Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1896 — SCHOOL COM. [ARTICLE]

SCHOOL COM.

After the Battle. A few raps of the sinking sun shone over the battle field and revealed to gaze the gh&stlp remains of the fray. The booming of eanuon was heard only at intervals. Occasionally the Sharp rattle of musketry sounded along the picket line in the distance. The red glare of the sunset seemed like a reflection from the scene es the battle. . Blue clad fig.ures were moving about among the mangled corpses looking for fASnds and relatives. A little distance to the right a party of soldiers were standing about a newly dug grave. Near by was the body of a regimental officer lying on a rude litter. Tfbe chaplain read a few verses from the bible; the body was lowered into the grave, and the soldiers began to shovel in the moist earth The men who could face death on the field without flinching wept as they plied siipVel and spade to remove forever from view the body of their dear comrade. But if these rough men were moved to tears, what ilioukl be the feeling of a tender-hearted mother far away in the* North? Before the soldier's task was done, darkness as if shamed by the dread- • ful works of man settled over the field. Lanternsmoved about in the gloom. The pickets walked slowly to and » fro guarding the army* from attack. The soldiers to whom sleep were allowed lay upon the ground undisturbed by the groans of the wounded or the occasional booming of artillery. Hayes Young, Senior. * * #- The following compositions were written by by pupils of the Third Grade. • A . monthly record of the weather i$ kept on the board and at the close of every month the scholar write such compositions, drawing their material from their own obser- • " vations. These were written by three of the youngest pupils in the tflass. The Uontli of September: There are 30 days in September,; The school began on the of September. The gentian flowers, asters, and golden-rods bloprn this month. There were seven cloudy days and nine sunny days in September. There were sveral windy days. There were a good many rainy days. There were two frosty nights. September is the first autumn .month. Jack Frost has painted the leaves bright red, yellow, brown, and other colors, The autumn flowers are npt as fragrant as the spring flowers. The autumn flowers colors are purple and red and yellow.* This month apples, pears, and grapes get ripe. ] like September because the fruits get ripe. “Gone is fair September weather, And sweet summer’s but a name, X©t beside the country wayside Golden-rod is all aflame." Ora Yeoman, Age 8 years. * * The Month of October. October is the second Autumn month. There were 31 days in Oetos ber. There wereHwentv-four bright days and four cloudy’ days. There were some days that were ehangable. It was pleasant sometimes but not bright. It snowed the 17th. of Octo ber. Columbus saw land Oct. 12, 1482. I think it-* was a nice cooT month. The leaves begiu to flutter to the ground this month. The days were longer in September than in October. I think October was brighter than September. In tins month the flowers go to sleep but some of them die. ‘ Some of the birds go south where it is warm all of the time. 1 like September better than October, The 25th. it war so nice] that 1 would say it was a beautiful —day: —-—. “Oil. full are the bands of October.' Dear, bright', merry month of the fall : Youcherrily gather your treasures And graciously give them to all." Florence Marshal AgefS * * * The Month of November. November is the last Autumn month. There are' 30 days in November. There-were 11 bright da vs and 19 cloudy days in November. , It, snowed twice this month. ..Thanksgiving outings every year on *" the last Thursday in November. Mr. McKinley was elected Nov. 3rd Mr. Bryant, a great poet, was born on-Nor. 3, -1794; Tbe-orttersHme of the new court house was laid on Thursday, the 12th. November was not as pleasant us October. The days were not as long in Nov. a* they were in Oct. We went to schopl sixteen days in November. The canaries, robins and bluebirds have We can 'go skating ia November, I* like this month. There are no wild flowers now. - y “Tflo gentle race of flowers are lying j in their lowly beds .with the fair’and of ours.’-. the oold November ruin culls ||j|K from out the gloomy earth the ones again." * Bryuht H|H ; T Eimhe B. Sax ion. Age S