Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-03
RECEIVING HER ADOPTED SON."


their names nor say anything which
would enlighten the authorities. She
said that she knew she was dying, and
she would die contented IL she could
only be assured that some kind person
would care for ''her boy" She said
that when Leroy Mason was only six
weeks old he was given to her, and
that she had promised to never tell any
one anything about his origin.
II was slave" she said, land lived
with the family until after the war.
Then 1 came to Washington because the
family was scattered, and / WAS free
But I always loved the family. for all
Of them were kind to me. will never
tell anything about them, for they were
good people always, and I loved my
little mistress"
That was all, save that she said she
belonged to the Mason family, took her
name from that family, and that Ma
son was the correct name of the boy.
She also said that she had lived In Vir-
ginia. Inasmuch as the Mason family
of Virginia is a large family, it was,
of course, weH-nigh impossible to ascer-
tain to which branch of that family
little Leroy belonged. The mystery
was not solved by these slight admis-
sions.
But the boy was in the hands of a
good kind woman, who soon gained his
confidence. She told him that his
mother" would not live, and that his
parents must be found, in order that
some one might be required to ,are
for him. Finally he said that his
mother" used to receive letters, which
were read to her by colored girls and
sometimes by white gentlemen who
were called in to her attic rooms for
that purpose. His mother" had urged
him 20 study hard at school, in order
that some day he might read letters
for her, and write letters for her.
Within the last two years he has been
able to read her letters for her, and
write letters in reply. But he would
not ten anything unless his mother"
gave him permission to do so. He was
taken TO the hospital several times to
see her, but the old woman adjured him
never 10 tell. he persisted in his ST.
lence, saying tibet he would never dis
obey her.
lie had not only been sent to school,
but he was one of the beloved little
attendants of Calvary Baptist Sunday
school, and his teachers were oil inter
ested in him; particularly when they
ascertained, through the daily papers,
that there was a mystery concerning
his birth and parentage. He was well
bred, well hammered and manifested
the refinement of gentle breeding. His
old guardian had been reared as a house
servant in a Virginia family, and those
house servants in the old Virginia fami-
lies well knew how to bring up chill
drSa.
AT last old Lucy Mason died in the
hospital, carrying with her to the grave
the mystery of Leroy Mason's par.
entage. But fortunately she had lived
long enough to have the little fellow
read her letters and answer them fol-
her, and he knew his mothers name
and address. The lady who had taker
him into her home then convinced him
that, inasmuch as his mother" was
gone, and what he might say could dc
her no harm, but would benefit him.
self, he gave the desired information
and himself wrote letter to his real
mother, telling her that he was alone
helpless and in charge of strangers
The letter was addressed to Buffalo
N. Y.
An answer came quickly. His mother
is married; happily married. She ha.
, family, and will take Leroy as heI
adopted son" with the consent of he,
husband. How this matter will b,
cleared up in the domestic atmospher,
II not known. But the little fellow 4,
to have home at last, with his rea
mother.
But what Of his future? Poor It'll,
eeilowl He is to be the adopted SON
OF his own mother. Truly truth Il
stranger than fiction.
1 SMITH n urv