The All Important Lantern!

  Back years ago, I wrote about Great-grandfather's lantern but today as I was dusting the buffet, the tale of the importance of the lantern came rushing back into my brain.  While this is just a run-of-the-mill lantern as far as lanterns go, it is a pretty significant piece of my history.   You see, I may not be here if this lantern had not belonged to Great-grandfather.  Most folks have some tale of items that "changed my life" but few have things that were a determining factor in their pure existence.  I do.  It is the lantern.  A pretty nondescript lantern but a lantern all the same. Now, I cannot attest to the whole truth involved in these tales as over the years there have been some pretty good storytellers in the family who may have...umm...exaggerated just a wee bit now and again but since I have been told the same story by several different family members over the years, I have to believe there may be some bit of truth in there somewhere.

  The tale that I previously told took place far back in time during the Great Depression.  It was then that my great-grandparents lived in a massive old manor in Biloxi.  As was the custom of folks at the time, they owned a cow and a few chickens even though they lived in town.  No one thought this was strange and both the cow and chickens were highly important in their lives.  Survival at the time was not guaranteed and having critters that provided food was a wise choice.  Great-grandfather used to head out before dawn to feed and milk the cow.  He toted the lantern to provide light for his chores.  On the fateful morning of our tale, Great-grandfather found more than the cow in the barn.  During the night, an intruder had slipped into the barn to escape the cold.  This was not unusual at the time since many folks had lost their homes and many men were out searching for work.  When Great-grandfather questioned the man about his presence, the man lunged at him with a knife!  Quick thinking saved the day as the lantern became a weapon.  When Great-grandfather swung the lantern, it caught the man up side the head and stunned him enough for him to be bound hand and foot.  Great-grandfather sent one of his young sons to the constable's office and it was discovered that the man had escaped from prison where he was being held on a murder charge.  Had that lantern not been in hand, Great-grandfather may not have survive the attack!  But this was not the lifesaving matter that is tied to me...in a roundabout way.

  Strange as it may seem, this was not the first time that the lantern had saved Great-grandfather's life. Long before he had children, he and Great-grandmother bought an old farm far out in the country from their city house.  The "Farm", though only minutes away from the house with modern transportation, was a good couple of hours away when riding an old horse.  A tale has been passed down through the generations that an approaching hurricane caught Great-grandfather on the trail back to the city.  In days past, there were no warnings of such things and, if one did not read the signs correctly, a storm might catch one unawares.  Just as Great-grandfather was to catch the ferry to haul him (and his horse) across the Bay, the storm struck with a vengeance.  Although it was terrible weather, the ferryman agreed to make the crossing.  Once out on the water, things took a turn for the worse.  The ferry was being tossed about like a toy and the men on the far shore could not see well enough to help.  Great-grandfather lit the lantern and started sending signals.  Without that lantern, the ferryman and Great-grandfather could have been lost in that storm.  As it was, things turned out well and the lantern had saved the day.  Great-grandfather made it home to his lovely bride and they rode out the hurricane together.  This was the tale of the lantern that is tied to my being.  If Great-grandfather had not survived the ferry crossing during the hurricane, there would have been no children born to the happy couple.  Hattie was born and raised in the old house and on the Farm.  Hattie was my mother's mother and, hence, how I am tied to a old lantern.  Had Great-grandfather not survived, Hattie would have never been born...nor my mom....nor me.  Lanterns are important!

  This lantern has...no, IS...history.  So many pieces such as this are tossed as junk when, in actuality, they are important family pieces.  With the coming of electric lights, the old lantern was passed along to my parents.  City folks received electricity far sooner than farm folks.  Since Pop and Mom needed lanterns to take care of their livestock in the wee hours of the morn, the lantern, once again, came into use.  Later, once electricity was commonplace, the lantern was used during storms and other power outages.  Now, the thing sits proudly in my living room.  Yep, it is dented (possibly from contact with an evil person's head), rusted (perhaps from saltwater blown during a hurricane!) and otherwise useless (except as a conversation piece and a reminder that all things have their purpose.)  Life is good...treat it wisely and with respect.  Be thankful for what you have, even rusty, dented old lanterns. You never know when some weird item might just save your life!

  

Great-grandfather's Lantern!

Since I live on a bayou in a sort of rustic little house, it stands to reason that my decorating for the holidays tends to lean toward "country" or rustic. Mom used to call this look "Country Clunky" and I suppose that just about describes my technique. Country Clunky! This look uses a lot of old items, found items and natural items. All which seem to abound on the Bayou. Duck decoys and driftwood adorn one sofa table while the other sports an old oil lantern and some deer antlers. As strange as this is to some folks who have to have glitz to make a Christmas, I am just fine having things that have memories as my decorations.

The lantern in mention, has been passed down through several hands before finally landing in my possession. It is tied to memories. Now whether those memories are true or not still needs to be proven beyond a shadow of doubt. Personally, it does not matter that the tale behind the lantern has been embellished as I am sure that each time the tale was related, it received a bit more sensationalism. A lot of family lore can be compared to that old party game "Telephone". While playing the game, folks would whisper a story to their neighbor in a large circle. As the story made its way from person to person, it would change and by the time it reached the original storyteller, it was entirely different than what had started. As I said, the tale may have changed quite a bit over the years...or it might be accurate...who knows.

It seems that this very lantern belonged to my great-grandfather. Since he would arise before daybreak, it was hard to see when he went to the barn to milk the cow. This lantern was used each and every morning to light the way. One morning...as the tale was told to me...when he opened the barn door, he immediately knew that something was not right. The hay was mussed and the chickens had all roosted on the far end..way from where they normally sat for the night. He cautiously entered the barn to find an intruder! This was during the Great Depression so it was not usual to find that someone had sought shelter for the evening but this time...the someone wanted more. The grubby man lunged for Great-grandfather! Out of instinct, Great-grandfather swung the lantern far and wide and caught the man up side the head knocking him to the ground! The tale continues that Great-grandfather bound the villain's hands and feet and sent one of his sons for the sheriff. When all was told, the culprit that attacked Great-grandfather was an escaped murderer! This lantern had saved Great-grandfather's life!

Whether the story is true or not, whether it even belonged to Great-grandfather Carter remains to be seen. Even if not, the lantern remains a treasure! It sits on the sofa table where it receives a goodly portion of attention. Who knows...I may just need it some day..if not as a source of light..maybe as a life-saving weapon!