The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-07-06
WARREN HAWTHORNE.
A True story.

In quiet little village, surrounded b,
succession of green hills, whose usual
stiffness was disturbed only by the ambi
u0us little river that danced and sparkled
onward over sharp and barren rocks in
Its eager haste, there, where all nature
seemed in harmony, lived Warren Haw.
thorne
wherever messy knoll lay warm and
green beneath the clear sky, within the
rlyer's beauteous arbor of vines and
flowers, beneath each gnarled tree whose
branches swept the stream, where the
blrds sang sweetest and with the most
Joyous freedom, one might have looked
for him nor failed to find him in one of
these-his favorite haunts.
Perhaps he might have been seen with
hands idle, his book near, and his face
intent upon the clouds; or bending las
ne sought its souD over some delicate
VIVA blossom with strange rapture in
ms eyes at its mysterious and wonderful
beauty. But of all beautiful places
the rivers arborn was one he most fire.
guented. There he studied and read
alone. In turning suddenly the stream
was separated by a small islet in the
centre, which being overrun with vines
and dotted with small trees formed cutie
retreat. By training the vines into an
arbor, and extending them across the
narrow channel between the isfet and
river bank, Warren had constructed the
rivers arbor." The birds sought the
place at once and built their nests over
head, and sang their sweetest songs to
the happy listener.
Most of the village lads, on being
questioned, gave his name with a slight
ly perceptible sneer as s.Ren Haw-
thorne."
Ken Hawthorne was to the vii
iage folks, "a lazy fellow" as the bows
tauntingly called him.
He had few friends except the old pas
tor and the schoolmistress, who under
Stood the lads dreamy nature, his
exquisite sensibilities, his tender heart.
and delicate health. HE will never
hve' 8 many said, but the old pastor
always replied: ..Nay, you are wrong, /
believe he will. This is Just the life he
needs now. Let him grow strong in
this beautiful country land and he will
one day astonish us all.''
The villagers smiled AMONG them
selves at the idea of ..Ren's ever being |
anybody.''
1t was noticed that he rarely smiled. |
ne was queer not at all companion
aoie with those of his own age; so that
ere long he wholly avoided them.
!, Lett to himself he became studios and
noughtful, finding beauty in the most
summon things, something that spoke of
nss oou IN the very atmosphere about him.
ol1en ne told his mother, when she
asAea him why he remained so long
a.one In the woods, that he was happier
mere watching the fluttering leaves and
singing birds than elsewhere.
well did the mother understand his
reserve, his longings TO be away from,
.as ~ trends, though she seldom spoke of
las. slsae sorrow OF her life which had
-. ,,s traces with her son. II
80. al through his babyhood and until he
ssa %as nearly ten years of age, Warren had
eh;Isu sh9Mn h.tie OF the joyous freedom of I;
w;.s ;,lanood. a His young heart weighed
oa.s,s I sne atmosphere of that sorrow he
h. ad - not understand; suppressed in all
er.s sniiuisn enthusiasm by fear of the '
81 siass ~e. saadened face of his mother; held !
t,Ssa. ,m irom her by that unseen veil be-
iseea hsr them even when he lay clasped in !
and Az ia, aims, ne became gradually silent !
ninsss a EARNED to seek for himself the hap
prived him. anu iienus ue-
terrha ange stories were whispered of
hoae ha,,u night when mad with wine the t
cr;ms lather had attempted a fearful 6
sr;a.'a ana how, when he became con- i
ssndsraa1 Sas q Ms ,s.l, mania, the unhappy man
dsy se'ea g . through the place, day after Q
VAS nsva. y m search of something, but il
ewes lever lever thereafter seen to raise his a
o q irom the ground. '
ssrS ,S hlm IN silence to the old church +
HEAD Il y. dead from his terrible habit d
wv W. even to the last. II
beeamaa' na' wonder then that this sorrow t.
nade ~ stern and terrible reality and 81
~ ooy umid. reicent child! A b