Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1888-1899, 1890-12-25

tons Mm1amV ears we're drinking IN tae
sweet tones Of tenderness peculiar n q
mothers voice I could fancy the touch
of her soft hand upon my aching head,
a. she smeothed my heavy tresses
back from my hrok In the old caresslag
way and kissod ny forehead I coald
almost catch the Fentle tones with which
! knew sho would address ne. were she
present nov.
Courage. my ehild: and remember
that a H.others prayers are always with
you. and that 10 who cares for the spar.
ruw will also watch over Yea and give
you streArth for ths battle % life Ia
Il bard. I know"
'-Can you wrlte a letter. Missg"
The bridge aud its great panora ma had
long since vanished from my physical
seuses; the village home swiftly fol-
lowud now The dear old mothers face
faded and disappeared. Her gentle In.
junction. woven into her blessing was
Fudely shattered W this teFse. matter
~ fact quory. came out u ny dream-
life vita a painful shock which left me
fur a moment speechless. I looked a.
the man dumfounied. lie seemed what
In my limited experience Western
mluer ought 81 lo1k like A broad.
/ brim ulol slogch hat coarse trousers In
/ side - heavy boots and a far coat gave
/ him the appearance ~ grizzly boar,
sueh a. ! bal seen pictured N my
school -books H. face. howeveF. was
Z kiud, pleasant ana wore a respectful
4 expression. lie Was q man probably
not inorv than thirty -ave years q age.
1 tuud ! write letter. Well Could
a hamaa machine rotate and move In IL
vell-wurn grooves Coaii type
writer ryrord human speerh7
'Can writs a lettsrYr iaterrogated.
mechanically, still TaEiag a. him
I blankly
That's about she sise % it. Mss" b.
asssutri. NTH a slight relaxation of bis
sal louk ''Noa src Miss. I've Just
come oa from IeaJy.lle, where I've bssa
\ far alruat trn years Ige made lots ~
money out ther. in the miHps and I've
I cumo back o. sotlls dasn. I've got 10
staY Ia tlc ritg Tor wo,k - tNo on
some lusiuess. and - ! thought IA just
. rct s1ur one % urtte letter fuF me O.
my GA mother
"tl write your letter | said
. promptly The 'oll mother bad
settled tho matter sith me- Ny wcari-
ness seemed o. have gone with the
Z faded ptcturos
hut said I thoughtlcssly. "wby 20
not yuu write it your-elf7 Ngur mother,
v am sure. wgald saiae d. more IL writ
Ten IS you.
.Gusss eualin't 90 L. Miss" be
said. Nlth a paIusi look. I'm learn
ing 70 Writa. but LIN afraid the ola
mother rouldn't real my Wrlting u0W 4"
IT, bad picked up my prncil, aui VAS
scritbllnv oB p.ere ~ paprr 'tnuiI
You rcai thatf be asked, banding 30 %
me
managed D. deeipher mother bat
thai was an oould snake out
"Nou a-.d your left hand. said 1.
"vhy a. not yoa learn % write vita
your right Unsteady" TAoughtlossly )
the gurstion was rus ani it proiured 4
deeper pain On his faec
.uH' know hou 10 write with that "
said lr. hD.ltatnsly
nutiael bis Increasing psrplexity,
aud also che fact taat be- ala not Nith.
lraw his right arm from bis coat
poekrt
Thea why o. you not use that hands'
urgrd. still hlundsringly
well, Miss. Yoa see left that hand
out In issalviIle An explosion took II
|uH
lie bad pat the pencil doxn. and
hooked quite Discouraged at bi. cforts
! iunEvd b. make amends fuF the pain !
bad though tlessly ucraaioned. - ! sent
a. The little typcwrltsF. saylnr 4 vii
write your letter IN this"
"iiut whAt = that9' be asked, With 4
puztiel iook, layihR his bauI On ths
machine.
I leKpIainel ~ showinw him = sheet
~ ths typeWFltinW 10 locked IL oYrI
qaI ideally aud handed it back 81 me
With a negative shaAs ~ the bead. say.
ing. Not any for ne, Miss The poor
old mother wouldn't ike lt she'd
think it vas newspaper work ! want
her q have rral gchaino, hand-writ
letter, something more s0ciable like.
you kuos.
hesitated foF an instant was
tired and waited 20 get away from ths
office 81 course could write his lettei
vita pen ana INK; bat IL was only cues.
tlon whether I shoaii humor him %
not decided In his favor haA beeu
mnslnr. ! bad q long -alaent ffirnl
also, out in The Western coantry some,
where. lie bad left a mother and me
years ago We werc very dear % cart
other once but a light cloud separated
a.. ard yet I loved bin still Fprhap,
we might yet meet under more joyoa.
Circumstances Mho knows9
The stranger noticed my hesitation
momentary though u WaA and ven
tured: Mother would be % pleased 4
have"
YES, of course. interrupted. full,
decided sslEed pen. aud. placing
sheet " paper before me, said VA
ali ready 10 proceed.
"A Naat 10 - ~ something like this.
be began. thoaxhttallys "'Dear old
/ mother
melted. as traced those words o
the sheet They we're the hoy 70 N,
heart and they had unlocked IL ~
seemed wrestling with some problem
and ! tried % encourage him 70 prooeea
with the diotation.
4 want II writ kiad aud tander like
just like ia talk 10 her II she VA
here"
Yea assented, hoiding my pes
poised.
Bat 70 tell u all - q stranger"
Yea ! understand; but how can
write it for yoa unless yoa dog" arged.
Thea ! added: "You can speak freely Z
me. have a mother, TOO, a good way
from here, and I can imagine an writ
ing 10 her"
That's "a. he replied. frightening
while something almost like a hlaah
oyersprcaA bis bronzed face
Then I'll so ahead. say % her
Your boy. who left you tea years aga
on whose bead yea laid your dear hand
and gave your partinR blessing. And
told him b remember yeu always and
that- that God wuald take ears of him-
Al -
..mesaA s..sKa.s4w a. A.. A.. 80