IN the
of 1861
summer
the call
came for troops
to preserve the
Union. None re-
sponded more
promptly than
the boys from
Wisconsin.
The company
which formed a:
Eau Claire be
came the proud
possessor of a
two months old
honor
Deautiful eagle, then
They named hita “Old Abe,” in
«f the President, and when they
Joined the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry
=r Madison they the bird wita
them.
He at once became a universal pet,
and gained Eighth the name
» “The Eagle nt."
When the
Randall for
Der, 1861, 0!
and ev
greeted
receiving the con
Decoming dignity
It was often declarad
TRYying with them the nati
af victory could ver
which predic
They had not
five service, for,
mg camp, they
of Frederic)
Dd Abe was
*almed down, and never
Any signs
lange:
life.
Enveloped
ad by s
took
for the
Regim
srywhere
with
mal emblem
suffer defea
ion proved true.
long to wait for ac
five days after brea
ngaged in the battle
town, Missouri
excited
after
inspiring
forts and
they
bles
On the
the battle
Was greatly ¢
ost their m
became
~ dN NSAP
engagement when our men began to
lose ground the eagle, seeing the dan-
ger, with a mighty effort broke the
restraining cord, and flying directly
into the Confederate lines flapped his
wings in the face of the enemy and
uttered his piercing screams till they
broke in confusion and fled, when our
to his friends
OLD ABE,
AR BEAGLZ,
He occupied a prominent position
In Agricultural Hall at the Philadel
phia Centennial, where he was con-
stantly surrounded with crowds of al.
mirers. During the winter of 1878-70
he spent two delightful months in
Boston in the Interest of the Old
South Church.
Ol Abe was a magnificent bird. His
wings measured six feet and a half
from tip to tip; his plumage was a
beautiful chocolate with a golden lus.
tre, his tail white with black spots,
and his head and neck a pure whit.
P. T. Barnum oTered $20,000 for
him, but the proposition never
seriously considered.
Intelligent, affectionate and devoted
our feathered hero wa
was
WO QO
with
and
irifle
quick to resent an insult,
the
his dignity
stranger who dared to
+ King of birds came from a long
known
might
been for a
The
gles have beer
and Old Abe
the ar his cage
, and he
Capito I+
ries broug
Hat Old Abe must
Hisulie! al ally Cost, saying
ather capture toat bird than a whoo
srigade. A continuous fire was 4.
ected toward him, and a minnie bail
sut the string that confined him ‘o
is perch. He soared far away an!
fisappeared in the heavens, but after
a few moments his friends were great.
Ww relieved to see him returning to his
weustomed place. He was regarded
with awe and dread by the opposing
forces, and it is related that in one
be shot or takeu
would
ue
OLD ABE
AX THE GRAND ARMY PARADE.
the
and
soldier bird was in
ranks with bis regiment,
nis part in
frout
he
of Vicksburg
Old Abe, with his heavy perch, was
no light borne aloft
througa all of war,
often suffer-
ed for food, it was seldom that Olid
Abe went 5 for whole regi
ment would sometimes turn out to
catch a rabbit for his supper.
The brilliant victory at Hurrican
Creek, La., August 23, 1864, was a fit.
ting tremination to our hero's mili
tary career. He had been in the
thick of the fight in twenty-five severe
battles and as many skirmishes, but
bore tae terrible siege
weight (0 be
tue vicissitudes
LUL, tough the scldiers
nungry, the
blood.
When the term of enlistment had
expired and the eagle company was
mustered out, the question naturaliy
arose as to what should be done with
the soldier bird. After some discus
sion it was voted to present him to
the State of Wisconsin. Three years
before, when entering upon new and
untried experiences, he had excited
great curiosity and interest, but his
Journey home, his head grown white
In his country's serivee, was a tri
umphal march. He was received at
Madison by Governor Lewis with ap
ceremonies on Beptember
26, 1864, and given a room at the
capitol,
From that time until his death he
was in constant demand at soldiers’
reunions and public demonstrations,
where he was always the centre of
aitraction, He attended the Sanitary
Fair in Chicago in the winter of 'A4,
and later the Soldiers’ Home Falr at
Milwaukee, where the sale of his plo.
tures, sketch of his life, quills, etn,
netted large sums of money for the
anldiers’ reliaf fund.
Origin of the Day.
The origin of Memorial Day lies
with the origin of the Grand Army of
the Republic, in 1866, year fol
lowing the close of the war. The first
post thereof was organized at Decatur
IL, April 6, 1866. In May of thal
Year tne ceremony of decorating the
graves of the soldier deal was carried
out to a limiled extent. but the move
ment was not given full force until the
aeeting of the first national encamp
weit at Indianapolis, Novembar 20
i386. Here Memorial Day may he
said to have been really given birth
Observed in a small way at first, it
has gradually grown in extent and
honor until now there is but one day
in the calendar which it ranks equal
ly with in patriotic minds—July 4.
the i
Nd NY AS
NSN ASN
MEMORIAL DAY
was at hand, The
child =
and
Her
yellow ct
smallest
down
10 Cry. tum
bled
had
one gide her
iris
pushed to
white nurse's cap,
spite of
2d cros
sewn upon Wis as
scared and mi
Year-old girl oq
“Oh, 1 hate
wailed, while
Julius Welling
SAAN,
“Don’t you remember how afraid she
that great dog next
Y at
BAVEe
was of yellow
she ran out and drove him
her kitten's iifz
makes me think of
and
door?
away to
you've said
thing that
and
story you'll understand
be two kinds of
happened vears
maybe when [ tell you
Ago,
that the
courage.’
er
Madge snuggled hep
comfortable curve of grandma's
der,
iean
boys
BOR
“1 am
BONE
"sc
nd arms off, and
somewhere els
Madge began
t want Bertie
raid-cat!”™
ington! I'm not a ‘fra
Madge, in eager de
didn't want to play
waa and 1
blood.”
1
Jertie deaded
} Ree
being brave, is It
rrandma?” Bertie asked. “Julius
t's an honor to die for your country.
was g have a
ut that's not
EAVE
ind bezides, | ing to
funeral tomorrow, so she
they're army nurses if they got
scared,” added Lieutenant Louie.
“No, they oughtn't,” said the com:
mander-in-chief, firmly. “We've Rot
to practice up for tomorrow, and it
Madge can’t play right she needn't
play at all”
The tears were gathering once more
In Madge's eyes when grandma spoke,
The old lady had been looking be.
yond the tree tops into the far away
days of her youth.
“Julius, my dear, I can't believe
that Madge is a coward” she said.
00Ked even younger than her
ther, and when she saw
was she forgot the blood
and calied for the servan:s
her. They laid him on the
bed, then Margaret
on her jacket and hat and
through the dark and cold for
doctor.
weeks the
how weak
and th
iniform
ir
9
ne
wide spare room
the nearest
“For five soldier lay ill
All that time Margaret helped 1to
nurse him, and when he went back to
the army he kissed her and said
Good-bye, my dear little sister. When
the war is I will surely come
to see you.’
He did go back, and he found Mar.
garet more alone than ever: The old
home was broken up, her mother was
dead and her brother never came
back from the war. 80 he brought
the little girl who had done so much
to save his life to our home, for this
soldier was my youngest brother.
-
over
sunshiny weather as today. We were
celebrating our first Memorial Day, 1
remember, and Margaret helped us
with the wreaths and flowers.
“Margaret was always ‘little sister,’
and years after, on another Memorial
Day, she married a soldier,
Madge's grandmother. That's where
and what you call ‘ ‘fraideatness.’ And
she will show just the same kind of
courage.”
The sun had grown crimson whilg
“Red sky at night,
Sallors’ delight,”
she sald, as she roge to go indoors.
“We'll have a bright Memorial Day
tomorrow. Now, don't quarrel any
more, dears.’
Julius turned to Madge, “Nurse.” he
all, this soldier has only
broken, must take
good of him sc he march in
the parade tomorrow.”
And Nurse Madge, gathering up the
answered “All
Cuthbert
ympanion.
sald, “afler
but you
Can
one leg
care
nN “tv Tew
bravely,
bandages,
right, gg:
neral Charlotte
h's C
ce ——————
The Soldiers of the Past.
1
Strew garlands on their moulded clay,
The men of days gone ©
oy
in hallowed ground they rest today
Beneath the summer sky.
No stain was on the flag they bore,
These men who wore the blue,
And proudly did the eagle soar
Above their ranks so true,
II.
None blush today for and dead
Done by those hero bands
| The men of every race and creed,
i Who gave their hearts and hands.
| No blood-red stain of murder done
| Rests on their banners now,
Each dreams in peace o'er victories
i . won,
Where valor kept its vow.
IL
| Yes, fairest flowers will deck each
! grave,
| And tender hands will lay
The garden's treasures o'er the brave
This Decoration Day.
{ No tears for them, but tears of shame
For what the living do,
| Whose deeds have blurred the Na
tion's fame
And stained the coat of blue.
J.P. O'M.,
a
A
pi