The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-18
HOW JOE SENT WORD.
Strange Story. of a Missing Son Who
Informed His Mother.
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
Ringgold, La.-Berry Hinson living be-
low this place. down in the ''piney woods"
region. is a Woodworking, fairly pros
porous farmer. Five years ago the Hin
sons were a very happy family, consisting
of Berry, his wife and one son, Joe, About
this time Joe, a steady, easy-going lad of
IS or 20, suddenly disappeared. All efforts
to trace him were unavaiiing. Some said
ne was drowned, others that he was muir
dered, but the most diligent and faithful
search failed to reveal his whereabouts.
1t is worthy of note that while both pa
rents grievously mourned his loss and
used every means in their power to ascer-
tain news of him, from the first Mrs. Hin
son expressed a firm belief that the boy
was alive and well, and would one day
come back home. During all the years
that have passed she has persistently chung
to her belief, though not one word came
from Joe in the meantime.
Last November, during the latter part
of the month, Berry and party of
friends went out to Lake Bisteneau duck
hunting Though ducks were plentiful
and everybody else in the crowd killed
great numbers of them Hinson, usually
fine shot played to hard luck, and when
the last day of the hunt came hadn't
bagged bird.
IF were you, I'd save my ammunition,
Berry" said one of the party, seeing Hin
son load up for a shot just as they were
preparing to break camp and return home.
Just this one for luck was Berrys
answer as he pulled the trigger, and one
lone duck dropped from his mates into the
water.
Let it alone, old fellow, it's only one,
and we've got enough to divided" said his
friends, seeing Hinson in the boat ready
to paddle out for the duck.
mo" was the answer, 'Ill get It and
carry it home to the old woman just for
luck"
The rest Of the story sounds like fiction.
but It Is fact, nevertheless, and pretty
interesting.
Hinson captured his game, carried il
home and that night when Mrs. Hinson
was picking the duck she found a small
glass bottle, Theoretically sealed and tied
to the birds wing comfortably stored away
underneath among the down.
Breaking the seal Mrs. Hinson found a
small bit of paper within, on which, with
low and wonder that may be better mag
ined than described, she read the words:
Tell mother to kill a turkey and bake
some potatoes for me Christmas. I'm
coming home. Joe"
OF course, this marvellous little episode
created a great deal of cogitation ana
comment in the neighborhood. and every
body was on the qui vive for the coming
OF Christmas, wondering II the recreant
Joe would be as good as his word so mirac-
ulously given.
n Is needless to say that II there were
anv doubling Thomases, Mrs. Hinson was
moi one OF them. with true mother instinct
she prepared the fatted calf, so to speak.
ind though Christmas Eve came without
Toe. she killed the biggest gobbler on the
Mace and robbed the potato bank Of Its
sweetest vans for the tnorrow's bake.
THE end sounds tame so true to story
hook tale Is It, for when Christmas day
came lust as dinner was ready 70 go on
the table, In walked Joe, big bearded
man now, but rejoiced to get home none
ae saws he captured the duck on one Of
| ,be Wisconsin lakes last summer, and
while he wrote that note and tied Il on
he bird "iust for fun" he has ever since
bad 4 vague feeling that his mother would
receive the message and be expecting him.
/ dare say most hayward sons count
nnon the mother at home being constantly
cxnecting them and ready to receive them
when they come, but not another, sup
pose, could hope 70 send a message the
way Joe did.