Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-07-27

Wy uACClo WIFI HttiC COuSiuCidtiOu III
the world. So the name Of Coon was
a by-word, and the wretched family
were laughing-stOck.
At last the father died in drunden
fit, and soon after the mother also
closed her eyes forever on world that
had been SO unkind to her. The care
ola younger sister was left to Sam,
and he worked earnestly as a farm
laborer to support her and TO bring
her up respectfully. p
There was natural goodness and a
natural courage and energy in the poor
boy, hut his early Surroundings had
been such that it is only wonder that
everything favorable in his nature had
not been crushed out. .ED
On that moonlight night, when made
the subject Of such contumely, and
when he heard himself styled a" No
body he made a great resolve. He
thought of the miseries of his early
years, but they were past now. Had
he not an equal chance with others !
He was young. healthy, intelligent.
His resolve was that he would be some.
body. He tOiled OIL by day and studied
by night, till he had quietly made HIM
self master of much more knowledge
than any one suspected him of pos
sessing.
At last he moved to neighhoring
county, and was soon forgotten.
Ten years went by, and those girls
and boys of seventeen who stood in
front OF the village church, on that
moonlight night, were men and women
Of twenty-seven. Most of them had
married. ise j
Emma Kane had married a geRtle-
man from the city, who came to the
village as a retired banker, living on
his means. e.
Susie Grant had married, and was a
widow. Indeed there were many
changes. Some OF the old people had
died, and middle aged people were
growing old to fill their places.
At this time there went forth the
fame of a wonderful orator, residing iC
a neighboring county, who was begin
mig to excite much attentin in the politi
cal world, and was candidate for
Congress. He was young lawyer, it
was said, and his name was Samuel
Coon.
When the people of Newton
heard of this rising star, they never
dreamed that it was the once despised
boy whom they had styled "Sam
Coon." Those who took the trouble
to remember the humble youth remark
ed that the name was the same, and
thought it very good joke.
The political campaign was an ex-
citing one, and as the election ap
preached, it was announced that Mr..
Samnel Coon would, on a certain
evening, address meeting Of the
citizens Of Newton. s.r 81. ~
The evening came, and multitude
collected to hear and see the orator
who was attracting so much attention.
He came, and when he was escort
ed to the stand the people were dumb
with wonder. he had not changed so
much in ten years-he was now not
quite thirty-but that every full
grown citizens of Newton recognized
him. 1t was Sam Coon.D
He said not a word concerning his
residence at Newton, but, as though
he was addressing an audience of en-
tire strangers, at once proceeded with
his subject, and for two hours the
people of that village listened to such
eloquence as they had never heard
before. 1885 SER 80. rs tsai a.
The election passed, and Samuel
Coon became one OF the lawmakers
of the nation. a
"Sam Coon might have been an
odd-sounding name once-a by-word
in the mouths of the small aristocrats
of Newton-but the Honorable Samuel
Coon was q name that sounded dig
nifed and commanded respect.
We are relating this life history in
few words-barely an outline-and
now we pass over another decade of
years, which brings the time to within
few years of the present. f
Other great events had transpired.
The Honorable Samuel Coon had be-
come Governor of his State" His
~, "