The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-07-16

N ooh, Ihave been
L W II up in the garnet
u turning things up
side down looking for the old brass
candlestick that Aunt Mary told us
about at tea last evening. I couldn't
find it; I think some collector must
have it by this time. But you can't
guess what | found. In overhauling
your old papers I came across letter
written by q Confederate soldier in
July, 1864, while Sherman was max
ing his march to the sea. The letter
is so touching, so manly, just letter
of a homesick boy to his mother. 1t
is most interesting. I wonder you
never told me about it. On the enve-
lope is written: Captured at Roding,
Mississippi, July 81, 1864, with a
large Confederate mail It is direct
ed to Mrs. Henry Darling, Shirley,
Georgia. Oh, it is a long letter. He
was brave, good fellow, but he was
not fond Of war;"
The speaker was a young girl OF
seventeen, bright, graceful and even
beautiful. Her features were nearly
perfect, her hair blonde and wavy and
the expression of her strong, intellect
ual face showed that she was in com
plete sympathy with the tone of the
soldiers letter. Her sweet, womanly
manner and the corresponding gentle
graces gave one at first acquaintance
with her lasting and most favorable
impression.
The father had laid aside his paper
to listen to the low music of his
daughters voice as she enthusiastic.
ally told the story of the letter, think.
ing more of the beautiful picture she
unknowingly presented and Of the
great comfort she was to him in his
old age.
"Tell me about the capture of the
letter, father" she said.
"My dear, it is so long q time ago,
I don't remember the circumstances
clearly. We captured large Confed
crate mail and the letters were scat.
tered among the soldiers as souvenirs.
This one came in my way and I sent
it home as a curiosity. I had for
gotten all about it.
She had found out all her father
knew of the matter, and so Miss Nor,
Ian went to her room to re-read the
letter which had touched her heart
And she wove a pretty romance about
the writer Of this manly letter.
II wonder what was the fate of this
noble fellow?-he may still be living,
she said. Then she murmured aloud
half startled at the thought, ''Tl
write to him. No, that would be un
maidenly. But surely I can send the
letter to his poor old mother. Lee
me see. Oh, I know what I'll do, II
write to the postmaster at Shirley
he'll tell me if such o person lives
there. It's not impossible"
She fastened down to the librar,
and wrote the note, saying she wished
to communicate with the person con
corning an incident of the late war
It was not long before she received {
reply-very briefly from the soldier
brother, saying: "My brother Georg'
was killed at Atlanta, July %, 1864
On comparing dates she found tina
the brother was killed two days afte.
the Confederate mail had been cap
tured, and this letter was the las
loving message of the soldier to hi
mother.
If my readers will trust this kind
beautiful woman to do all in he1
power to make persons happy, leave
her for a little and let her see TIL
Southern home at Shirley.
"Well, Fred this is strange" sait
MI. Darling, as he sat down in al
easy chair.
"What is it, father?"
"Thirty-three years have passe'
since my brother George was killed a
Atlanta, and here is q note that tn
postmaster gave to me-"
"Let me see it, father. I'm in
terested. Are you going to answe
it,"
81 have already written and toll
her that he was killed at Atlanta"
'T'm glad you answered the note,
said Fred. "Who can tell what ma
come of it?"
! The father and son talked about tn