Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-07-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE STORY OF CRAZY SUSAN.

For many years there has been seen wander.
/ ing about this city, female dressed in home.
spun plaid her head protected by sort of hood
and her feet covered with shoes that always eX-
hbited much wear. She seldom enters dwell
ing but follows the streets without any appa.
rent destination. She siuns crowds avoids il
| possible, meeting a man, and at all Seasons and
at all weathers is constantly on the tramp. She
| seldom speaks TO any one, but seems insessant.
ly talking to herself. She is harmless and in
offensive and the children in the street point
her out as ''Crazy Susan" A mind in ruin is
calamity which always commands our synpa-
thy, and such a wreck as this, excites our deep
est interests. We never can look upon such an
| object without wishing to know something OF
the history, the exciting cause to such dread
| existence. We were eminently giatifit d in
this respect by meeting Col. Abney, TO whose
kindness Crazy Susan has for many years been
indebted for home, for the following particu-
lars in relation 10 her early history.
She has been married twice. Her first hus-
band, with whom she lived happily, died, leav-
ing her with several children and little prop
erty. Her second husband proved a drunkard,
abused her, spent her properly, and left her The
town took possession of her children and bound
them out, all save one, a little girl, which they
thought better to leave with her mother She
came to this city, and did washing in a public
house for the support of herself and child. By
artifce, perhaps false promise, she became
the victim of seducer and after time
lodged in the poor-house. Her little girl was
taken from her, and bound to A. M. B. Smith,
then of this city, now of Buffalo. The afflicton,
her last child taken from her, herself disgraced
and lodged in poor-house was more than she
could bear. Her reason left her. and ever since
she has been the wandering 'Crazy Susan"
Elbow little do weknow that which we are
How less what we may be-"
She lives now but in the past and feeds npon
such incidents only as she fam would forget
That segment OF LIES poor circle through which
she has gone, has sprung from its grave, bring
ing with it only those incidents of sorrow which
in sound mind would only be counterbalanced
by many dingering endearment. How myete-
rious is the spirit of memory! how painfully
true to the objects of its trust-how quick aud
vital over the relic of joys that have Aed-friend.
ships that have ceased-erroEs that have been
wept! How intensely it concentrates the events
OF years, and passes through the mind, in an
unbroken current, the mingled sensations that
have blessed or blighted its previous existence!
The inaanity of Crazy Susan seems TO be of the
conservative kind, neither abating or progressing
The impressions left on her mind at the taking
away OF her little girl, an event which seems to
sudP HeT neart Strings SO fudely as 10 dethrOnG
her reason remains there yet, and in her solitary
wanderings, she is often heard conversng with
herself on this ll-tated and changeless subject
But what became of the family of Crazy Sue 2
Here is romance that affords some relief to the
sad history given. The Oldest boy did not like
the master TO whom he was bound and ran away.
He shipped at New York as a Cabin boy on an
East lndiaman, went TO China, was absent sew
eral years, and came back about the time the
Mexican war broke out, enlisted, and was thro'
all the battles escaped unhurt, saved his money
and warrants, &C., returned last year sought ont
his mother, found his two oldest sisters married,
and living near this city, had a long search for
that "lltle girl" his youngest sister, but finally
got track Of her, went to Buffalo and brought
her to this city, and finally, last fall got married
himself, and got mother, sister and all together.
There was joy in every heart but one moor Susan
ras crazy sttH. That mind diseased, that heart
unstrung, could not be put in tune again by all
the fascinating endeaGmen,s of home, The most
tender caresses of friends. and the lavish affec-
ton of those she loved too we'll After a short
stay with her friends, and on one cold December
day, she came traversine miles through deep
mud back again to this city, where she may
almost daily be met performing her SOLITARY
Paindealer.