The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-01
HOW JACK MITCHELL WAS
SOUGHT AND REDEEMED
I was True to Taylor and to Lee and III r. Trra
Now to Jesus Who Saved
My Soul.
My Soul.

his message to the Legislature Of
..,.a Governor Graham said: "A con.
r.- been made for suitable build
.- Paleigh for the education Of deaf
... and blind persons, according to
~. er-- Of the last session, and these
,.,.s are partially finished" The Gov
also stated tina a school for the in.
'..r,n1. oil dcaf mutes was then IN sue
.r. arrrauon and contained twenty
.r..t.s. Inc Legislature which au.
...-.1,1 the erection OF the buildings Of
... crescent nuDQ institution was nat oil
,.u-t. was At school mere at the time
.n. bindings We're gong up ana re-
n....r. WonuCred Wnere in the whole
n.or.a enough deaf mutes and bnul coulQ
f. round TO I'll those immense bunldlngS.
.7- raised in Il corner as [ was, / had
novel, seen but one or two. bind persons.
and not q single deaf mute. Bur when
.ho buildings were competed The fact
very DON was made manifest that they
oa.a goL TOO large. And what a blessing
that institution has been, Is, and will
ever be to the unfortunate children Of
afr State. From that lIttle beginning
of twenty-five pupils, Of which the Gov
.rrcr spoke. have grown the two grand
schools. the Deaf Mute of Morsanton.
and the Blind of this city. added to
which is the Deaf. Dumb and B!ini
school. also Of this city, for colorod chi.
dren. bestowing imTneasurabIc blessings
MON hundreds of homes in the educa-
lien and training Of their unfortunate
cnas. who but for such training would
have hved and died in darkness.
Speaking OF Governor Graham, l am re
minded to say that it was he who sug-
geslsd in his message Of 184S, that the
legislature should adopt a joint resolu-
ton requesting the Governor, in future,
TO recommend some day III each wear 70
be observed as a Thanksgiving Day. North
Carolina had not, up TO that time, kept
a day Of thanksgiving. although, as the
Governor said, the custom of such an
Observance is now nearly universal IL the
State" Governor Graham was . model
chief executive. a finished scholar. IN
able lawyer and q polished gentleman Of
he DID school. My recollection OF him
leaves the impression upon my mind that.
is addition 10 his many other good quail
ties. he had q dignity of manner and car
rage that would say more forcibly than
words: He's the Governor"
Tho Mexican War occurred during COY
crn0r GT2ham's administration and it pc
came his duty TO raise 4 regiment OF VOL
aurcer~ n Ibis State. \ company Of
said regiment was raised partiv here II
Raleigh by Captain William J. Clarke. 4
v0unS man reared in this city. and edu-
Gated at Chapel Hill, and who by proteS-
SION was a lawyer. He was a brave ana
gallant officer and was promoted by tho
President and Senate for his e
ana splendid conduct in battle at the
National Bridge, Mexico, where he re
celved a severe wound. He married Miss
Many Bayard Devcreux. who made herself
we'll md popularity known in the South
SIS Il writer Of verse ana OF fiction. in
the Civil War Major Clarke was made a
Colonel and added fresh laurcls TO hi-
military fame. After the war he Wa
made a Judge and resided IN New Bern.
One OF the men who went from RAJ
elgh, in Captain Clarke's company. t
Mexico. was A. j. Mitchell, known rs
Jack MITCHELL" He was a good soldier
and did good service until wounded. ond
50 disabled ~ 10 be unfit t." further 1u-
ties. when he received an honorable DIS
charge. But, IS l remember, he wen as
q older in Lees army. and servIf
through the War Between the States. But
wdat | wish 10 say Of Jack Mitchell
''- 'bEt $4bbSA IL * AcA 49,
II 1860. The Order OF the Friends &;
Temperance was making considerable
Roadway IN this city, ii the work c
D-tiglng men to total abstinence. anC
owing the seeds of temperance a5nCnG
The Young people; and, 50, at every met
ing i the lodge there were several inj
hatons and as many more petitions L
Of acted upon. One night, 10 the aston
ishme-t Of every member OF the lodge
Tia name Of Jack Mitchell was i.ropoaet
Ior membership. The brother wiz
brought IN his name, l DO not now cal
20 mind, but whoever he was. I "cTnemDel
H. made & very earnest and Christly tai
10 the lodge, on presenting the candi
Gates name, saying, it there was any
man III the city who needed to be help
al, lack Mitchell was that man, for, un
.ess something was done aad that apcedI
y, ae would die of drunkenness and b.
last. The ballot was favorable enc
Jack Mitchell, the drunkarG, was decIar
tl elected to membership and at th'
next meeting he was duly initiated. Ii,
vas not Trunk at the time. but Eaf
|-4 drinking. Is was very manifest b.
,e 919r Of alcohol which camc IN VIII
mn. Nevertheless. the ceremony wen
Cd, and finally Brother Mitchell" wa
N tHH liSut Hand OF lelioN snip DE az
'e members Of the lodge. both men an.
women. I shall never forget his look, 10
D. jae time the initiation ended he VI"
"o12ughly sobered. and had como TO him
s'i' and was conscious that lie had got
.ato a now and better atmosphere
'.1 the remainder of The meeting n
mad 10 Lc in q da2c; and, when tn
..'~e closed. lc LETT 80 hastily man
r'aS.t lac was hurrying to a BARRON
pa tot so. AZ tho next meeting OF III
i'.sa he was there, and not only coo
,'o.T. but altogether changed for u
1....# I'D appearance. jack Mitchell,
1.-- 10 say, was q stone cutter IN
.@. tune Of which ! am now writing
Was working on the Pcn~itentlary. III
"e 'aa near the Old Rock Quar-!
."' 10 10 get to his work he had t
o" 'hf@Agh the city. \ lew weeks ate
".-e2 The Friends OF Temperance,
2Hcacd about day break one morn
'F a most terrific banging on III
.'"l door. l ran with all haste to tn
o-. 3AInklng nothing else han that tn
was on fire and somebody was trN
90 ave uS. As ononad tho door.