The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-02-09
RECEIVING HER ADOPTED SON.

REVIEWING HER ADOPTED SON.
child were apparently devotedly at.
tached to each other, and both of them
cried when they were separated.
The officers of the police force and
the ladies of the. missionary society
shook their heads and admitted that
in all of their experience with fallen
and suffering humanity they had never
known nor heard of such a case. The
old negro woman said that the child
was given to her to keep, that she knew
its parents, but she would not give
their names nor say anything which
would enlighten the authorities. She
said that she knew she was dying, and
she would die contented if 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.
81 was slave" she said, "and lived
with the family until after the war.
Then came to Washington because the
family was scattered, and I was free.
But I always loved the family, for all
of them were kind to me. I 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-
- e.
of Virginia is 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
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 care
for him: Finally he said that his
mother" used to3reeeive letters, which
were read tosher by colored girls and
sometimes by white gentlemen who
were called in to her attic rooms for
that purpose. His mother" had urged
L,
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 tell anything unless his mother"
gave him permission to do so.
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 for
her, and he knew his mothers name
and address. The lady who had taken
him into her home then convinced him
that, inasmuch as his mother" was
gone, and what he might say could do
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 has
family, and will take Leroy as her
adopted SON" with the consent of her
husband. How this matter viii be
cleared up in the domestic atmosphere
is not known. But the little fellow is
to have a home at last, with Ills real
mother. SMITH d. FRY.
It is the Pittsburgh -Tele-
Qrauh that suggests that automobile