The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-09-02
Written for the Democrat.Star.
4 MEMORY OF the PAST.

| ~ bWesWVubu W uuue bvOSs
Mrs. r. A. Dimitry, wife of the
author OF the following poem, after
the lapse OF many years, recalls with
pleasurable rccollections those long
gone days OF the past when as little
"Gussie" Nortleet,of Greensboro, Ala.
she was the especial pet and favorlte
of the swcet-faced and gentle-voiced
Miss Sallie Pearson, Of the same town
Miss Pearson, now Mrs. HobsOn, was
even at that early age, universal IA
v0rite with all ages and classes, who
loved and admired her for those many
cStimable traits Of character with
which kindly mother nature Is some
times wont to endow her most favor
ed children. There are members
among the human family whose infu
ence is magnetic in its sweep; there
are Others, again, whose presence is
antagonistic and repulsive to those by
whom they are surrounded.
So gracious and attractive was the
influence welded by that fair type OF
maiden, she counted her admirers not
by the tens, but by the hundreds, and
no social or other gathering within
the precincts of her bonnie home town
was voted a success unless "Sallie'
were there to grace it with her charm
ing presence. Time, In its inexorablc
flight, leaves only the memory Of the
dead and gone past, and the glory
and greatness OF the South Of ANTI
DELLUM days have gone, never again
to be recalled.
To-day, the "sn0b" and the "parve-
nue." have arisen from out the ashes
Of pastw0rld distinction and seek to
usurp the royal robes Of the dcpOscd
kings and queens OF time, which,
reaching to the utmost confines Of
Europe, made the words IAN old
Southern family" synonymous with
all that was chivalric 10 character and
sincerely hospitable in heart-im-
pulses; a distinction OF which not
even the poverty and misfortunes Of
to-day can rob them.
From such "old stock" descends the
mother OF that grand character who
has so lately become the whole worlds
wonder and admiration.
But the love which existed between
the child Of ten and the young lady Of
eighteen, was a love. which far sur
passed the ordinary loves of life. That
on the part Of the young lady
was the tender protecting care Of an
elder sister, whilst that on the part OF
the child was all the beautiful and
trusting love an innocent child be-
slows upon one up to whom it looks
with the unquesti0ning faith and con.
hdence OF childhood; and the many
long years which have intcrvened,
have not served to dim that love.
Mrs. Dimitry still recalls to mind
many'Of the "wise sayings and dOings"
lrst Of "baby" and, later on, OF "Mas-
ter Rich" as he was affectlonately
called by the old ''uncles" and "aun-
ties" servants Of the various families
about.
Weare told that "the boy Is father
to the man." and In the light Of pres
ent events, never was an axiom more
true than that just quoted when ap.
piled to the following incident IN the
earlier (boyhood) years Of Richmond
Pearson Hobson.
A younger sister of Mrs. Dimitry's-
wee winsome fairy Of tender years
(alas! that the grim reaper, Death,
should have claimed for his own In
her early womanhOod one SO lovable Of
heart and nature and Whose young
life gave 30 much OF promise for u
bright, glad future) was, In after years
the daily playmate Of the sturdy, man.
ly boy, who, even at that early aye,
began to develope the after-traits Of
his character-chivalry and gentle.
ness Of nature--in his careful and
tender guardianship Of his little com.
paniou during their many hours Of
play In and about the H0bson and
Norieet mansidns.
Dear "Annie Lauriew the winsome
and goldsn-chrled playmate Of bis
needless bOyhood years, sleeps to-day
peacefully and calmly-0hl % peace-
tully!-under the sod Of 6oweT-plant-
ed grave many, many miles away from
tho homo of their mad romps when
the on-sttIdInG years held for neither
shadows Of their portsntious, events;
Tor them their present hold only the
y - ------- ~ NAAae AAAssakA-V