The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-06-08
Hiram CroSsley.
w1LBERT r. CREANER

had earned his name. When but a ch'ld
he would "play sick" if his father wished
him to work. All through his boyhooo
the main object of his life seemed to be
to get out Of work. The things that nc
cared to do were to 60 fishing, to feao'
and to build air castles.
The children at school made sport OF
his awkwardness and dreamy habits. HIS
father was rough with him and con-
tinually reminded him Of his shiftiess,
law ways, telling him that he would come
to no good end and that he wasn't worth
the salt that he ate and never would be.
Such. treatment and lectures hardened
him, and, to make things worse, his
brother ''lordcd it" over him and was
encouraged to do so by his father. tor
the reason that them that does the work
oughter do the bossin'." His mother
tried to offset the evil she knew would
come of this treatment by giving him
Kindness and love in abundance.
The mother helped matters little, but
lust as Hiram would try to reform he
would do something to bring down the
wrath of his father and the scorn Of
nj, brother. Hiram would meekly take
what they had to say and relapse into
his former self. ......,--.r .-:..... .-.....-
The father became dyspeptic and vent
ed all bis will enjendered by bad health
upon Hiram. Life at home became un-
endurable to him and he hired himself
out to farmer to work by the month.
He fell into bad company and learned
many bad habits. He went from bad to
worse until he could scarce command
respect from any one. Still his mother
loved him. .. A- -.4
When he was yet youth the Civil
War broke out. The farmers became
poor and Hiram could scarcely find a
place to work for his board and lodging,
His brothers. labor hardly supported the
Crossleys Hard as it was to get along,
a yet harder blow awaited them. His
brother was drafted. The father groancd
aad the mother wept but tried to look
brave They thought now that their
support would be taken. away from them.
The-soa- tried to comfort them but he
could do nothing, as his encouragement
and grief were as great as t1ieffy.
Justa then HiraHs. hgule AaxMned the
door, md he said, grpfzsI heard. Dick
that YOU have beer dFafted, and have
come to 60 as your substitute. Now,
mother, you needn't take on So. You
know that you always hated to @hear
your boy called bad names and reviled,
and you have told me, to try to earn
Gods praise and have Him say some
time to me, We'll done, thou good and
faithful servant, enter .hnto Thy rest
Now / am going to try to do. it. Even
people in this world viii perhaps think
some good of Lazy Hiram"
II know you have a. good heart Hi
ram," said his mother, but wish there
was no such an occasion as this TO- prove
it my son. " lfs ~. :73F II IL -z J
She. wept. il RI 4 Z ...s4
when were you to 60, Dick?" Hiram
inquired Il suppose we will have to ar
range pretty soon." 80. '...t .' :.
In an hour" ..s i ,.> &C. +.
Goodbye, mother dear. Don't take
on 50. Goodbye, father" -'
Hiram drew his sleeve across his eyes
and shuf1ed out doors, for he could say
no more because of his grief at leaving
his mother weeping and of their pain
at parting
Hiram became ? soldier and that night
his regiment marehef toward the South
Three months later the mother re-
ceived letter. 1t was as follows:
Dear Mother After left you that
night my regiment marched South. We.
marched and marched until / became
footsore and very tired. We fought in
the terrible battles of Lookout Mountain
and Missionary Ridge, and we have had
other battles and skirmishes
But, mother, do not think of your son
as going through peril and hardship.
Think Of him as coming back we'll and
happy.
Il have found new friend, boy,
Davy, as I call him. His cause for
going to war was the same as mine, and
ne is younger than |. :.
Give my love to Dick and father.
"Your son. " FRS
The mother. : wept e softly slasfa saef Dick
looked solemn. Even tie father seemed
glad to receive news from hissson.
Many months passed before they're
eeited another letter, and they all beeaf,
70 despair LEST they had heard the lssf fof
ue'ra soldier boy. At last a letter. did
some and Mrs. Crossley tore it open
with trembling fingers and readA /.
- Lear Mother :-Since Iz.Wfote YOU
isM we have had an awful battle N The
wilderness, as it is called, and COM
Rany OF US had skirtnisht on the outer
INES Poor Davy was. killed and
CHASED the fellow that did it, and Just as
i,s l was about to let him have the load cut |
y my musket, some one shot, me. aste4
g " must have lain unconscious for quite !
8 Shle. When | came to I dressed: myy |
wound, the best l. could and laid down |
on.a Hnossy hHcck; for Iewasaweaksfrotn |
w wound and loss of blood. Il got 4 |
,sver u the esnight and struggled up, tfUr |
! tnougiH horde Of demons were after |
me Iran but soon sfeiE Again T strnar
~ m and again. 1 {aI. fxhatisted, and |
lRls nme unconscious. us.-~~-W When l. aweee. |
an angel was; bending over. me-. She
mas nursed me these many days. She |
mas golden hair and such tender blue
yes. Her father and brother are in the |
southern army. They were drafted. Oh
tne horror Of war! Yet sometimes, |
mother, become selfish and think how |
peasant my lot is, to be cared for by |
such an enc. I s= HiTaa
4 hope this letter will reach you My |
gnardian says: 'f5a.t ae mfr
-. Tell your mother that you are get
u0 web and will soon be able TO march |