The Arvada enterprise., 1919-06-19

lapidated porch. On the porch
sat an old man leaning on his cane.
Past the gate swept a boy on roller
skates.
With an acrobatic twirl. the boy
swung away from the walk. whisked
through the gate and came to a stop
In front Of the old man on the porch.
''You'll be picking the flowers In the
morning." the boy greeted with en-.
thusiasm. "You always do. And you'll
be hanging your flag out on the porch.
Tomorrow"
Yes, tomorrow is Decoration day."
unused the old man.
II don't know whether mother'll let
me march or not" went on the boy.
"She hates to have me stand out in the
hot so long,"
He balanced himself on the skates
and glanced over his shoulder toward
the big house across the street.
"Standing in the hot sun wouldn't
stop me-" the old man answered us II
speaking to some one far of. 'but
these legs Of mine said last year
It was my last. l was all played out
before we got to the cemetery"
The boy looked ut the old man, his
hands on his hips. his elbows crooked.
II think I'll march anyhow" he con.
cluded suddenly. II think 1t must
have been great to have been soldier.
You Gun remember all those battles you
were In and how you marched behind
the flag. You can remember what you
did for your country"
The old man smiled.
"We're old timers now. Tommy
worn out old timers with nothing much
but those memories And the weaker
we get In the 1esh and bones the
stronger those old memories come
back. Ed Howse, he's a worthless old
crab In WY. but he wears the little
bronze button on the lapel Of his coat,
and-well. Just can't tell you how l
feel toward him. He was with regi-
ment WY of In another part Of tho
country from me. but know he went
through It, too. or he wouldn't be
wearing the little bronze button. To
morrow he'll he marching up to the
cemetery back Of the band with the
look In his eyes that defies the world
to say he amt boy again. Hs will
be hoy again. He'll be back again a.
he was when be fought for the nagi"
The boy seated himself IN the porch
steps.
ave studied about II all In school"
ne puzzled. "but II all seems 70 long
ago. don't suppose there'll be any
more wars"
"No." agreed the old man. "When
we fought to save the Union ! guess Il
finished up things pretty well no far
No this country 10 concerned. And
the old fellows are dropping of so
fast there won't be nny Of EN- to
,nnrch out n the cemetery soon. They'll
NIL he sleeping out there. When you
think Of 'em, you'll only remember the
years when they offered themselves to
n great big. good cause and you'll for.
get the faults they hnd."
The boys face clouded with thought.
III I come over early In the morn.
Ing" he asked. twill you let me have
the flowers you've always carried up
there YOURSELF I'll see TINT they get
to nug.marked grave"
"You bet WILL" smiled the old man.
"Tll cut EN- for you In the morning.
They bloom this why Just for Dccorn.
tion day. You can't tell me TINT they
don't know that they're for soldier
graves"
Lines and snowbnils and peonics
nodded between the Singing gate and
the dilaplduted porch. On tho porch
Sat an old man leaning on his cane.
and ut the gnte approached buoynnt
youth In belted cont. tIgi,t1ttinR
trousers and Ions. peaked cup.
Good morning."
Tho old man Strnined his eyes.
Good morning. Tommy. WINS look.
ing for you"
you've got out tho old 1ng on the
porch" the youth smiled. "You haven't
Id H. YescScs''sE