Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-11-15
AN INCIDENT OF TRAVEL.

Among the passengers in the steamer Commo-
dcre. frv,n this ciy,to New Haven. last Saturday
morning, were the wife Of Cornish miner named
Rowe, and five children, chiefly girls, the Oldest
not exceeding teP or eleven years Of age, and the
youngest babe. They arrived here from Wales
only about two weeks since, and were ON their way
to the Bristol (Conn,) copper mines. where they
hoped to meet their husband and father. As The
steamer was leaving the wharf the mother stood in
the gangway almost frantic with anxiety and grief.
Had the kind-hear,e captain (Lefevre) been pres
ent and understood her case, he would have waited
till her daughter had come on hoard, or until the
mother and other children could be put ON shore
Blu, as i was, the family were separated, under
circumstances of peculiar trial. 1t appears that
few minutes before the steamer started fhe mother
sent her eldest daughter, girl between IL and l3
years Of aye, TO buy some bread. Before she re-
turned, the steamer was off for New Haven
What the poor girls thoughts were when she re-
turned to the wharf and found the boat gone, and
herself efi alone in a strange city of half million
o! inhabitants, we know not, but can partly imag-
inc The mother was, ifpossible, still more wretch
cd:
When she found that the steamer was actually
of, and that there was no hope Of returning 10 the
wharf, all the tender symrathes of parents heart
were awakened within her, and she ran about the
boat crying ''Oh, my child my pour child!"-.
The steward Of the boat and some Of the passen-
gers tried TO console her by telling her that the
little girl would no doubt be taken care of, and be
sent up To her at New Haven by the evening boat.
This afforded her CLEAN of hope, hui her fears
still ptedbmiuated What could Matilda do, pen
niless, in the midst of strangers, without a home
or friend, or knowledge of any thing around her?
Whom cuuld she trust? How halle 10 lie decay
ed away by villains, and reserved for doom worse
than death Hoearth could not have desired
more lively personfcaiion Of grief, Than when that
mother. after being in measure quieted, sat sub
m hero l,oi hpri inf, md limo
1t Ia her bnsom, while her other children, tAcep
The lost one sat around her on the fnr. not one of
them uiering cry. but Every counienance ex-
pressive of the deepest sorrow.
Presently Capt. Leievre came and sat down by
them, and. after some s,otling remarks, returned
them the whole Of their passage n6nay Se' eral
dollars were also given them by passengers. This
was the more neediul. by waiting Tor Matilda
at New Haven until Saturday evening, they were
under The necessity Of SPENDING The Sabbath there.
as there was subsequent Train for Bristol until
Monday But what if Matilda sh,Mld not colne
What If they should never see her again 2 These
apprehensions, togeii er with The anxiety already
endured, produced symptoms ofmeY,al Allegation
in the mother. even before she arrived at New
Haven. immediately on their arrival telegraph
ic despatch was forwarded TO Messrs. Saxton s.
Webb, agents of the line in New York, requesting
them To send by the afiernoon boat the lille girl
that was left in the morning. and saving that her
receiving this message, Messrs. Saxton s. Webb,
who had no previous knowledge Of the mishap.
went to the wharf and found the little girl crying.
This must have been at least five hours after The
steamers departure. They told her the message
they had received from New Haven, and that they
would send her safe TO her mother in few hours,
which they accordingly did free " cast
Thus after day of fearful anxiety and suspense
the family circle was again united. to the great
JOY Otall-though the shattered mind Of the moth
er prevented her FROM full depreciation Off
fact The family where she spent The Saboalh in
formed us that she was evidently good deal de-
ranged, and that Matilda said she had been SO be-
fore. Her former arrangement was occasioned by
the loss of husband and child. Ohe latter being
burnt or scalded TO death) On Monday she and
all her children tok the railroad train for Bristol.
and must have reached their destination in few
hours.
Here is one small chapter in the life os a poor
hard working woman; and il we could read the
unwrilten history of families and individuals how
many such scenes. or others equally and still more
affecting. would rise upon our vision.-.Ne,c York
Journal Of Commerce.