The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-06-18

New ORLEANS, LA.,}
May 81, 1879.

DEAR NEPHEw-Your postal card
of the 29th inst. was received five
minutes ago. The s2d intelligence
conveyed by it had been communica-
ted. by Capt. B. W, Kay Yesterday
evening. We had been, as far as
possible, prepared for it, by kind
letters, regularly writtensby your sis
ter Mary. But how can 1 tutor my
heart TO ycentented submission TO
such o calamity, although humbly
mipdful Of ALL that religion incul
Gales in such matters2 Your dear
father and ! were thrown together
more than forty five years ago, when
all that beautiful country was
howling wilderness. we were
school mates in 1854 in the very
FIRST school ever taughton or near
the Bayou Claire. We then formed
an attachment that grewa4witlla our
growth and ripened and mellowed
into confidence and love as the years
rolled by. Hours, days, weeks,
months, and years have been spent
by US together, throughout which
we told each other. all that was in
orr hearts Of either joy or care. He
was a brother fond and true to- me
and mine, who neyer proved unequal
to any request / ever made of him.
He was true to all, without ostenta-
lion or shadow. of turning, where
there existed mo, causesfor turning.
His educational opportunities and
advantages had been circumseribed
and limited by the, wild wilderness
and consequential absence of schools
which obstrncted the acquisition of
letteredl knowledge in the early years
Of his life. In later years the cares
Of business, were thrust upon and
!, Imprisoned him on the estate which
ultimately became patrimonial. Al
though young he proved equal to
the ,onerous emergency and after
long years Of slaborious,u continuous
and il honest industry conquered the
tyranny 6fdebt and stood forth lib
Grated, and the proud ,architecl, Of
bis own easy fortune. He was al
ways abstemious in the indulgence
Of his appetites, careful y without, par
simoniousness, lin the use Of his
means, eelnterprising in whatever his
l deliberate judgment approved, and
bloantiful il al, tue imaes l: in
stances and offices of ,beneyolence
and charity. His perceptions ofIdp.
w were singularlyi clear and compre-
hensiye;; his judgment remarkable
for its uniform accuracy His bust
ness aaptitudes were char r st! by
directness Of purpose and sipaexible
integrity. He neyerasliggLll.ted or neg
lected a recognized obligation how.
ever, Insignificant the matter involved
or obscure the person concerned.
He was reliable in all lie undertook.
As a citizen he was independent, and
patriotic, never defaulting in any
obligation TO the government, and
never feeling the slightest lust for
Office. AS q aeighbor be was second
to none ip exertions, TO educate the
young, by building up, and ,enconr..
aging schools, in providing for tic
old, the sick and the destitute. Id
all these he labored methodically,
efficiently and without display. The
good be has done in respect to them
will never cease to be felt in some
form. "The poor, tile fatherless, the
friendless and the widow" WHO have
50 long enjoyed the bounty Of his
hand, "will cry to heaven" invoking
its blessings on him. AS q friend
he was as constant as the fixed stars,
never dazzling by pretensions, but
changeiess in his fidelity. He never
sought multiplicity Of friends, al
though Just and kind to all with
whom he came in contact, but con
tented himself rather with the solid
worth Of those whom lie selected
from the mass Of lis acquaintance.
AS husband and father be, was devo
ted, bountifal, liberal, indulgent.-
Never losing sight q bis duty to
care for; firm but just in the exer.
else of'his marital and paternal al
'thority concerning his family. HI
1:.,oa n.I 5jnl1~I1 &c. ..