Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-03-22
From the Philadclphia Bsliesia, March 40
A BRIDE IN DaSTRESs.

From the PhilAdclphia Bsliesia, March 10
A BRIDE IN DaSrRESs.
An affecting object Of charity vas
examined on Mooday blythe Mayor,
in the person Of q girl Of seventeen
years Of age, who stated her name to
be Rosa -, il 10 unnecessary To
mention il in FULL. She came into the
office this morning q picture Of poverty
and desoIation, having been found
sleeping on one of the market stalls in
the rain Of Sunday night. The watch
man stated that he found her in sound
sleep, though the clothing with which
her body was scan,iIy covered, was
dripping wet On rousing her, she
opened her eyes slowly, and was with
difficulty got entirely awake, 20 much
had she been overcome by the cold and
rain. He inquired where she lived,
but received no satisfactory answer,
though her behaviour was modest and
respectful and at his request she &C.
eompanied him to the watch house,
where comfortable quarters were pro-
vided foe her during the remainder Of
the night. Her appearance this morn
INK presented the curious spectacle Of
a girl Of seventeen, robust and bloom.
ing in health, without any indications
Of a familiarity with crime Of any kind,
modest and retiring, yet covered with
rags that bespoke the extremity Of p0-
verify. When asked how she came TO
be found In the street under the above
circumstances, and What Vas her mode
81 life, che related, bot not until great
persuasion had been used TO convince
her that she must in some wy givefa
suranees that she was not q common
vsgrant. some part Of . history in
which the romantic formed very con-
spicuous half. She came from the
neighberhood Of Pittsburg, to meet .
young man now in this city. between
whom and herself there existed an en-.
gagement Of marriage, which was to
be consummated on her arrival here.
They were both Of humble but respect
able parentage, he being engaged a.
clerk IN . store here, With salary svf.
hcient TO support them both, though
his business prevented him leaving IL
to marry her at home. She had come
on by appointment, about q week be.
fore, but had been robbed on the way,
ct every thing but the clothes she wore,
including q small sum Of money which
her mother had given on leaving home.
To add to her misfortune, she did not
know where to find her lover, having
lost the direction he gave her, though
she remembered part Of the merchants
name where he was employed. She
had wandered up and down the streets
for nearly = week, searching in vain
for il. and had supported herself by
pawning her clothes in exchange for
the ragged suit she now wore, being
unable to bring her mind to begging.
Several nights she had found lodgings
in houses Of evil fame, but had escap-
ed the pollutions which were practised
in them. On Sunday night, driven TO
despair by her desperate situation in a
strange place, having expended her
last sixpence in paying for lodging
the night before, she lay down in the
market house to sleep. not having tast-
ed mouthfuI the whole day. This re.
lation excited the strongest sympathy
among a considerable number of re
spectacle persons who heard IL, and .
purse Of twenty FIVE dollars was i'm
mediately subscribed for her, with
which to procure her new clothing, and
pay her board TOR 8 weeks at arespect
able house, while endeavors wero made
to find out the residence Of her lover.
When she was spprissd Of these libe
raj arrangements on her behalf, she
was SO overwhelmed with the unex
pectedness Of the relief, that her full
heart relieved itself in q shower of
tears. She said also, that che was On
able TO write, and could not therefore
have Informed her friends Of her situa-
ton, and that she was afraid 10 com
municate her story to any one here,
lest she might be considered 81 impos-
tor. Many rude and Infamous propo-
sails had been made TO her by respect.
ably dressed men in the street at night.
but she had been preserved against
them all.
Since the above was written, suita-
BILE measures were taken 20 discover
the young man, and on Tuesday after
noon he was found. The meeting be.
tween him and Ross was Of the mos;
affecting kind, for he had been made
acquainted with her sufFrrings and iri
sls. The same eUening, their Uo,os
'OsTe sealed forever on the hymeniGi al
ter. and the sunshine Of the present a.
bundsntiy compebsAtss them for the
darkness Of the past
Prom he .Ncv Orleans .fateyTiser, FEB. %.
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