The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1911-06-22
WEEKLY STATEMENT.


A LIFE STORY.
Dear S. S. B.: Daddy Jim" kindly invited
me, both in these columns and in personal let
ter, to write again to you brothers of the South
land, and also to send my picture for publica-
ton. AS writing is my vocation, do not mind
to comply in this respect, but really am some
what reluctant about sending my picture. How
ever, if Daddy JIM thinks it will please any
of you to see how another cripple of the S. S. B.
is conveyed around, shall most gladly consent.
In my first letter I said that I had always been
an enthusiast in everything that had for it's OBJ
ject the dissemination Of cheer to the shut-ins
and cripples 1t has been my intention for some
time to write series of short articles expressly
for such afflicted | had thought of such
subjects ''Why Are Shut-ins?' "The Mission
of the Manned" ''The Secret OF Shut-in's Soul,~
'"The Cry of the Crippes' etc. But doubtless
before any of these articles should appear,
short sketch of my life should be given you that
you may know who I am, why [ write and
whether from experience or imagination. And
with this in mind this letter shall be written.
l was born just twenty years ago, near Helena,
within few miles of the great Mississippi river.
At the age Of two years | came with my parents
to the foothills of the Ozarks, where | have lived
since When four years old, | stricken with
paralysis which deprived me of the use of my
left and both lower limbs. And in all these
sixteen years [ nave not walked a single step
moved my left and hand. Since ten years
of age have gone to school exactly twentythree
months, in which time | completed five years
work, winning two medals for making the highest
average grades in class of twenty, and two GER
ti1cates-one for graduating Cat the age OF sew
enteen) from the public school course of Arkan-
sas and the other for writing composition in
a state contest in which more than 800 other
students participated. The balance of my edu-
cation has been obtained by home study, being
a great reader Also I belong to the Judge Ben
B. Lindsey Chapter of tne Boys Legion of Honor
Society, Of which Judge Lindsey, of Denver, is
Chief Counselor. | received my membership in
this society my school record began writ
ing for papers when only seventeen years old, and
have written regularly ever since In connection
How nnd
have written several short stories. Happily, [
getting to where | shall be able to help
support my widowed mother, and at the same
time save few dollars each month"; which shall
be used to complete my education. 1t is my
intention to specialize in English and Literature,
my ambition is to become a journalist. l
think shall be able to re-enter school this fall.
I would commit grave Injustice were to fail
to mention my faithful and noble team-"B1
and "Jim.' These goats are to me what good
legs and feet are to other people. They have
taken me daily to school for the past three ses-
sions, and carry me to and from town--a
distance of mile from where l. live. They are
trained as we'll any horse that ever lived. They
can almost hitch themselves to my wagon. [
value them at $500. number of my friends
are trying to get me to enter the county cam
paign next spring, by which time L shall have
reached my majority, and for of the
county offices. Of course, they expect me to
make the race in my goat wagon. NO doubt 1t
would be a great and attractive novety-the
goat team. 1 think have told you of the good
things in my life, most of them anyhow. 1t was
not my intention to tell you o. the struggles and
hard times that | have confronted as that KIND
of stuff never really interests does the
bright kind. Anyhow, believe in being cheer
full; yes, most cheerful. And we cant be so II
we are always talking about the hard times, sur
ferings and msfortunes. Therefore, you need
never expect to read anything from me that is
laden with pessimism, as l try to practice what
I preach, and l invariably preach from text
tinged in optimism. Trusting that l shall be
able to assist in this great work begun by the
s. S. B., and that shall become acquainted with
I1G4 ~ (ocT fV1-H ndO am