Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-12-03
ATRUE STORY-NO FICTION.

Oi lilt ayes UI one anu tHte yeas, >"''N "
the office of our city clerk, inquirlng Tor the
Mayor. That officer was abscnl-bnt her
sorrowful demeanor spoke so allcctingly IN
her behalf, and although evidently in humble
life, she seemed so intelligent and unassum-
ing in her distress, that Mr. Lacy, the clerk,
was led to ask the cause of her troubles,whe
she told him her brief story.
She said her observation-disclosures name was
Evans-lcii their native place Brccknock, in
Wales, year ago TO seek new home for
them in America, leaving them to follow
when he should have found the desired spot,
and earned he means TO enable them to make
the Journey. He finally settled at Oak Hill,
Jackson county, in the Southern part ct the
State of Ohio, wiere lie wo.sed i"uusl1pua-
" ut his trade that of a tailor, until he had
laid by eighty dollars, for the passage money
Of his family. This amount he enclosed to
his wife, with directions as to the best route
to reach her destination, which would be via
Liverpool and Ncw-Ycrk. She according
" babe alieu to her birth place, and started
on her lone and distant voyage, chcercd
with the prospect of soon rejoining her hus-
band in their new Western home.
On arriving at the nearest seaport on the
coast she was persuaded by the mcrcenary
captain ola trading vessel that it would be
much cheaper for l.cr 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 which time her
stock Of provisions had been exhausted, and
she was compelled to purchase from the
captain, at bis Own rates, to supply the wants
of hers II and c,'i'}rcn. The extortlons TO
which her incXperencc made her an easy
p.vY, and the increased expenses of tie in
convenient route she had isnorantly taken,
left her without shilling on her arrival at
Hutla'o. She was still five hundred miles
from h + journeys end, without a friend or
acquaintance, trIly a Helpless Stranger in
Il strange land will, her little children de-
pendant on her for bread.
The energies of a woman's nature, sc
strikingly developed by necessity, did no
leave her to despair. She obtained shelter
for herself and children in cellar room il
the Trowsridge block, for which she had tc
pay five shillings week, and succeeded it
procuring "A little sewing from cothin!
shop, which barely sufiiced to purchase ,hci
coarse and scanty fare. She sent letter I,
her husband, informing him of her arriva
and destitute situation, and patiently AWAITED
his expected relief. Daily did she ask witt
trembling heart. at the post Office, for TIN
wished for answer, and daily did she tur
away with a heavy heart, as the same cold
disappointing No. responded unvaryingl
to her anxious inquiry
She wrote again and again. Weeks wor
away in this cruel suspense, and the thousan
fears that ag!tatn the female breast in sus
pensc, and the thousand fears that aelat
the female breast IN such a crisis, may b
supposed to have swayed her mind. Th
fearful apprehension that sickness, or dealt
or even his possible dcser,on of the wife
his bosom and their ulc ones, might hav
left her to the sharp miseres which arc tn
common lot of woman in such utter dcsti,u
ton, were more poignant than the pangs ,
hunger. AT length her employer had n
more work for her, and size was Obliged
pledge articles Of her clothing to procur
necessary food. Several weeks rent ft
her poor accommodations was due, whc
she was unable to pay, and il her exircmi,
she thought Of appIy wing TO the Mayor for al
vice and relief
Mr.. l.. became Interested in the pot
woman's recital. He instituted the neccss;
ny inquiries as TO the sum neetlful to take he
home, and drew up subscription pane
which he placed in the hands Of Mr.. W
one OF her counlrymcn, who is a worth
mechanic residing here, and who, wi,
prompt philanthropy, took the suffering fan
lily to his own house. Here he found, q
taking over matters pertaining TO the
'fi,her land" that his guest was born with
half mile of his own home, which he b;
II, 4. =
which iolowe ed about Tie familiar scenes al
incidents Of their bir;h place--ihc fam,
histories Of the entire noIghbOrhood as f
back rs her carlicS, rccollectionS, which Ii
to be told-mHy veil be imagined 10 H.,
rspail,lc Kind Welchman for his i,ospitat
Mrs. Evans remained with her new loui
friend for three days, during which time
raised the money (>l5) for her passage
one of our well known and Oldest merchant
Mr.. w., who Was a native of the san
country, generously giving s., Mr.. Cley
land, as ovcrseer OF the poor, adding IS, al
the balance made up Of smaller contribution
Her passage was accordingly engaged
her friend Mr.. W., who accompani
her to the boat. While waiting its dcpartur
she mentioned that her shawl, which HI
been pawned for small sum, yc. reman
pledged, and she was urged by her compa
ion to return for il, being furnished by hi
with the amount necessary for its rcdcmpio
While absent on the er!and, the bo
s'cast off," and on her return was under wa
Lamcntng this disappointment Of her T
newed hopes, she turned away, and
hustand stoe4 bg.rc Ter! He lad been
tie city for ten days, in search
hcr-and boarded at tie United Sta,