The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-06-02
FRANKLIN, La, June 2nd, 1900

| 1 HtIcStt, ucdI.
| Did you see the eclipse! If not, re-
member you will not be able to have an
| opportunity again for three hundred
years, and it is to he regretted so possess
your soul in patience.
Our little man industriously applied
| himself to the smoking Of glass on Sun
day and next morning at the unearthly
hour of 5, ran down to awaken the
household-The desire to witness this
grand and imposing spectacle was SO
great that we readily yielded to his So
lcitatious and SO saw the whole game of
hide and seek played between the sun,
moon and earth.
We called the cook and yardboy out
to enjoy the sight. the former said, LA,
Miss May, don't blcve nothin' NV the
kine-l'se hern NV the enc err de wOrl
evy sense kin reflect" We told her
that there was nothing so dreful in
prospect but she merely ''snffed' and
returned to the hitchen-however, when
the strange darkness began, she thought
better Of her haughtness and joined us
where we sat on little rise out on the
lawn-Behnd us sat Jim. quiet and
grave, evidently resigned to the newt
able. When the great luminary hung
like crescent. he mildly said. "Th't
looks like er slice of mush million"
She of the pots and pans turned tierccly
upon him with You hush up. jim, desc
Amt no mushmilion yOuse gwine eat
dis whole summer They were greatly
relieved when old Sol firing of the
moons presumption. shone forth as
naturally as ever AT the breakfast
table one of the family jokingly remark
ed that the scientists had not given all
they provided-that the eclipse had not
been total-just then Madam Cook came
in with hot biscuits. tossing her head she
blurted out, Il thinks deys done mighty
well to tell enything seein how dcy was
guessing-besides foolin wild Cords
doing whichen dey knows notin' or
bout
No amount of dignity could have in
duced an observance of the required
silence at time when she had Just
miraculously escaped utter humiliation,
Last Sunday evening long, sad con,
course of friends and relatives followed
young Alexander Grevernburg Frere to
his last home where sheltering oak
hangs its green banners above him and
where breeze stirred leaves will ever
sound requiem for "the early dead
evening the crowds thronged
the street laughed and chartered gaily
with "Alex" Sunday evening silent and
awe-struct, they gathered to hear that
The sorrow of death have cOmpassed
me. l met with trouble and sorrow.
The Lord is merciful and just, and our
God showeth mercy" 1t is so infinitely
sad to mourn the loss of the young-they |
to whom belongs the future with all its
bright and glorious promise. they upon
whom the aged should lean for support,
turn to for comfort. look to for love
and affection. But alas! they 4come
forth like flower and are destroyed
while they cry out, "My life is cut off.
rs by weaver; whilst | was yet begin
ming, he cut me off, And those bereft |
have the crown of sorrow firmly fitted
upon their brows and the ever>recurring |
plant. "Where is now then my expcc-
lation and who considereth my patiencey'
oh, Theresa, how our hearts go out to
those who mourn while we know words |
are powerless to convey comfort!
There was large class of First Com
municants on Thursday at the Catholic
Church and in the evening, it being the
last day of May, the little children col
ected by scores to take part in the pref
" ceremony Of browning the Virgin
Mother.
may tell you more about this some
other time but now l must say adieu.
trusting that there is little need for me
10 assure you how truly lam
Your friend,
RACHEL ARDEN