The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-06-02
Special Correspondence to the Vindicator
News from Our Friends.
NATCHITOCItES.
NATcHlrocHEs, May 90, 1877.
Under the Oak.
Mr.. Editor j.:

MF. EdttOF:
"Halloo my friend! how do you do :
I am gla to meet up with you.' Such
was the salutation with which an Old
school-mate greeted me few days ago
as was returning from the other side of
the Bon Dieu. Excuse ne, sir replied
you certainly have the advantage Of
me, for can neither recall your face or
voice. us not your name B--'
Yes, sir, you are correct, but that does
not tell me who you are. swell, look at
me while longer, and perhaps you will
recognizes mc.' We took his advice, and
finally did recogniz him. In answer to
your first greeting my good fir lend D,
am we'll, enjoying good health, and
most delighted to see ydn, Of all the
beings on earth, you are the last one
ever expected to met, tor | had been
told that yon were killed in one OF. the
battles before Richmond. "No, but John
(vo remember John, don't you? y, was
killed at Malvern Hill, and though ms
brother must say, that lis death like his
hearing in the army, was gallant one"
D., Its very hot out here in tic sun !;
see large oak tree about q hundred
yards beyond, which has q very inviting
appearance let's ride Under it. We rode
to the sturdy old oak, whose branches
like parental arms, seemed waiting to
embrace us. and aliyhting, soon found
ourselves, like Viryil's Tityr"s, wc"b@@s
! sub tegminc tagi.
All, that's it. You had. however, been
re ortcd among the killed. yes, bit
fortunately it was mistake, as you see. !
Death, my dear friend, is always sad
occurrence, but when volunteer soldier
in the holy cause and delivcrence of his
country meets it Time itself as It We're,
becomes drconposed, Age becomes de-
caycd. and when he falls, he is Conquer
or. But this is an unpleasant subject
my friend, for | see by your very looks,
that memory is recalling 10y cones too
wildly. Tell me D., how did w
leave your good mother and sisters 7
"They are all d dead and gone As
he gave me the painful news, a glistening
tear gradually forced its burning way
from his sockets. and parsed to allow
his emotion full Freedom, A gentle,
pleasant breeze renewed itself at this
moment, touched as it we're, by SOME un-
seen, spirit hand to cool the ardor of his
feeling. "The shock was too great for
them B., and like so many of our noble
Southern women, they found consolation
only in the grave Yes, and / have
searched in vain the pages of history to
find their equals. How can we ever re
pay our mothers, our wives, our daHgh-
ters and sisters of the South, for the mag
nifcent part they all took in that grand
though fruitless struggled "You are
right there is no pay but vESERATIoS--
their battle cry was that OF the hero
upon the field of Shrewsbury, "send
danger from East to West, so honor cross
it from North to South" and like him,
are covered with glory. No, nor can
this pay. Pay roman Why D.,
you are joking. Heaven and Earth unit
cd could not doso. Not all the "wealth of
Ormus or of Ind,' piled as high as Ossa
upon Pelion - not all the precious metals
eanboweled within the Earth-nor all
the countless gems that adorn with Won
der the frmamcnt-all, all combined,
could not pay woman for one hour Of So
crifce, Of lore or deroiion.
But it is getting late, and must part
with yon., / am sorry yon cannot cross
over aud cpend a few days with me-but
| SHALL expect you according to promise,
on your return from Shreveport, when
we can talk more at length about the
good 'old times" "Yes, | must be in
Coushatta by tomorrow night time is
not my WI am working for others.'
II have taken couple Of hours from my
employers, pleasantly spent under this
beautiful oak, but it has not interfercd
with business" i'll can get through in
time, and can possibly steal march of one
day, on my return l shall ride down and
spend it with you--until then, good bye
Thus we parted, and my Worry friend
logged along in dust and sun, faithful to
his engagement.
On last Sunday evening the beauty Of
our Coast, plumed wih the mhitc wings Of
Peace came ont in true Amaz0nian style,
reminding us of the good old days, when
virtue and innocence, beauty, gayety
and love were the hand maids Of honor,
manhood, intelligence and worth, and
created the charm Of society throughout
this whole State. Their appearance, like
the visions of fairy-land, was cure for
sore eyes.
No news Of any local interest. The
frogs are crying themselves hoarse, and
SO far no rain. We need all we can Get
right now, We trust the newly appoint
ed police jurors for this Parish will be
on hand Monday next, to take part in