St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-07-19
WHATS IN A NAME ?"
A FOURTH OF JULY STORY.

not quite score of years ago. Her face
showed the mingling of English and
Scotch characteristics; just now 1t was
fearful and angry besides.
"Why can't they let me alone? Why
did mother give me such Manner That
was about the sum of her vexed thoughts.
Well, it was funny. One couldn't ex-
actly blame the boys for laughing when at
roll-call every morning they heard the
name, "Independerce Dav." If the red
blood surged back to her eals once, it hac
q hundred times as she answered, "Pres-
ent." That roll call was her biggest trial.
Her mother always called her Pen" and
to casual listeners that might mean "Pen-
elope" The girls often said "Indie, for
it was in the days when the les had it all
to themselves, and she didn't mind that so
much. But boys are merciless, and to
hear them Singer and whisper. "Reg'lar
Fourth O. July, amt she7" was an almost
daily martyrdom; while there would sit
Miss Thompson, the teacher, with spec
tacles on her nose, and her short sight in
tent on the list of names. checking them
off, oblivious of what was passing behind
the DESKS
This day fresh grievance had come in
the suggestion from youngster at recess
that they "beg lock of Miss Indepen-
dence Day Us hair to light fire crackers with
tomorrow" Well! To have such name
and red hair into the bargain was too
much, and she grew more and more raging.
She had one of those strong, intense ma
lures which bear long in silence, but cnce
giving up, give up utterly for the time.
Bursting into the house, she threw herself
into her mothers arms in passion of
tears, sobbing, "Why did you give me
such dreadful name?
II always meant to talk to you about
your name, Pen dear, but was waiting till
you were little older. I'm sorry | didn't
do it earlier but had no idea what my
little daughter was bearing. You know
your father and lived in England years
before you were born your brother whom
you never saw lies in green churchyard
there. But we were poor and life was
pretty hard for US, so we decided to try
our fortune in the United States. Every
thing prospered with US after we came
here. Your father found constant work
and we were very happy. | suppose that
was the reason he became so devoted to
his adopted country. He used to say he
was the best kind of an American citizen;
others were born so, but he was one from
choice. Then came the civil war, and
could see he was uneasy, thinking he
ought to enlist. But he wouldn't until he
had saved money enough to keep me conf
Portable, so it got to be in the second year.
I remember twas the twentieth of March
he left me, the March before you were
born. The last thing, he whispered to
me: when the baby comes call it I'm
dependence" That name'll answer for boy
or q girl either, and it fits so well on Day"
I half thought he meant 1t for joke to
make me smile instead of cry, but there
was no time to explain, for the next min
ute he had kissed me and was gone. l
needn't tell you how lonely and anxious
was. The time went on to those dreadful
days in the first week of July, 1868. Yes,
your father was at Gettysburg. How
anxiously watched the papers. and on the
third-that's nine years ago to-day-the
evening paper brought terrible !sws to
me, as to many another woman. There
was the list of the dead, and there was his
regiment there was his company and
there was his name-James Day. No
other man named Day in that company !;
there could be no mistake. He had been
killed at the first of the fighting. can
see those fearful letters now when shut
my eyes" Here Mrs. Day quite broke
down, and little Pen couldn't say word,
only stroLed her mothers hand silently.
After minute Mrs. Day controlled her
self.
"Next morning, the morning of July
fourth, you came, my darling, my COM
forter. And this is the reason why you
are Independence Day l couldn't give
you any other name. You are your
fathers owu child his hair, his eyes, even
his intense nature, are yours Now that
she knows, am sure my little daughter
will be brave as he was, and proud of her
name because of him. Remember always,
dear, not boy of them all would laugh
if they knew the real story they would
be too manly"
So it happened that when Miss Ipdepen-
dence Day went to school ON the morning
of July fifth, there was certain new dig
nifty in the child's bearing; when roll call
came her voice had lost its petulance and
had gained an unknown sweetness, withal
a ring which reminded one of clear toned
bell. Something in her tone said, "You
may tease as much as you like; | shan't
mind, for I've got q secret" and we all
know that.when boys find teasing doesn't
tease, they stop.
This is not all, however, nor even the
best part of the story. One day before
her tormentors had grown tired of stir
ring her up" as they called it, she CHANGED
to wear string of coral beads. Jack
LYMAN, the would-be wit of the school,
snatched at it rudely, calling out, ''Hsre's
Indies "coral strand Seeing her look
Of perplexity, he added, mockingly: "lf
YER don't know what that means, better
jine girls missionary s'ciety."
Stung by the contempt in his voice, res
olute little Independence made up hel
mind she would know what it meant. OF
course she asked her mother, and though
Mrs, Day was not overwise on missionary
topics. she had heard Bishop Heber's
grand old hymn, and explained it's mean
ing as best she could.
The story took hold on the child with 8
strange fascination. She never would put
on those beads again, but she often took
them out of their box and looked at item
with something like affection, repeating
softly TO herself, ''Ipdie's coral strand.
She always said Indies" not 'India's,
as If it were personal possession.
God sometimes uses small and strange
means to accomplish great purposes. By
such little thing the girls interest il
missions was awakened 1t grew as she
grew to womanhood, and India became thu
country of her dreams.
Her twentieth birthday found her mother
less, with NO duty to bind her to this sid'
| If the world it found her also strong il
purpose to live her life in that far off land
| working for its people. If, mingling will
this devotion, was lurking thought tina
| no heather would ever learn to call her b,
her Christian name, who will blame herr
| Thus it was that little Independence
Day grew up to be self reliant woman
and on this Fourth of July she is too ia