Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-12-02
A SCENE IN REAL LIFE.

About three weeks since, a pretty and in
tercstng young woman, with two fine chl
drcn, ot the nges OF one and three years
called at the rflice Of our city clerk, lnquir
ing for the Mayor. That officer was absen
blu, her sorrowful demeanor spoke so al
feciingiy III her behalf, aud although evident
ly in humble life, she seemed so intelligen,
and unossuming in her distress, that Mr.
Lacy, the clerk, was led to ask the cause uI
her troubles, when she told he. brief story.
She said her husband-whosc name was
Evans-left their native place, Brccknock
IN Wales, year ago, To seek new home for
them 10 America, leaving them to follow
when he should have found the desired spot
and earned the means To enable them To max,
The journey. lie tinulIy settled at Oak Hill
Jackson county, in the Southern part of the
State Of Ohio. where he worked industrious
~ at his trade, that OF q tailor until he had
laid by eighty dollars, for the passage money
OF his family. This amount he enclosed to
hs wife, with directions ns To the best route
10 reach her destination. which would be via
Liverpool and New York. She accordingly
bade adIeu to her birth place, and started on
her lone aud distant voyage, cheered with
the prospect Of soon rcjoning her husband
in their new Western home.
On arriving at the nearest seaport on the
coast, she was persuaded by the mercenary
captain of trading vessel that il would be
much cheaper Tor her to go by way of Que.
bee, where he was bound, and she therefore
took passage with him. 1t was two long
months after they set sail before the tardy
craft reached port, during winch time her
stock OF provisions had been exhausted, and
she was compelled to purchase from the cap
L,..
herself aud children. The extor,ions to
which her nexpcrence innde her an ensy
prey, and the increased expenses of the in
convenient rolte she had ignoranily taken.
LETT her without a shilling on her arrival at
Buffalo. She was still five hundred miles
from her journeys end, without friend or
acquaintance, truly a helpless stranger in q
strange land" with her little children depen-
den, on her for bread.
The energies of q women's noture, so
srikngly developed by necessity, did not
leave her TO despair. She obtained shelter
for h8rself and children in q cellar room in
the Trowbridge block, for which she had 10
pay five shillings a week, and succeeded in
procuring little ing from clothing shop,
which barely sufficed 10 purchase their coarse
and scanty fare. She sent letter TO her
husband, informing him Of her arrival and
destitute situation, and patiently awaited his
expected relief. Daily did she ask, with
troubling heart, at the post Office, for the
wished Tor answer, and daily did she turn
sway, with heavy heart, as the same cold
disappointing mo" responded unvsryingly toI
her auxons inquiry.
She wrote again and again. Weeks wore
away ~ this cruel suspense, and the thousand
frsrs that agiale the female breast in such |
crisis, mny b. supposed to. huve swayed her
mind. The fearful appreheD eDsions that sick
ness, or death or even bis possible desenion
Of the wife o! his bosom and their little ones,
nigh, have left her to the sharp miseries
which are the common lot Of women in such |
utter destitution, were more poignant than |
the pangs Of hunger. Al length her em. |
ployer had no more work for her, and she |
was obliged to pledge articles Of her cloth. !
ing to procure necessary food. Several
weeks rent for her poor accommodations
was due, which she wns unable 10 pay, and |
in her extremity she thought Of applying to
the Mayor for advice and relief.
Mr.. l.. becam. interested ~ tho poor wo.
mao's behalf. at the rocItOl. lie Instituted |
the necessary inquiries ms To the sum neediul
10 take her aud her children To their sought
fir home, aud drew up u subscription pupe:
~ hich be- placed IN The hands o. Mr. wi
one nf her counirymen, who - a worthy me.
cbsnic residing here. and who. with prompt
ph,lsn,hropy, iook the suffering family io his
u-n bss.. Herr ts fcsre. cp ,.lkius over