The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-04-30
A IOWLY HERO.

Like Rasselas the Abyssinian. we
lived the balmy days .only to know
the soft vicissitudes of pleasure and
repose." We wandered lin gardens
Of fragrance and slept in fortresses Of
security. but like all pleasure seek
ers we were now weary OF the msnot-
onous round OF uneventful days. and
former delights grew stale. Gentle
Mr.. Gray and Miss Harland. the in
valid whose thin. scarlet cheeks and
bright eyes told too plainly the pros
ence OF the destroyer the quiet rector
and the somewhat pompous ma, or with
his little blonde wife. made up our
party.
Someone tell a story. please. :"
cooed the pretty blonde. tossing aside
Hero Worship" WHO ever knew
q live herop" she laughingly asked.
Il have" promptly answered Mrs
Gray.
How delightful! Do tell us about
him; who was hep"
The one instance of true heroism
that came under my immediate no.
tice said the little woman was dis
played by hero of ebon hue, strong
young Hercules who though rough
and untaught possessed nature
grand. deep and noble"
Yes" assented the sentimental
major. Often among the humblest
flowers we find the rarest odors."
And" resumed Mrs Gray.
'nmong the busy workers, with
hardened hand and toil-stained faces.
we find great hearts strong and true.
and minds though uncultivated.
ready and sagacious. During the late
war. she continued, my father and
brother were in the army and the
overseer being drafted into service
my mother. my sisters and myself
were compelled to leave our beautiful
home in the city and go up the river
to the plantation to manage, as best
we could, the affairs OF that place.
Our people were trustworthy and
kind. so we had but little trouble. A
few weeks after our arrival at the
plantation our hearts were saddened
= Rachel was her name; she had
nursed my mothers older children,
and we were all very much attached
to her. Rachel died suddenly. oil
heart trouble the physician said. and
her little children were cared for
by good old granny. Albert the
husband OF Rachel. was field hand.
and a reliable man"
''Of what time do you speakP"
This was in the spring OF 1864.
The trans-Mississippi department wa:
under the command Of the confederate
general 4. Kirby Smith. The struggle
east OF the Mississippi river had drawn
from us the chivalry OF the great
Southwest; the sons OF Arkansas. Mis-.
sissippi Louisiana and Texas were
scattered from Gettysburg to Vicks
burg. and diminished force com.
posed OF the fathers and husbands
were left to meet the gathering foe
that threatened. with General Steele
Mt Little Rock, Ark. and General
Banks at Alexandria La The con.
script bureau had CLEANED the fields
OF the last Of the bearded grain, and
nothing was left but the flowers tina,
grew between'--the boys too young &c
go far from home, realizing now the
danger. coming so near. rs fast as al
lowed repaired to camps, and yet the
force was not large enough.
Then new order came and the
men-slaves were impressed and sent
to the shops as laborers and teamster:
in the various departments. to fill such
places as they could in order that fol-
every slave so employed another sol
der could be relieved and go to the
front The burden OF feeding ant
clothing the army devolved upon the
women OF the South. Cheerfully auG
with untold SACRIFICES did they DE-
their part Our people did not escape
the impressment law.
Excuse me. but whom do you NEAR
by our people?'" chirped the beauty
from the hammock.
I'VE called our slaves our poo.
ple' responded Mrs. Gray with &
smile. They were impressed into
service and sent to Shreveport La.
to work. Among the men was one
who had been married only year; h,
objected to leaving his wife and baby
Jake was his name. While they wer,
discussing the question among them
selves Albert presented himself at thu
dining. room door.
Good mawnin'. mistis he said
dofiing his hat an skuse me TO
'sturbin' yer brekfus. but Ise akin
favor dis mawnin'.
,.All right Albert What is itp
asked my mother.
Yer see mistis as how Jake Il
sprcsscd along wild tudder niger
an Jake he got likely wife an
mighty antic boy
",Wellp
ALBERT hesitated and scratched hi
woolly pate.
III know my mother said sympa
| thetically. 1 know all the circum
kstances. but am powerless.
NJ ~ amt blaimin' yer mistis; thu
Lawd knows I amt er blaimin' no
body; but druther go in Jake's place
an let him stay wild hees wife an boy.
why AlbertF exclaimed my
mother. You can't mean 1t! How
should Iget along without youP Thinl
of the number OF women and children
b, be provided for; the men left behint
are too old and the boys too young T.