The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-05-26
THOUGHTS ON
MEMORIAL DAY

ana mowers, ana green, grass
covered graves. Decoration
day, the time of sobs and
tears, of prayers, and memories, and
smiles. Decoration day!
1t comes only once year, this brave
holiday, on the boundary line between
May and June, spring and summer
time. Schools give holiday and
banks close. Business is shut up, and
the tired workingman hangs flag
out over his porch, and rests. Old
soldiers, tottering on canes, soldiers
bent and white-headed, waiting for
the last taps" to be sounded, get out
their suits of blue and gray, covered
with furnished gold lace and brass
buttons, and hobble to the cemetery
to lay a wreath ON some comrades
last resting place.
1t is beautiful thing to think of a
nation celebrating a day-setting it
apart from all others-for the pur-
pose of honoring the nations heroes.
l was sitting in a trolley car when
a lady entered-a woman no longer
very young, with a pale, sorrowful
face. She wore expensive black, and
her two carefully gloved hands held
huge dewy mass of roses. Like an
oasis in desert they filled the dusty
city air with sweetness and color. In
little while a small newsboy dragged
himself up the step and presented
grimy transfer to the conductor.
81 found it," he confided loudly to a
man seated near the door. Then he
tramped down the aisle, and climbed
up on the seat next to the lady.
Them fow'rs are swell" he told her
in a soft, wondering tone of voice. Il
never saw any like 'em before" Rev
erently he touched the nearest bios
som with moist, grimy fingers.
The lady moved down on the seat,
putting several feet of space between
herself and the small intruder.
Don't touch them!" she ordered
GROSSLY.
Several blocks farther on she got
out, her arms full of her fragrant bur-
den With hating footsteps and tear
filled eyes, she turned in at great
marble-columned cemetery gate. She
was taking her roses to lay on the
grave of some loved dead one. 1 was
sorry for the woman; but l could not |
help thinking of the little newsboy. He |
was very much alive, and a single |
flower would have meant paradise to |
him.
l know girl who had very dear |
friend who meant more to |
her than l could possibly put into |
words. One day, the friend died and |
left her plunged in grief. A year after, |
the dead girls birthday came around,
and the day before the anniversary |
happened to meet my friend on the |
street. We went to tea together. |
did not speak to the absent one, but |
suddenly, as we sat quietly gazing out |
Of the window, the girl began to talk.
Margaret" she said, something |
has been bothering me. want to ask
you if I'm doing right"
Perhaps | won't help any. I'm not
so good at advice-but go on
You see, it's this way" she told me.
Tomorrow is Alice's birthday-the
first birthday when we haven't been
together for ten years. had earned
i've dollars-it seemed more personal
that way-and l was going to buy
lowers for her grave. l was just on
ny way to the florist to order them
when / met woman l know-a wom-
In who used to wash for US. Mar
,aret, you should have seen her. Her
eyes were large and black and her
,heeks were perfectly hollow. | asked
Ter what was the matter, and she said
he was hungry. Hungry? She was
tarving! And SO were the three chill
Iren that belonged to herl Well, l
old her that l would find some work
or her today, and then l gave her all
he money l had. 1t was only after
he had left me that / remembered
Ilice's flowers can't get them now.
10 you think that she'll mind-very
auch?"
Mind" CROPPED blindly for words.
Mind? OF course not! She would
e glad and thankful if she only
new"
Do you think so too, friends of mine?
One day this week / felt rather blue
nd unhappy. 1t was a dark, gloomy s
ay, with biting wind coming around
le bleak corners and heavy rain g
lat fell drenchingly to the ground {
steady downpour of big splashing {
rops Somehow the world inside my /
lice seemed very lonely and gray. /
i'd headache, my work had been b
Ding badly and / was rather discour-
red. When the mail came ina big
lckage of letters to be opened-I was
IT much cheered. But my special ,
lardian angel was on duty that day.
hen cut the first envelope, found d
plain little letter written in p0ucfl =