Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-25
THE COUNTRY HOME
CONDUCTED BY mrs W. n. FELTON,
A Beautiful Easter Sunday

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The Easter Sunday of this good
year, 1919, will, if it should be men,
toned by any historian, be recorded
cloud in the SKY. The sun shines
with embracing brightness. All over
known and chronicled the churches
will celebrate the resurrection of the
Savior of mankind.
Owing to a lame finger and other
ailments l will spend my time in
my own room-instead of going to
church--and I will celebrate the day
by writing of some other Easter
Sundays for Semi Weekly journal.
At this time last year (1918) the
war in Europe occupied our thoughts
and kept us anxious. This year
| Q919). the war is over land we can
worship and extol the Prince of
Peace. Christianity is also celebrat-
ing everywhere--for the Roman
Catholics and the Greek church are
celebr&nts of the resurrection of
Christ.
My mind goes back to the year
1865, when l attended Easter serv-
ices at the Episcopal church in
Macon, Ga. We were refugees, liV-
ing OH an old plantation, about four
miles distant from that city. My
then living, approaching his eleventh
birthday. His little brother, in his
| sixth year, had died in September
are PREY They he We're, We're de Nit to
lonely after his brother went away.
Always q loving and dutifGl son, to
his mother, they became closer COM
| panions than before-in their be-
reavement.
They rode horseback from the
refugee shelter, hitched in East Ma
con, and made their way to the
beautiful church, where Bishop ELI
| oft would preach and christen
| number of young childrAn. The
inside were lovely. The sermon was
a splendid one. The n'usic was
grand. The babies were dressed in
most beautiful christening.
| robes--heirlooms in wealthy homes.
How we enjoyed it ALL 1t was such
| ties and perplexing times we were
| living in. We knew that General
| Lee was doing his utmost in Vir-
| ginia. We did not dream that he
| render. The Confederacy was tremb-
| ling to it's fall-almost Gone-col-
| lapsed.
In that beautiful Easter celebra-
| ton no mention was made of this
perilous situation-in Virginia. That
| was omitted, and the beauty of the
service was not clouded by gloom of
| any sort. We have, as before stated
| q reprieve from heartacheS and fears
| of evil to come.
How comforting the remembrance
| of that perfect day became to me
! viving child at that time, passed
| away in June, :, sudden ettack of
| brain congestion carried him off in
side of ten housekeeping me a
| childless mother.
| AS 1 sat there in that crowded
| church with my arm around the
| dear boys shoulder 1 had no dream
of what was swiftly bearing down on
my home and heart!
| Inside of five days Macon surren-
de- ed to General Wilson and his
federal forces. General Lees sur
render at AppomattoX was also com
municated to. us. General Joe john
ston's surrender in North Carolina
came along, all near tog9,ther r., Th ne
Macon on the Thursday after the
| beautiful service alluded to here
and everything was in dread con
fusion. l passed near the church,
| going in and going out. The closed
cent assemblage of the Sunday be
| fore. The federals We're constantly
expected, and the city SURRENDERED
| in the afternoon of that fatetul
Thursday. From that time on we
kept mostly to our own private
quarters. We were raided, time and
again, and saw the seamy side of
life-when the will of the conqueror
was the law of the land.
It has been fffty-four long years
| since that lovely Easter Sunday. in
Macon, in Confederate times. Inc ne
| dear Lord of heaven and Garth mas
kept me in life and safety-and this
| aged writer is nearing .he elghty-
| fourth mile-post of her earthly pill
grimage-and permitted ne to, see
another glorious Easter sunshine
| AMI to return thanks for preserving
mercies! ,- -
| And memory carries me BACK 70
With the dear face Of my e!dest-born
| looking into mine-so happy, SO de-
| lighted with the music aad the flow