The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-06
NEW ORLEANS SUNDAY, MAY 9, 1877 pRl

1862. SonhB months after this event, when the |
Mississippi had been open through It's whole
length John V. Aver descended the river,
and took UP quarters at the st. Charles Hotel. |
He had been here but n few days before he met |
an old acquaintance IN our celebrated sur
geon, Dir. Warren Stone, he made inquiries
respecting his former wife and son. The Doe
tor gave him full information on the subject.
His former wife was in straitened eireunl-
stances. his son. u noble young man, was
engaged In battling for his native State, and
his sisters we're employed as governesses.
The heart Of Aver, a warin and true one,
was greatly moved by this recital, and he So
licited the counsel and aid Of tho kind hearted
Doctor to enable him, In o iudieious ond
proper manner, 10 alleviate the distressed and
straitened condition OF his former wife and
her children. There was need for great DELI
caey and discretion HI Encouragement of this
affair. but DR.. Stone cieerfully accepted the
mission. Tho long alienated PARTIES were
brought together In his presence and the con-
dtions cordially accepted and agreed upon be-
tween them. There were no explanations,
no discussions or references to the past, but
with consderate and delicate Kindness,
Col Aver proffered to his former wife who,
by her own act, had produced the separation,
which had led him 10 his second marriage, u
settlement for herself and daughter for life,
which would secure her comfort and rescue
her from the toll and drudgery of her present
life.
There was one condition he demanded.
This was the restoration OF his son to his law
| ful name, and to his proper position, as the
son of John q. Aver, us his successor in his
| large business and his heir to the inheritabie
| portion of his estate. To accomplish this the
mother must proceed into the Confederaey,
and obtain the discharge of the son from the
service aud return with him to the father
with an honorable discharge and passport.
The mother proceeded on this mission. It
was far more difficult one than she ever
imagined. The perils and hardships Of travel
through the desolated, war stricken country
she was compelled to traverse were but little
trials and obstacles. The most serious ones
were encountered when she reached the camp
Of Gen. Bragg's army, In Tennessee. There
she found her loved Herbert and, communi-
eating to him all the circumstances of her in.
terview with her father concluded by pray.
ing him to make application for his discharge
which she would undertake to secure from
Gen. Bragg.
Keen was her sorrow. Though not ,lnmixed
with pride In her boy, when, in the most en-
phatic manner he responded to her entreaty
"Neverl neverl will / dshonor myself by
asking release from the post Of duty ant
| ft,t ~ ftf,
tell my father that
But the energetic little woman did not re-
linquish her undertaking Mt this rebuff. She
held interviews with the officers and privates
of his company and obtained the signatures
of every one OF them to ON application to Gen
Bragg for the release Of Private Herbert c.
from further service, setting forth the reasons
therefor, and bearing testimony to his good
character as q brave soldier.
This application was presented to Gen
Bragg, and that stern soldier to tbt
great grief of the mother, refused to grant
the discharge without the application of Her
bert himself Nor would his high sense d
patriotic duty recognize as valid or proper
the grounds on which that application was
based Here was another disheartening re-
buff. Then it occurred to the thoughtful anf
ingenious mother to continue her weaIisoms
journey TO the Confederate capital and lay thu
case before her kind friend, President Davis
This resolution she carried out, and proceed
ing to Richmond repaired Immediately to tht
Presidents residence, and with few elo
quent words quickly obtained from the evel
generous and kind hearted man the dis
charge Of her son. Hurrying westwardly
she safely reached the headquarters of Cen
Bragg. sought Herbert, and then, with tears
and all the irresistible influences of n loving
mother persuaded him to avail himself Of th,
honorable discharge granted by the President
With the atfectionate adieus Of his fcllow-sol
diers and the kindly regrets and good wishes
of his associates in the Army of the Tennes
see Herbert and his mother left the Confed
crate camp and proceeded on the long ant
tedious journey to the Mississippi. The towr
Of Bayou Sara had been agreed on as tht
place where his father would await him
Passing through the Confederate lines ht
reached in safety that town, and was con
Quoted to his father then on board Of Fed
eral gunboat. There was joyful and affec
tionate embrace Of the father and son. who
had never before seen each other.
And now Hebert Aver succeeds his father
in his large business In Chicago, and Is re-
garded as one of the most promising young
merchants Of that city, is happily married tc
a beautiful and elegant lady, and will ever
we feel assured, maintain the honorable posi-.
tion to which, by his fathers death, he Ii
called. And the true and devoted mother now
resides with her daughters in New York In
the enjoyment Of every comfort, including
that peace of mind that passes all understand.
ing which proceeds from sense Of duty per.
formed, an error repaired, a folly expiated
0TP pnnE Tdpyr