The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-10

The NATURAL vs. THE FOSTER MoTHER,-Af few
days a ago "a strolng family OF street musicians
and his wife. who had assumed the English name of
Wilson, and bright-eyed interesting little GIRL Of
precocious intelligence, whose duty it to carry
around the tambourine and collect the contributions
Of the crowds This little girl called Mr. and Mrs
and in the acctionnte kindness which the poor organ
grinders lavshed upon her. Last Sunday the wander
ing Ministries were pursuing their daily avocations in
reputable portion Of our city The drum played by the
man, and the organ which the poor turned had
ceased their monotonous strains and the bright eyed
little girl was tripping 1t the banquette and sm
lingly and beseechngly presenting her little tambou
poor woman, in whose features misfortune vice
and remorse strongly blended, attracted toa
wards the little girl She looked at the little one with
steady, anxious and searching gaze for moment
and then rushing through he crowd seized her in
arms and tendery pressed her ra little figure to her
throbbing bosom, exclaiming at the same time +" Oh,
my child my long lost child have got you at last! "
The little girl frightened, screamed for her
ther" the organ grnder) to her. and tried in
every she could to escape from the grasp of the
wild woman" Finally, however, by the Interference
Of Mr. and Mrs Wilson, the little one was taken from
the arms Of the poor stranger whose anguish seemed
increase in bitterness at the indifference fogetfuness
Of the little girl whom she claimed to be her
daughter At the suggestion, however of some by
islanders, the poor woman, who declared her to
be Ann Mayfeld induced to let the strollers pro-
coed their way and advised to resort immediately
to legal proceedings to enforce her parental rights
accordingly writ Of haseas corpus was sued out in the
second r. District . Court BY Ann Msyhed against Mr.
the mother Of the little GIRL Rosa aged
years who was stolen from her several ago and
now detained by the defendants To this Mr. and
Mrs. Wilson replied by denying that she the
her Of the child and further alleged that if she the
mother she OF such VIGOROUSLY bad character that
it would not be proper for her to have charge of
young child The up for trial before Judge
The testimony established that the petitioner Ann
MayGed, came to Natchez some years ago. with very
young child that she deserted by the who
accompanied her to that place. and being in very dcs-
titute circumstances and anxious to get to New Or
leans actually sold her child to the Wilson's in order
to furnish her with clothing and bear her expenses to
this city but that 1t was understood that she was
claim the child when she desired Since then however
she had heard nothing Of the Wilson's and her child
until the accidental encounter the streets These
1acts were proved by competent witness and to
great extent admitted by the defendants There was
some difficulty however in identifying the child The
mother swore positively this point and the striking
resemblance between them confirmed her testimony.
Whilst the Judge was rendering his decision, tho
scene within the courtroom quite impressive
and affecting On side the interesting IA
mily Of the organ-grinder in those weather beaten
affection and tender socitude for their little foster
child seemed to predominant all the other consi-
deraons The little object of all this sat
between the organ. grinder and his wife and seemed
to be clDging to them for protection On the other
side was the haggard and mother whose
neart though scared and hardened by misfortune still
tbrobbed with all that intense devotion and love which
mother only can feel. The court room was crowded
with an audience who contemplated the with deep
interest Judge Canon commenced his judgment by re-
lang fact that came under his observation about
twenty years A poor colored in this city
once found at her door born white infant whom
she took inta her house and with great care and
ness nursed and reared until she grew up beautiful
and interesting girl of ten years when she was one day
recognized by highly respectable lady her own child
and as such was identified and returned In such as
these the benevolent Judge remarked much must
be given to the testimony Of the mother whose nstict
would enable her to recognize and identify her child
when all other might fail so Doing He would
the petitioner, (hero the mother audbly exclaimed
Thank you, Judge thank you ~ whilst deep sigh
from the organ grinder and low sob from his wife
showed hsw keenly they felt their bercaye
ment) AS to the objection, that the mohers
was bad that would be good for her of
the tutorshp Of the child but it could not be examined
INTO In TINS dispute II was admitted that her charac-
ter was bad. He sorry for it. and trusted that
when restored to the charge of her little girl that she
the other hand he did think that the life and proes-
sion OF The organ grinder favorable to the proper
training Of young girl. The Judge then directed the
Sheriff to execute the judgment of the Court. Tho
Tenn and grave-looking Deputy Sheriff then proceeded
towards the group Of organ grinders when the little
girl II discovering his object drew back cnging,
with an expression of the deepest grief and alarm to
the dress of her foster other The Sheriff however,
by the use OF little gentle force succeeded in separst
ing them; and taking the little girl in his arms deli
vred her to her natural mother who rushed towards
the child and encircling her In her arms embraced
true love- the shlS all the while repaying her co
with the most vigorous efforts to release herself
screaming You are not my ma; there is my ma; | |
won't 60 with you Alas the poor child had entirely
forgotten her natural mother. She embered only
the kindness and affection of the organ grinders and
ed nco her from them The
latter with expressions Of the deepest sorrow and
grief retired from the court amid the and
gret OF the large crowd who with fearful eyes wit.
messed the affecting which we have thus hur-
riedly related We have since learned that IL il tho
Intention Of the mother of the child to her in an
orphan asylum, where she may bc educated free
the communicating influences of her mothers life and
where she be visited by both her natural and fos
ter parcnts.-New Orleans Delta, Bfay 25