The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-05-25

K&NyAY MS Darn door one morn
M< 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. He had Just paid
Reuben what the farmer considered a
wonderful compliment.
"of course" said Reuben, 81 expect
10 be present at the exercises that day.
'Tain't often this town has q centen-
NAL. and | amt likely to see another" i"
smiling whlmsically. when ! heerd
the Guv.nor was comln' I 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
& skirmish--same night got this hole
IN my leg. kinder think tho Gov'nor
may be some kin OF his'n. Maybe II
have a chance to get speech with
him"
Sure you will. We don't care for
cratory, Mr.. Henshaw. We want plain
facts, and youll give us those, Good
rdorning."
Lorg after Mr.. Whltney's top buggy
had disappeared over the crest of the
hill, Reuben sat in the barn door and
fuused. In imagination he was back
In the autumn morning long ago, when
the fifteen volunteers Of the little vii.
lago marched away. How gay they
were, or pretended TO be! The maple
trees had spread 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 on either side, and
blue eyes meeting his eyes shyly. She
had pressed a small package in his
hnnd when no 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 hor about Mr.. Whitney's 9
compliment. She would be glad to
know. Samantha was always glad
when honors came TO 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 to 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
get me TO make a speech at the Cen
tenninl. "A Tribute to Our Boys OF
'G1. he said I was to call II. But |
amt goln' &c put no such high.nyin'
title as that on II. II they want an
account Of how our boys flt and suf-
fered and died can give IT,"
That's so, father; no one can do Il
hetter. But won't you be afraid talkin'
to the Guv'nor and so many folks?"
Reuben laughed softly. Now,
mother! the Guv-nor amt a day older
than our little Tom would have been.
And Just like s not Tom would have
been Guv'nor II he had have lived.
No ] amt mite scared"
Joe. the hired man. had double work
for several days after Mr.. Whitney's
visit; for Reuben spent many hours at
the old desk in the sittlngroom. writ.
ing his manuscript laboriously.
Al last the great day dawned, bright
and clear. Preparations had been go
ing on for several days in the village.
The hotel and post Office were gor.
geous in flags and bunting. Flags
6oated from many house windows. At
one end Of the common q huge tent
had been erected, and there the speak
ers would face the assemblage. An or
gan had been placed In front OF the
rostrum, and O choir of village boys
and girls drilled fer the occasion. The
band from Upper Hallam had volun-
teered their services. In front OF the
hotel was placed dlning.tent TO ac-
commodate the overflow. The village
was astir early. and long before ten
o'clock. the hour set for the exercises
to begin, the church sheds were filled
with horses. carriages, express wag.
ons and farm wagons. while long
line OF nondescript vehicles, with OF.
ten Indifferent locomotive power, lined
the fences. Purveyors OF badges and
postal cards wandered up and down
and the toy balloon man arrived early.
The entire township had poured its
full measure Of enthusiasm into the
village; and in the home gatherings
were brought together for the first
time sons and daughters who had