The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1906-02-03
A STRICKEN FAMILY.
A Disastrous Fire Follows Close on the
Heels Of Two Sad Deaths.


The New Year, with all Of its
omens of happiness and good
cheer, often brings sorrow and
shadow as well. To the humble
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Eli Smith,
who have been occupying a resi-
denee belonging to the East Union
Mills, and located in that vicini-
ty, death and disaster have quick
ly followed each other during the
few brief weeks of 1906.
On Jan. 10, these good people
were called upon to surrender to
the grim reaper, their daughter,
May, young girl personally at
tractive, lovely in disposition and
helpful to her mother with her
brood of smaller children. She
died of pneumonia, when death
was least anticipated, and at a
time when other members of the
family were SO sorely stricken,
that the father was compelled to
quit work to nurse them. This
bereavement was a crushing blow
to the suffering people; but an
other daughter, Ampsy, aged II,
being very i'll, distracted thought
and attention were turned to her.
A trained nurse was secured,
through the kindness of some of
our people, and faith and hope
until the 29th, when this
daughter, too, beloved and low
ing, passed beyond the shores Of
time. The two big brothers, the
two little ones and the two little
brown-eyed sisters felt then, the
shadow of death as never before,
and the parents bowed beneath a
load of sorrow they felt they
could not carry. On Tuesday, the
cherished daughter was laid be-
side her sister, SO lately gone, and
again tear-stained faces and heavy |
hearts throbbed beneath the fami-
ly roof tree, and it seemed that |
all of earth's trials and sorrows
we're compassed in what was past
and irretr1evable.
But, 10! on Thursday, ere the
busy days stern duties had scarce
begun and while the big boys lin
gered near the broken-hearted |
mother before going to their work
at the mills, cry OF "Firel" rang
out; and, before they were aware, |
most of their household effects
and clothing were consumed in |
the merciless flames.
But these stricken ones, sorely |
hereaYed and tried beyond the |
ken of many, were not left 'com
fortless;o for hearts and homes
at once opened to them and long
before the embers had cooled or
the curling smoke ceased to mark
the spot where their hearts had
wrestled with despair and arisen
with hope of the resurrection
morn, clothing and money we're
being sent in by neighbors and
friends, while Mr.. and Mrs. H.
W. Huntington opened wide their
doors and offered their home to
the shelterless family.
Mr.. Smith is employed as night
watchman at East Union and his
sons, aged 19 and 81, are also
in the mills. The girls |
who died, were attending the pub
lie school in BrookhaYen. The
children left are exceptionally at
tractive in appearance, and are
bright and intelligent. The sor-
rowing mother left Thursday eve
ming with her two little sons to |
visit her sister, Mrs. Leggett, at
Bogue Chitto.
The residence was insured and
a home will be secured for the
family immediately.
Meantime, it would n t be amiss
for. our people to help in this time
of need with clothing or money
for these good people and we are
sure they will. Death, sickness
and disaster have brought suffer
ing to their hearts and home. IfI
it is in ones power to alleviate
distress, it is an opportunity that