The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-11-24
They have carried away Papa

They have carried away Papa.
! We wish We knew the authorship of the
following. What parent can read it with.
out emotion?
/ AS the cars in which we were recently
travelling halted at station, our attention
was arrested by beauti(ulittle girl apparent.
ly less than two years of age, who WAS look.
ing from one of the windows of house
standing but few feet from the track
She was wailing most pIleously, and on hsl
sweet wan face was printed deeper sorrow
than we had ever before seen on the face oI
an infant. such as this. All the while she
repeated, with pathos indescribably mouru-
full. They have carried away my papa
When will they bring him backH
Presently a lady, whom we instantly rec
'ognized as a former acquaintance, came
from the house, and, entering the car in
(which we sat took scat near ours.
did you observe IL child 1T The win
dow?' she asked, when the train had again
taken wings. ... ........ ....>, ..
Yes" We replied; "and with deep il,
terest."
"a fortnight since" rejoined our friend,
"thc father Of that little girl set ont for the
gold region. She was always amused at
seeing the cars pass; Gnd the morning
fixed upon for her fathers departure, as
she head the train approaching. climed
TO her accustomed place, and clappins her
hands in great glee, watched its coming.
st 4 I that tb,, f,,l IL
fentered the room, the former with a fo reed
smile upon his features, and the latter pale
and tremuIous with suppressed emotion -
One pressure 10 his fond heart, one fervent
kiss and the love-pledge only was replaced
at the window with low God bless you,
my daring Emi, Good bye" ...
This was evidently the first intima.ion
TO the little one of her fathers intended
departure. At the words she turned quick
ly, and with half ncredulous expression,
from the window, surveyed his person,
and seeing that he was really equipped for
journey, returned his parting salutatiop.
Good bye, papa, good bye. .
Another moment, and the adYcnturer
had entered the cars. which were begin
ming again move forward. The young
wife and mother turned from the spot where
the long farewell had been exchange, and
re-entered the dwelling with streaming eyes.
lnitantly the child appeared to comprehend
that her father 5 absence was destined to be
not, as Hsnal, a temporary one; and, stretch,
ing her tiny arms toward her father, who,
from window, was casing behind long
ing look she cried, in lisping accents, -.
20, please do come back, papa, and take
mamma and Emi" ~. '.s.E u ...
''The father, who bad hitherto succeeded
in maintaining external composure, was seen
to withdraw his gaze, and press a handkcr
chief to his eyes. ..... .... ....
"The child has scarcely smiled since
On the approach Of the cars she always
takes her place at the window, from which
no inducemcnt can draw her, and watches
with eager eyes till she finds her father has
not come, when in a tone of sadness truly
affecting, she repeats as you have Just now
heard her, "they carried away nv papa
When will they bring him back?"
'lier appetite has failed. She has grown
pale and thin; and whether sleeping or wa
king, her thoughts are constantly with her
absent parents. Her mother has decided
to take her form the scenes which so constant
ly reminds her Of her affections, as the only
means Of restoring her health and spi;s."
Lovely aftectionate cresture!'' We
could not help exclaming. as the narrator
ceased; "may the beloved one, his labors
blessed, at no distant day, b,
restored 70 the Joys Of his homer'