Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-24
THE DAILY
NOVELETTE,
THE DAY OF MEMORIES


sweetest day of all the year-had
come. An old man, white and bent. had
risen early and now was kneeling on
the fresh, damp earth among his flowers.
In the blossomed apple-tree the little
birds had begun their morning song. All
else was still
with much care he cut his bower
offerings wet with the nights dew. His
wife--asleep in the little country church,
yard had knelt beside him Just year
ago and, with wrlnkled hands that
trembled and picked the flowers as they
| fell before his scissors. Twas she who
| placed them with rare taste and tender
| ness upon the mounds that marked the
fpal resting place Of those who were
Most dear.
Now they lay upon the ground. He
picked them up with hands that trem-
| bled, too. Some long-stemmed violets
| and lilies OF the valley: her favorites.
And then there was his son the LAD
who left his young bride to answer his
many years before. had gone away to
march with Sherman to the sea. Only
only-he had been spared The lad
wounded on San Juan Hill They
eyes filled with tears. 1t was all so
fresh In his mind. The stretcher. the
young wife, the baby boy. the days of
hope. the days of despair, the longer
days Of reconciliation.
The widowed mother and her baby,
| however. had stayed on and filled the
old house with sunshine. The little boy,
son and grandson of a soldier. was never
long winter evenings would sit upon the
| arm of his grandfather's chair and beg
| for more.
Then another war had come one more
terrible than any other patts known Ans
louder and stronger than his mothers
fearful pleadings and his grandparents
broken entreaties.
cried. Don't make It harder than It
Is! It's only my duty. It's In the
blood - So he went away, and with
him went the sunshine.
His letters were full of hope and
courage and interest. How fine our
soldiers were How splendid were the
| F'rench--both men and women Perhaps.
when the war was over and he came
back he Would bring--well, something to
But just before the war was ended,
| the message came that he had fallen
| Somewhere in France. And his mother.
the woman who had given so much-a
husband and a son--the one who has
the hardest part to bear in any war
| soon rested beside her soldier lover.
The old mans eyes were blurred with
tears He was so alone; just waiting
| for taps" The younger ones had been
taken first. why had he been left?
The picket gate opened and a very
| little boy ran down the graveled path
| A young woman, with hands tensely
clasped and lips, trembling watched the
| meeting. The old man looked up Tne
flowers. fell from his hands. A cry
| escaped his lips.
MY little Davy! My little boy.
My" He tried to rise. All strength
girl was through the gate and at his
side.
"Forgive me. sir :" She took his arm
to steady him, and with her help he
language but I understand your heart
Davy-he was my husband. He died for
my dear France He tells me of Amer.
lea and you--the most kind man in all
the world. He tells me. II anything
happen to him, bring our little Davy 10
you. You-you--will let us staya
A wonderful smile broke through the
old mans tears. His heart was singing
Cod COD moves In a mysterious way his
He had been left by divine purpose
to welcome. this little French war bride
and her baby-so like the little Davy o,
the he pastnto say This Is your home
surely spare him long enough to make
in France.
wilt /" ''''' 'o'
He looked down. The girl was nick
ing up the cut flowers, and, with def
fingers, arranging them.
m This is our Memorial Day." he said.
Every year take them to our little
alone-but for You and I1ra DavY" ySEe gone
or the little boy. With beautiful ges.
ture. she touched his arm.
And but for you, we. also wouli
have been alone"
Standing thus. the notes Of a bugle
| broke their silence. II was the warn
with fatherly tenderness he placed
MS old hand on the bright. curly head
ms call for those who were to march
In the ever-thinning ranks that vearIv
pay homage to the heroic dead. The
OLD man Strengthened his shoulders and
sparkle of pride came into his dim
eyes He raised his hand to salute,
and who knows but what the lad VIZ
tell on San Juan Hill and the boy who
at attention am