The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-10-06
Letter from Alabama.
DEAR RoBEsONIAN:


true. It is hard to realize that he
was 80 years old. He, too,
wearled with the journey, is
resting beneath the shade Ct
the trees. God has called him
home; it is we'll.
He was my first teacher. My
earliest lessons were taught me by
him. Is it in order to give some
incidents suggested by the men
ton of his name? A kinder man
never lived. I was very small,
too young to be confined in a
school-room. AS WAS natural, |
grew very sleepy. Did he use his
rod of correction" to arouse me?
Not at all; but made me as COM
Portable as he could by laying me
on bench, where | slumbered as
sweetly as if l had been at home.
Gratitude warmed Into love, and [
have never ceased to remember
this evidence Of a noble nature.
It was little thing, say you; but
kind acts are heart-blos5oms that
sweeten the very atmosphere in
which the good walk.
He was one of US at that old
school at "Centerville." There
were quite a number Of large boys
and young men in that school,
and Mr.. McNair laid aside his
dignity at noon to take. part in the
games. He was remarkably ac-
tive. His running was one of the
features of the school.
On one occasion, a foot-race was
arranged between him and John
NJ, who was not SO tall or fleet
Of foot. He gave John twenty
five yards the start, or advantage.
At the dropping OF the hat, the
signal for starting, each stralnlng
every nerve and muscle, pressed
forward for the goal, and, wonder
full to relate, our short-legged
friend barely won the race. Such
a victory was a defeat.
1t was the custom in those good
old days to earn Christmas holi.
day or days by turning out the
teacher. If, however, the master
| succeeded in getting into the
school-house, or to the back par
of it, he controlled the situation
and the pupils must take theil
books, for that day, and then h
, was open to the consideration of s
} ethion for holidays.
remember as we'll as If it hat
been yesterday that myself ant
the children of our family arrived
> at cold Centerville" one Christ
! ! mas morning-or the day before
1 possibly, and found the McGeach,
! boys, the McNatts, the Councils
l l the McEacherns, the McRaineys
I and some of the McNairs, per
chance, standing in tho door an
i only too. confident of their abilit,
''to hold the FORT and compe
the coveted rest time. Mr.. Nc
= Nair was walking back and fort
! On the outside. He remarked t
us that the boys had stopped u
! the doorway and would not lie
u him in. He was cool and cur
u ming. He walked, but cast furtiy
L chances toward the mass of youn
: men, only waiting to catch thel
. off their guard They grew care
less. He saw his opportunity. Il
= charged, or rather sprang like
+, lion, upon his prey. And such
II scuffle, such a scramble, such
- L, tussle [ had never seen before. ]
was like Achilles among the Tre
II jams, but the boys covered hin
- like ants upon an insect and /
would have been forced out ha
q not his brother Nathaniel come
2 the rescue, when "the teacher
q was master of the situation, al
ID his call, "Take your books,'' W,
7r reluctantly obeyed. Did we g
4 the holiday? Of course, but
1t was of grace and not of debt.
Of is hard to realize that he hs
y reached his four-score years, b
10 it was so.
w A noble, true, good man h
OF fallen. His character was beaut
le- full; his record was clean al
e, bright. It will be a grand al
s. glorious day when the pure al
or good who knew each other in tt
III life shall meet around the gre
r. white throne.
7ll Duncan McNair was the eide
he brother of an excellent fami,
lis Nathaniel died, I think, recent
tt John g., the youngest, died ma
years ago. Rev. Malcolm, too,
.u- no more. He and his couS
IS, John G. did so much for Robes
to county that they are held in p
ers petual remembrance. Let us tn
,ed that they are in Paradise.
full Miss Julia Baker, we'll known
lge Maxton, Red Springs and oil
l." points in good old Robson, is
TX lighting her friends in this co
me mnnity with her charming socie
the She is the very picture of hea
5ht and the embodiment of loveline
the If we only had young man W
But whom she might be willing to j
i've hands in the journey of life, No
rit, Alabama would be enriched
an such an acquisition. She has b.
WI to ST. Louis on q visit to her slst
: in will remain here with her cousi
lily the family of Mr.. John G. Bal
ere and then return to Florida. :.
md To meet friends from No
ties Carolina is a source of great pie
md ure to me. This sweet-splrl
ave young lady, a beautiful represe
rst- ative of her native land and
I'LL fathers family, has awakened
.rly associations that are most pie