The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, September 17, 1914, Image 6
A REUNION
A LABOR DAY STORY
*Y
Bf ARTHUR PRICE
Tk» Labor day proceaaloo wa» com-
to* down tbo atreot The drat own In
M was alz foot four inches tall, with
a bearskin bat on his bead that raised
him to seven feet. He waa the drum
jaajor of the band and waa twirling
his big silver beuded staff and throw
ing It into the air with One Jugglery. |
Behind him came the band and then'
the ip an of moat real Importance, the
grand marshal, followed by his alda.
Then came the different uniona march
Ing In line, every man looking happy
on this clear September dpy that be
could lay aside hla hamRier or bis
trowel or whatever tool best represent
ed hla trade and step out to the In
spiriting strains of martial music. \
Among those who lined the side
walks, occupied the steps of the build
ings and climbed the lampposts along
the line of march was a certain Mrs.
O'Toole, who had recently come over
from Ireland. With her was her son.
Danlel.< six years old. The mother was
standing with the crowd on the curb,
but Danny was perched with a leg
on each side of a horizontal piece of
iron under the lamp, straining his eyes
to catch the first glimpse of sunlight
that would strike the brass horns of
the baud
“They’re cornin', mother!" he shout
ed, wild with excitement. Every eye
within hearing of the boy's voice was
turned In the direction he was looking.
True enough, a Hue of mounted po
lice wheeled around a corner, and In
another moment the strains of music
were heard In the distance. Danuy
kept his mother informed of each ap
pearance as It was revealed to him and
was not a little proud to think that
there were those In the crowd direct
ly beneath him who were benefiting by
his Information.
“Oh, mother, there’s a giant with a
woolly dog on his head throwln' up a
big stick. Iteckon he's runuin' the
whole business.
“Oh, mother, you'd oughter see the
man on a horse with a whole lot o’
other men on horses. They've all got
broad white things over their shoulders
and bold round sticks In their hands
with ribbons round 'em.”
The big horns grew hoarser, the bass
drum pounded louder, the piccolo shrill
ed harder, as the columns advanced.
When mounted police riding abreast
came a man on the sidewalk interest
ed In Danny's description and his ea
gerness that bis mother should see It
all handed her a soap box on which
he hud been standing and bade her
mount It She thanked him and, step
ping up. had a flue view of those pass
ing in the street, much to Dnuny's sat
isfaction.
The drum niafor pnssi-d. the bund |
passed, the grand umrshul and his aids
passed. Then came thq Carpenters' j
•union, the Clumbers' union and the
„ Masons' union.
"Oh. Danny." cried Mrs O'Toole. !
"there's your father!"
Now. Danny O’Toole had known ever
since he was old "enough to know any- 1
Thing that hlii father lord left him mtd—
his mother In Ireland when Danny was
a baby to come to America. He was to
scud money home and when he got
enough together to send for his wife
and boy he would do so. Ivor awhile
letters had some from him; then they
hud ceased Ills wife had come to
America to look for him.
“WhichV" cried Danny.
"The man on the far side, him with
the red head Call him."
Danny, knowing only one way to at
tract his imreiit's attention, shouted ;
“Red head!" with all the power of his !
little lungs. The man heard him and,
turning.his head, saw a kid on a lamp- |
IKist waving his hat at him. Then. !
lowering his eyes, he saw his. wife
looking in his direction Leaving the j
ranks, he came across the street, el- !
bowed his way through the crowd to j
his wife, aval she fell into his arms.' j
( Meanwhile Danny, feeling that he
was not getting hla share In this faml-
ly reunion', dropped down on to his fa- I
tbor with one leg on >ach shoulder. j
His father pulled him dowu into, his
arras.
"The child?" asked O'Toole.
“Yes. It’s Danny.”
Danny got a hug that made him
cry out', aud. drawing off as far as he
could, he punched his hugger with his
, little fist
“Don't you hurt me that way ag’iu!"
he said fiercely.
^ “Oh. Danny," said Mr$. O’Toole,
laughing through her tears, “your fa-1
then's bo glad to see yon."
That euded the O’Toole family's In
terest in the Labor day procession.
O’Toole went with bis wife and boy to
their rooms, where be explained bis
long silence. He had been suddenly
taken 111 and attacked with loss of
memory. It had partially returned to
him. and he had written his wife, but
she bad already left Ireland for Amer
ica.
O'Toole was getting on hts feet again
when his wife and boy were restored
to blmT and It was not long before be
was able to make them comfortable.
That was a number of' years ago:
IPV a stalwart young fellow, has
learned hla trade and ran swing 4
sledgehammer with any man. And
when labor processions march down
the 4 street between admiring crowds
; Penny Js sore to be among them*. And
hp take* a greater Interest In the day
^ bemuse ft Is the anniversary of hla
_.:_ r a with hla father hi Ansar-
Sue mttu «M Omc
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Editor The Barnwell People,
Barnwell, S. C,
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Dear Sir: I nominate.
AddreM-_-_--.-----l---- - f Age ...j..
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