St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-02-17

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.
Il was a slave" she said, .'and I lived
with the family until after the war.
Then came to Washington because the
| family was scattered, and | was free.
But / always loved the family. for all
of them were kind to me. Twill never
tell anything about them, for they were
good people always, and 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 large family it was,
of course, well-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, ,swho 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
flor 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
thatpurpose. His "mother'' had urged
Ii to 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 tell anything unless his mother"
gave him permission to do so. Heswas
taken to the hospital several times to
see her, but the old woman adjured him
never to tell. He persisted in his 81
lence, saying thet he would never dis
obey her.
He 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 all inter-
ested in him; particularly when they
ascertained, through the daily papers,
that there was mystery concerning
his birth and parentage. He was well
bred, well hammered and manifested
the refinement of gentle breeding. His
oIl IoI hoa
servant in Virginia family, and those
house servants in the old Virginia fami-
lies well knew how to bring up chill
dren.
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 dc
her no harm, but would benefit him
self, he gave the desired information,
and himself wrote a letter to his real
mother, telling her that he was alone.
helpless and in charge of strangers.
The letter was addressed to Buffalo,
". Y. 4
An answer came quickly. His mother
is married; happily married. She has
"a. family, and will take Leroy as her
adopted son" with the consent of her
husband. How this matter will be
cleared up in the domestic atmosphere
is not known. But the little fellow is
to have home at last, with his real
mother.
But what Of his future? Poor little
fellow! He is to be the adopted son"
of his own mother. Truly truth is
stranger than fiction.
SMITH D. FRY.