Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-06-06

A TALE OF Wo.-A few weeks since
there might have been found in our city a
respectable and happy, though poor fami-
Iy, cons listing Of father and six ccildren
The wife and mother died about two years
since, leaving the discharge Of the house
hold duties TO her eldest child, a daughter
about II years of age. These duties she
has discharged with singular ability for one
of her age. Her little brothers and sisters
learned 10 look up 10 her as to a mother,
and her father soon found that his loss had
been in a measure repaired:and each morn
ing and evening; as he and his little ones
surrounded the family alter, he failed not
to bless heaven for the gift oc so valuable
a child.
The things continued until about week
since. A family had some months previ-
ously moved into the neighborhood, land be-
tween the two an intimacy was gradually
formed. Information having at length
reached the ears of the widower that his
new neighbors were the harborers Of those
'whose feet take hold on hell" he COM
manded his daughteL to cease her inter
course with them.
A few mornings since, the daughter not
making her appearance as early as usual,
her room was visited. but found uEtenanted.
The truth at once flashed across the mind
Of the father-hissdaughter had been de-
coycd from the paths Of virtue! With
heavy heart he communicated the nteli
Cnnce 10 a friend, and besought his advice
and assistance. The strange family were
called upon, and acquainted with the object
Of their visit. The chief mistress was en-
treated with tears 10 give what information
she possessed Of the girl and to deliver
her up if she were in the house. To these
cntreats she appeared perfectly Gallons.
Herself fallen from the high estate Of (e
male chastity, she seemed to glory in hav-
ing plotted the destruction Of another Of her
sex. She did not deny that the eIopemcnt
of the girl was known TO her, indeed she
boldly declared that before eight she would
be 200 miles from the city. that she had
been provided with ample means and that,
had it been necessary. she would have CIV
on her $40 from her own purse.
This is all the information the father was
able 10 gain Of his daughter. nor, has, he
we believe, learned any thing additional
since then. Satisfied the farther entreaty
Of the woman would be in vain, he purT os~
cd to call the law to his aid; but found az
ter repeated inquiries. that there was no
enactment suited TO his case. Though he
had reason to believe thu: his daughter was
still in the house Of the woman who had
led her astrav, notwithstandinglthe story Of
her being 300 miles from here, the law
was quite useless to him unil his SUSPECT
Gus should be confirmed. Nor could tho
woman be arrested for entcing the girl a
way for purposes Of prostitution. she be-
ing little over "A years Of age, and ID be-
ing the age specific by the statute.
We saw the father as he turned away
in Disappointment from the bench Of justice,
and have seldom seen such a complete pic
turc Of despair as he presented. With his
head upon his hca ing bosomand his face
snff1sed with tears, he wended his way TO
his discOnSoIatc hearth. to communicate to
his little children that she who for years
had served them as a mother, was lost
lost for time. if not for eterrrv-and to
mourn in secret for the blghted flower
thus early and rudeIv pucked from It's pa
rent stem.-Roch Dem.