Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-05-10

WAYS said, as they so often 90 ~
Washington, that there were no spe-
cisl orders to give and that we moss
act on our own judgment
Here Ii the letter:
Levant. p r g. o iSi' w.
Dear Fred-I try TO ind heart ana ins
10 tell you that II IL all over witn oeA, -
Nolan. The doctor had been WatcnMe
him very carefully and yesterday mornlns
came TO me and told me that Nolan Wa
not SO well and had not left his stateroom'
a thing l never remembered before re
had let the doctor come and see MIN ~ ne
lay there. the first time the doctor mao
been In the stateroom. and ne sara ne
should like to see me. oh. dear, 90 you
remember the mysteries We boys USED 70
invent about his room In De old lnuepio
days? Well. went In. and there. to Do
sure, the poor fellow lay In his berth.
smiling pleasantly as he gave me hD
hand, but looking very frail. could not
help a glance round. which showed me
what q little shrine he had made OF the
box he was lying In. The stars and stripes
were triced up above and around picture
of Washington, and he had painted ma
jestc eagle. with lightnings blazing from
his beak and his foot just clasping the
whole globe. which his wings overshad-
owed. The dear old boy saw my glance
and said, with a sad smile. Here. you see.
foot Of his bed, where had not seen be-
fore a great map OF the United States an
be had drawn i from memory and which
he had there to look upon az he lay.
Quaint, queer old names were on it In
large letters "Oh. Danforth." he said, IT
know I am dying i cannot get home.
Surely you will tell me something now
stop stop! Do not speak till say what 4
am sure you know-that there p not In
this ship that there Il not In America
God bless her!-a more loyal man than !.
There cannot be a man who loves the old
dag as do or prays for 1t as l DO or
hopes for it as do. There are tnirty-ious
stars in It now. Danforth. ! thank GOD
for that, though do not know what their
names are. There has never been one
taken away / thank God for that.
know by that that there has never been
any successful Burr Oh. Danforth. Dan
forth" he sighed out. tell me-teli me-
me everything, Danforth
before disp' s.gs
1ngham, swear to you that felt like
a monster that had not told him every
thing before Danger or no danger, del
iCACy OF ITO fueucdCyg wiz Wab = thoe
should have been acting the tyrant all
this time over this dear. sainted old man
who had years ago expiated in his whole
manhood's life the madness Of boys
treason? "Mr. Nolan" said |, Il will tell
you everything you ask about. only where
shall / begin?'' -.
Oh. the blessed smile that crept over his
white face! And he pressed my hand and
said: God bless you! Tell me their
Names" he said. and he pointed to tha
stars on the flag.
Well, 1 told him the names in as good
order as l could. and he bade, me take
down his beautiful map and draw them
In as l best could with my pencil He
was wild with delight about Texas told
me how his brother died there. He had
marked a gold cross where he supposed
his brothers grave was, and he had
guessed at Texas Then he was delighted
10 he saw California and Oregon That
he said, he had suspected partly because
10 had never been permitted TO land ON
hat shore, though the ships were there
70 much "And the men, said he. laugh
ng. brought of good deal besides
urs" Then he went hack-heavens. how
ar!-to ask about the Chesapeake and
What was done to Barron for surrenderinB
Ter to the Leopard. and whether Burr
'ver tried again, and he ground his teeth
With this only passion he showed. But In
| moment that was over. and he said.
God forgive me, for ! am sure forgive
him." Then he asked about the old war
md settled down more quietly and very
happily to hear me tell In an hour the
history Of fifty years.
How | wished it had been somebody
Who knew something! tell you, lnghans,
/ was hard thing to eondense the his
ory Of half century into that talk with
sick man And 1 do not now know
What | told him Of emigration and the
means OF it. of steamboats, and railroads
md telegraphs. OF inventions and bookD
md literature. Of the colleges and West
Point and the naval school. but with the
ueerest Interruptions that ever you heard.
You see, 1t was Robinson Crusoe asking
II the accumulated questions Of fifty-siE
ears.
remember he asked all Of a sudden
rho was president now, and when told
i'm he asked IL Old Abe was General
benjamin Lincoln's son. He said he met
Id General Lincoln when he was quite u
10Y himself at some Indian treaty. | said
%; that Old Abe was a Kentuckian, like
imself, but | could not tell him of what
amily He had worked up from tho
anks. Good for him" cried Nolan. Il
m glad of that As | have brooded and
rendered | have thought our danger was
\ keeping up those regular SUGGESTIONS
a the first families" / told him every
hing | could think OF that would show
he grandeur of his country and its pros
Gritty
And he drank 1t In and enjoyed 1t as
annot tell you He grew more and moro
ilent, yet / never thought he was tired
r faint l gave him a glass Of water.
ut he Just wet his lips and told me not
D go away. Then he asked me to bring
he Presbyterian Book Of Public Prayer.
Thich lay there. and said. with a smiles
hat 1t would open at the right place.
nd so 1t did There was his double
ed mark down the page. and l knelt
own and read and he repeated with me-
For ourselves and our country. y gra-
lous God. we thank thee. that, notwith-
landing our manifold transgressions OF
by holy laws thou hast continued TO IN
by marvellous kindness" and so to the
nd of that thanksgiving Then he turned
D the end Of the same book. and ! read
he words more familiar to me. Most
earthly we beseech thee with thy favor
D behold and bless thy servant. the pres-
lent Of the United States. and all othera
authority" and the rest OF the Episco-
al collect. "Danforth." said he. Il have
epeated those prayers night and morn
lg-it Is now fifty-five years" And then
e said he would go to sleep He bent
,e down over him and kissed me. and