The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-01-14
A SUBSTITUTE.
uov He Cleared the Sky OF Its
Dark Clouds for Nett o.

wa lived in the little village OF
o,o,on. At least our house was In the
,illape, and tho forty-acre farm ran
hack to tho banks of Lash creek which
Was Was our southern boundary.
Our family consisted OF father.
nother, brother Ralph, and me. Ralph
listed in company of infantry, or
, s,ni,ed about Oberon in 1861, though
h. was only twenty years OF age. No
one thought tho war would last long,
O father said it was the duty Of all
1or.l citizens to assist in putting down
,ho rebellion. So we felt proud OF our
palnh when he babe us goodbye, and
,ho company marched out of town in
their new blue uniforms, and with their
slittering muskets, though tears were
IN all cur eyes. Don't cry" said
father, Ralph will be back by harvest
time"
But Ralph wasn't back for year, and
when he did come he had left one arm
bsbind him on the battlefield. His
soldier DAYS were over. 1t was in the
suring Of '6S, and | was just seventeen
years old.
Ralph's constitution was very much
shattered, and it was fully year be-
fore he could do any work. Then, OF
course, he couldn't do much on the
farm. SO father mortgaged it for five
hundred dollars and sent Ralph to Gin
cinnati to study medicine. He said:
"My boy must have work that can be
done with one arm"
Ralph had been gone less than three
months when the first draft was made,
and father was drafted. He was just
within the limit, as he had not quite
completed his forty-tifth year. He
couldn't 60 and leave no one at home
but mother and me; so he found sub.
stitute, and to pay him mortgaged the
farm for five hundred dollars more.
The two debts worried father greatly.
Aman named Joel Griffin, who lived in
the village, held both mortgages. He
was the owner of a grist-mill, and II
was said that he made most OF his
money by robbing the farmers in tax
Ing toll He was as old as father, and {
dried-up little man, always winkine
and blinking. used to cross the roat
to keep from meeting him, but h'
seemed to try to meet me; and he would
put out his hand, which, of course,
couldn't refuse to take.
'Good-morning, Miss Nettie; you lool
positively charming this morning; yo'
do, indeed. Do you know. Miss Nettie
iiIwasn't so old I'd be looking for
wife; l would, indeed. Yes, and
wouldn't look far, Miss Nettie; no,
wouldn't look far"
The mortgages were drawn for on
year. Griffin had told father h
wouldn't loan the money. for longe
term, but that II the interest was pal
promptly he would take new notes an
extend the mortgage another year.
Father died before the first mortgag
fell due, three months after engagin
hi, substitute. Ralph came home t
the funeral, and remained only abor
two weeks. He spoke Of giving up hI
studies and trying to work the farm
but neither mother nor / would liste
to that.
why, how will you ever manage
meet those mortgages?" asked Ralph.
" don't know, Ralph" mother had r
piled, 'but the Lord will provide
way
when are they due? inquire
Ralph. Mother got out fathers q
count-book. The first was due May /
1854, the second July Is, 1864.
ut will be nearly two years yet
said Ralph, before can hope for d
ploma, and it will take some time
build up a practice. trust that If v
can manage till then our troubles wi
be over"
Ralph went back. In January the
was another draft which took our hir
man, John Gober, and mother and
we're left alone on the farm. About
week after John Gober h ad been draft
was sitting in the front room sewi
"nen heard step on the piazza, q
as looked out saw young man ste
ping up to the front door. opened t
ao0r when he knocked. "Is this t
Morris farm2" he asked.
Ut is" replied.
u am looking for work" said
and heard that the hired man here
oeen drafted, and / thought you mig
want another"
III call mother" said i; come il
snd gave him a chair. Mother ca
III pretty soon and said: "Yes, we
need a hired man If any one ever
,os were all alone on the farm W
Ausses' and cattle, and hogs to lc
Aef' and crop to put in in the spri
mat is, II we don't lose the farm
sou aont look as If you could do ia
WORK ,aI How old are your"
iwenty-three," was the answer.
what is your nameP said mothe,
Heorge Marvin he replied.
i.. been in the country long.
.asaer was killed in the service;
@ ~, has since died. My only sis
nfihg with an uncle in Bradford,
ls.ed, but the examining physici
suaiant accept me. They said so
ding dug was wrong with my lungs, br
s wi believe it guess / look so wi
h hoa being In the house so much.
o ~sa Writing book for the last II
a dI.asas, and now | want outdoor .,