The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27

life in the corner. while a black mammyss
 voice from the past croons a lullaby to a little tired white lam,' and a dream
 lady passes to and fro on errands >cf
 mercy and love.
 | An. the dream lady, How has apprecia-
 ton been denied her in hundreds of l thoughtless estimatesi
 But what time had she for idleness,
 or selfish absorption. who is described by
 one who knew her best as doctor, nurse. 1 counsellor, seamstress, teacher, house.
 keeper, slave, all in one?'' And more she
 was, who was reverenced by her husband
 as guide, philosopher and friend,'' and
 who was loved by her children as only
 never failing mother can be loved. | Such is the miniature we have of her. | lovely yet, through the dust of the years;
 with eyes still brave and true; with 2 ten der message of faith still smiling upon
 her lips; and with the same gentle dignity | still written upon her brow. One by one the pictures of glad girl | faces seem to crowd around us; one by one gravely smiling young men seem to | step from long portraits on the wall; a | low grand bow; a sound of silken skirts, | and glimpse of twinkling feet-and | then the dainty music of the minuet, 1! And again the old home seems athrob l with the Christmas spirit. For the dark shadow of the revolutionary period | passed away, and society was once more adjusted until the time should arrive for more wonderful revelation of truth. In the mantime the days were filled with | happiness; prosperity blessed the land,
 and men devoted their time to the found | ing of cities, the making of common wealth, the constructing of a nation. The | true master of such a situation found something worthier to build than air castles, and that one upon whose should CTS rested the direct veal or woe of more hay hal .Yilt. x.f 1ax xlz,.x I.~.~. was indeed a servant upto them all. | In the south particularly the whole
 social life centered around the home and the family circle where children learned reverence and patriotism for their state. This, too, their fathers meant only loyalty to their own homes. without dis | loyalty to the union which they had helped to form, and of which they were a vital part During the Mexican war, who upheld Old Glory's stars and stripes | more valiantly than Lee. Ewell, Johnston, | Stonewall Jackson" and a number of others who went from southern homes to battle for wider unity
 This call to arms however was so far l away it did not materially shake the se- renity of the old home. A deep peace brooded continually over it. It's quiet was | only broken by the night birds song, 1 the ring of laughter mingled with glad
 ness of fresh young voices-and a mystic minor strain, which stole from the plain 1 tive negro melody into the heart Of the great house. There was little attraction
 outside the home life for the entertain
 ment of young or old.
 Whether old marse discussed politics with his neighbor, or Marse Johns guests | drank toast to the latest blue ribbon 1 horse; whether meh lady entertained an an all-day dinner party or dancing party | in the evening it was all in the home. ,ois .., ,,ate
 had time to invite her neighbors to come | over for the day, with the children and | the knitting
 Perhaps she sent the family carriage l for them. For "Marse Johns kerriage
 driver" was always on hand for state
 occasions which he graeed with more
 pompous dignity and perhaps more self
 satisfaction than was felt by all the
 grooms who had preceded him with the
 grand coach-and- He was indeed l in his element "the observed of all ob- servers when meh lady rode to church behind the thoroughbreds while his mas
 ter hand guided the reins. Twas on these mild Sabbath mornings,
 from the high backed family pew, that
 law abiding young America gazed wist- ! fully at the lazy little clouds drifting
 above the cool green freedom of the dis
 tanoe, and sighed that twas but a
 seventh-day picture to taunt him from its 1 | first warfare when he turned from the boyish comfort of a few stray marbles,
 knife, or broken sling to a keen reali-
 2ation of meh ladys disappearing eyes,
 all day dinner party or a dancing party ] in the evening, it was all in the home.
 and the general misery of life, Perhaps
 the little soldier was learning his first 1 lessons of loyal citizenship which would afterward be manifested in the full glory
 of self surrender.
 | For months at time the great house
 was overfowing with happy guests. But | the masters face was graver day by day
 and meh lady stole oftener away from
 the merriment to a auieter retreat. 1 From the hills and valleys, from the ! humble homes of the people was massing
 the strength of the southland l Sturdy lads and farmers, whose awk- l wdrd hands never touched their old-fash- toned firearms save for sport. grasped
 them now more firmly for principles s
 sake.
 For the shipping and manufacturing l interests of the north and the agriclll-
 tural interests of the south had failed
 to harmonize.
 But underneath all the selfshness of
 both sections deeper principle than 1 sef-protsction was involved. winch.
 though a nationwide responsibility. re- l quired more sacrifice at the hands of the |
 vealed more gloriously unto people,
 who beheld it first through a mist of | tears,
 l How have we loved that thin gray line and the proud patriotism which gave it strength to endure! But how much more
 have we honored those boys in gray, whose mightier strength was in their
 seif-surrender; who gave their all when 1 they realized that free and independent l states meant much to a nation, but free
 and Independent men meant more.
 Tor what constitutes a state | Not high raised battements or labored l mound,
 | Thick wall, or moated gate:
 Not cities proud, with spires and turre.z | crowned:
 | Not bays. and broad armed ports
 Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies | fide
 | Not starr'd and spangled courts. ] Where low-browed baseness waits per fume to pride,
 No-men-hish-minde men, | Wac 1t than strange that in Rich
 mcnd, Lincoln looked with "awed pity"
 upon the dark mass his hand had given
 ihe ballot? Surely his great heart must
 have realized something of the future
 responsibility of the southern white
 man. who must further lead this child
 race from savagery and superstition