The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-09-17
Tbey have carried away Papa.

4 f
As the ears In which we were recently
travelling halted at a station, our attention
was arrested by a beautiful little girl, appar7
entlyless than two years Of age, who was
looking from one OF the windows OF a house
standing but q. few feet from the track She
was waiting most piteonsly, and on nef
sweet, wan face, was painted deeper sorrow
than we had ever before sefu on The face OF
an infant, such as this. All the While she
repeated, witha pathos indescrl oaply mourn
lul, "They have carried away my papa; when
viii they bring him back?"
Presently a lady, whom we instantly re-
cognized as q former acquaintance, cams
from the house; and entering thecar in whlch
we sat, took seat near uss Z.
"Did you observe d child at the wiadowW
she observed, when The train bad again taken
wings.
Eyes : we replied, aand with deep inter
Iest,a 1.se
Sra fortnight since," rejeined our friend,
I'.tbe father Of that little girl set out for the
tgotdIegion She was always amused at see
ling the cars pass; and the morning fixed up
lon for her fathers departure, as she heard the
|traiB approaching, climed TO her accustomed
place, and clapplng her hands in great glee,
watched its coming.
'sAt that moment the father and mother
entered The room, the former with a forced
smile upon his features, and the LATER pale
Land trsmulous with suppressed emotion,--
| The pressure 10 his fond heart, one fervent
kiss, and the love pledge only was replaced
at The window with low rGod bless you,
lmy darling Emi--good bye !"
"This was evidently The first intimation to
the lille one Of her fathers intended depar-
ture. At the words she turned quickly, and
with half incredulous expression from The
window, surveyed his person, and seeing
that he was really equipped for aijourney, re
turned his parting sauta,ion..
Good bye, papa, good bye
'"Another moment, and the adventurer had
entered the cars, which were beginning again
to move forward. The young vile and meth
er turned from the spot where the long fare
well had been exchanged, and re-eniered hel
dwelling with streaming eyes. Instantly the
child appeared TO comprehend that her ath
eI's absence was destined not TO be as usual
a temporary one the gay smile fed from hel
| intelligent features; and stretching her tiny
arms towamhe father, who, from window
was casting behinda long look, she cried II
lisping accents. a~
30, please do come back, papa, and take
mamma and Emi p
"The father, who had hitherto succeeded
in maintaining external composuHe, wal
seen TO withdraw his gaze. and press a hand
kerchiefto his eyes. @ss
The child has scarcely smiled since. Oh
the approach of the cars, she always take
her place at the window, from which no in
ducement can draw her, and watches will
eager eyes till she finds her father has no
come, when, in tone Of sadness truly affec
ting, she repeats, as you just now heard her
They have carried away my papa; whei
will they bring him back?"
Her appetite has failed; she has grow
pale and thin, and, whether sleeping or wa
liking, her thoughts are constantly with he
absent parent. Her mother has decided {
take her from the scenes which SO constantl
remind her of her affliction, as the onl
means Of restoring her health and spirits"