The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-07-02
WHAT HE REMEMBERED.
The One Observation-Disclosures
e' Act Of His Life. - - -

George Mason was very prominent
man in Beavers Falls. For several
terms member of the Legislature, and
twice Governor of the State, his name
was widely known and universally re-
spected; and his friends, many of whom
dated their acquaintance with him from
boyhood, said he was strictly upright
man and had never dene anything
mean, dishonest, or cruel.
But there was an incident of his early
youth of which they knew nothing, an
incident he had never mentioned to any
one, and of which he could not think,
even at sixty years of age, without ting
ling i'll his cheeks, and a feeling of
deepest shame and contrition.
1t was connected with his sister Susan,
and though Susan never alluded to it in
any way, and seemed to cherish only
the kindest feelings toward him, George
felt sure that she remembered it to the
day OF her death, and that the remem-
brance~ was as painful to her as to him.
She was only his half-sister, and there
was a difference of nearly seventeen
years in their ages. George could not
remember either of his parents, for they
had died when he was an infant; but he
had never felt their loss, so tireless and
complete was Susan's devotion to him.
For his sake she had given up her
dreams OF becoming a teacher, and had
taken up the laborious occupation of a
laundress; and that he might be COM
fortably clothed and sent to school, she
had denied herself almost the necessi-
ties of life.
Hard as she was obliged to work, and
few as were her pleasures, she never
complained and was so bright and
cheerful always that George, when a
little fellow, took it as a matter of
course that she should toll for his MAIN
tenance, and never thought to thank or
pity her.
But as he grew older he began to re-
alize his obligations to her, and to wish
that he could take on his own shoulders
the burden hers had carried SO long.
When he graduated at the High School
IN Beavers Falls he begged her TO let
him find employment of some kind; but
her heart was set on his spending a
couple of years at the Drinkwater Acad-
erny, and she would not listen to any
other plan. s-ssws as q wEs sa@
Now is the time for you to learn,
George she said, land want to see
you well fitted to take your place in the
world. good education is of the first
Importance to man, and I know if /
allowed you to leave school now / would
regret it as long asI lived. Never mind
ABOUT my working so hard. Tn used
TO IT. and wouldn't know how to be
idle ! ~. - -. IL -.
30 GEORGE went to the Academy at
Drinkwater, and his brave, unselfish
sister continued to wash and wiring and
IRON, proud that her labors secured to
MN the education she considered of
such paramount importance.
Her letters to him were models of
cheerfulness and good humor, and she
lhaoe no mention of the severe head
scnes which frequently prostrated her
tor nouEs or the terrible cough shecon-
.raeeeo oy doing without rubber shoes
wen she did not feel able to buy.
george could only guess at the sacri-
hces she made for him.
over the mantel in Susan's little sit
tlhg-reon hung a fine photograph of
.u1eorge' neatly framed. Susan valued
u as her dearest earthly possession. and
at christmas time it was always
Wreathed with bright holly and smilax.
George did not know how frequently
ms SISTER szeyes sought that pietlred
tace' when sitting at her sewing, nor
now many times she left her washfub to
sake "a, $. look at it. He laughed one day
az the tender, gentle way in which she
handled it when taking it down to fasten
tne eord more securely.
1ou show more respect to that pict-
uTe man YOU do to me, Susan, he said.
10 you think great deal of itP''
~, George, you can t imagine how I
'alae att answered Susan. warmly.
1t IS such comfort to me when YOU
are gone" ~"
he said. ~ -''0 0iio "a s0''
',Georgee' She flushed painfully,
and the tears rose to her, eyes, Some
aeeaeents which had occurred when
george was only two years of age, and
ABOUT which he had never been told.
Aad taken from poor Susan's soce eli