautiful to him He must |
go and tell her about Mr. Whiney's .
compliment. She would be glad TO
know Samantha was always glad
when honors came 10 him.
As he reached the kitchen door, Sa-
mantha came down the steps to help
him. Putting her hand under his arm
she said
Why, father. | didn't know but I'd
have 10 come and get you. Thought
you'd fallen asleep"
Il was dreamin', ma but / wasn't
asleep. / was way back in war time
Al Whitney was here this mornin to |
yet me to make a speech at the Cen
ennial "A Tribute to our BOYS Of
G1' he said was to call it, But !
int goin' to put no such high-hyin'
itle as that on it. If they want an
recount Of how our boys fit and suf,
cred and died, can give IT,"
That's so, father; no one can do it
letter. But won't you be afraid talllin' {
o the Guv'nor and so many folks?" q
Reuben laughed softly. Now, S
lother the Guv-nor amt a day older a
han cur little Tom would have been.
md just like s not Tom would have t
cen Guvnor if he had have lived. d
10. I amt a mite scared" S
Joe, the hired man, had double work h
or several days after Mr.. Whitney's C
isit; for Reuben spent many hours at Il
le old desk in the sitting-room. writ L
,e his ma"uscriDt 'abOriousiy. II
At last the great day dawned, bright b
nd clear. Preparations had been 60 b
g on for several days in the village. S;
he hotel and post Office were gcr- al
2Ous in flags and bunting. Flags HI
dated from many house windows. At b,
ne end of the common a huge tent ST
I'D been erected, and there the speak st
IS would face the assemblage. An or til
IN had been placed in front Of the kt
strum, and a choir CT village boys It.
I'd girls drilled for the occasion. The he
md from Upper Hallam had vGlun- je
cred their services. In front of the pi
,tel was placed a dining-tent to ac- Al
mmodate the overflow. The village til
as astir early and long before ten ag
clock, the hour set for the exercises er
begin, the church sheds we're filled in
tn horses, carriages, express wag- le;
s and farm wagons while a long tn
le of nondescript vehicles, with Of lln
u Indifferent locomotive power lined IF
L fences. Purveyors of badges and "b
stal cards wandered up and down to
d the toy balloon man arrived early. Of
le entire township had poured it's ha
u measure Of enthusiasm into the is
lage; and in the home gatherings tee
re brought together for the first bo
ne sons and daughters who had ch