The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-04-20
Written for the Democrat-Star.
A TRUE STORY.
BY FAY, OF MOBILE.

j
been the closest of friends. Eyer
since | was Il wee tot of a thing, in
embroidered petticoats and golden
curls, we have wandered through
the sinuOus maze of life with it's
impenetrable shades and glorious
Sunlights of happiness, hand in
hand.
Thro' many sparkling, dancing stream
We've waded oft together,
And many kite Pve held for him
In windy, spring-time weather.
can see him again as 1 recall
those by-gone days. The little gray
coat that mother made to lit him
so snugly, and the knee bIeecheS
father insisted were too short.
He was noble looking little fel-
low at eight years of age. His
large deep gray eyes O'ershaded by
heavy dark eyebrows at times
beamed with a soft blue light, re-
tlecting in their depths Il soul OF iu-
nocence aud caudor. His form be-
ing slight for his age gave him the
appearance of being very delicate.
But oh the mischief hidden be-
meath that quiet demeanOr, OF lurk-
ing in the corners of that sensitive,
charming mouth. OF all the fea-
lures in brothers face which l adj
mire most, it is his mouth. l can
think of pomegranites and pearls,
or some wonderfully fashioned,
tlexIle bow, as resemblances. He
was always bis mothers idol aud
went by the sobriquet "motheTS
boy"
Once there was terrible fire
raging in an adjlcent building. The
firemen, brave men though they
were, half crazed with excitement
and thirst rushed into an adjoining
store and sought the whlskey bar
rel. Brother instantly sprang upon
it with an axe in his hand and dar-
ell them on the peril of their lives
to approach the barrel. The men
looked at him with astOnishment.
Seeing earnestness and fearlessness
depicted in bis couulenance they
quietly filed out of the store, leav.
lug him "mOnarch OF all he survey
ed" Perhaps it was little deed,
hut to me it speaks volumes. Had
the firemen gotten drunk, the flames
would have spread over the whole
block, causing great destruction, as
a fierce wind was blowing at the
time.
When We were growing up our
parents instilled into our minds the
principles of a useful life. One
made tor noble purposes and ac-
tions; to find pleasure in toll.
They taught us that the tree of
knowledge spreads her branches far
aud wide, and the diligent may eat
the fruit thereof; spurring on the
seeker on the shores of the infinite
to unexplOred fields of thought, ac-
ton, and happiness.
Brothers chief delight and en-
plOyment was the cultivation OF
flowers. Under his care the front
plet bloom like a parterre. His
callas we're the delight of behOlders
aud the Parma violet aud mystical
hOneysuckle, with its five cleft
calyX, united their perfume into one
of ecstatic sweetness, when the
Spring WakeHed them from Win
ters Jealous sleep. Perhaps it was
those silent communions with Ma
ture which guided bis nobler In-
stincts into lofty pursuits in after
years aud to dignity of being, for
"Aowers like poetry, elevate, and
bring into being all Of great aud
good that lies hidden within our
nature"
The FIRST school which we attend
ed was held in an old church. l
was then seven aud brother ten
years of age. How dignified aud
superior did be appear to me, as
carrying my book aud his be would
lead me along the rough ways
which led to the school house. AS
| look back over those halcyOu
days Of innocence many q happy
memory fits back to her golden
throne.
We had two little relatives, re-
spectively, an uncle aud aunt, who
we're exactly Of our age. The merry
mad pranks We used to play will
never be recorded. l remember l
possessed once a large wax doll,
which was given Be for a Christmas
present. During a visit Of my lit
tie kinfOlks / brought her ont
for iuenectiOu and praise. for