Year: 1874

Texas, was inspired for adventure by the
current stories of wonderful gold findings
at Pixies Peak, and mportuned from his
wife her consent to his departure. While
ostensibly thrifty, the plantation was
really encumbered with debt, and some
new financial departure seemed neces-
sary for its redemption. Perhaps this
was the final reason of inducing Mrs. Du
Bose's assent. AT any rate the planter
started for the distant mining country,
after taxing the family means severely
for his outfit, with the hope of finding
enough of the precious ore to return in a
year or two as a rich man. Nearly al
ways desperate game Of chance, gold
digging is particularly perilous hazard
for the adventurer Of mature years who
stakes the very home of his flesh and
blood upon it. His letters from the Peak
told Of continual disappointment and
hardship, though ever expressive Of de-
termination to fight the battle yet longer.
What time his patient and devoted wife
and an infant son, born a year before
the amateur miners departure, knew
many denials at home in the exigencies
of the embarrassed estate, and could only
respond to the discouraging messages of
the husband and father with love and
prayer.


Such was the story told in much inter-
rupted correspondence, back and forth,
until the memorable tumult and disrup-
tons of war in 1861 cut off all postal
communication whatever between the
warning sections of the nation. Before
that time Mrs Du Bose had been obliged
10 sell the unlucky plantation and remove
with her little boy to the neighborhood Of
some of her relatives in New Orleans (;
and when hostilities began, mother and
child we're guests Of Mrs Jennings, sis
ter of the former, in the Crescent City
Borne down by her sorrows and by
the public anxieties Of the time, the poor
lady died soon after the battle of Sump-
ter, and the young orphan fell to the
charge Of his aunt.


And now this boy becomes the hero of
our story. Left chiefly to his own re-
sources after his mothers death, the lit
tie fellow passed much of his time in the
streets, and thus, when the national forces
occupied New Orleans, became familiar
of various barracks. One day Colonel
Vance, whose quarters he had infested
for Learly week, was induced by his
handsome face and neglected appearance

to question him of his history. AS his
childish replies suggested no definite idea
Of good home, but did reveal his or
phanage, he was taken straightway to
the Hoosier officers kind heart as a waif
worth saving. In short, the Coonel's
imperfect understanding Of his circum-
stances, and his own Juvenile eagerness
to go with the soldiers, resulted in his
summary adoption as son of the regi-
ment. Almost Immediately thereafter
the gallant Indianians were ordered
northward, and took their protege with
them ; and from thenceforth to the end of
the war the little Southron rode black
pony beside his Colonels charger, and
had thoro lgh baptism of fire.


With that same ending of the war came
back the misguided miner of Pixies
Peak, who while cast off from all hope
of Southern return or home letters by
wars wall Of flame, had wandered to
California and there made the long
sought for fortune. In New Orleans they
told him of his wife's death and his sons
disappearance. Whittier the lad had
gone none could say: he had left hi.
aunt's house one day to look at the Yam
kee soldiers and never returned. AS may
be imagined, this intelligence filed the
self-accusing mans cup Of grief. But he
could not believe the missing boy dead
In the New Orleans and other papers he
advertised large rewards for the return
or news Of his straying child, and visited
all his own and his late wife's relatives
and friends throughout the South for in
telligence and counsel. Numerous i'm
posters answered the advertisement, but
when put to the test of question as to the
family names, ETC., were found wanting.
Disguised at these attempted impositons





Du Bose at last disappeared again-going
back to California it was supposed and
the search rested.


In the mean time the lost heir, upon
the resumption of peace, went home with
his Colonel to the lattcr's home in Port
land, Indiana, and subsequently, when
his Western friends broke up housekeep-
ing, betook himself to Atchison, in Kan
sas. 1t was about four years ago, while
preparing himself for future sell-support
ty studying at the Circleville College in
Kansas, that some friend of Colonel
Vance's remembered having seen his
fathers advertisement in some paper and
told the student thereof. But the paper
could not be found the details were very
indstinctly recalled, and it is only lately
that young Du Bose, now a clerk at ho-
tel in indianapolis, became aware Of all
the circumstances Of the parental search
and failure. According to the Indianapo-
lis Sentinel, which relates the whole ro-
nance in admirable style, the son is now
as much at loss TO discover the wherea-
bouts of his father as the latter was to re-
claim him, having travelled all over the
Southwest in vain pursuit Of some recent
clue to the ex-planters present place of
abode. He has secured ample proofs Of
his own identity, however believes that
his missing sire is somewhere in Califor-
mia and doubts not that due correspond


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