Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-07-06
From Mrs. Ellett's Rambles in the West.
The Founding.

. p. f
Some incidents in the history Of a family
which heard related hereabouts, are curious
ly romantic. A farmer, whom we shall call
May whose means were amplcr than most new
settlers, lived in 1879 in Illinois, about six
milaa ,fre.a 81. I.oni. aaa. Asa-.ai"g early -
person then lodging in the house who furnish
ed this information. heard Mrs. Mays voice in
startled tones, calling to her husband to ask
"What noise is that9" The drowsy husband
answered that it was probably Of an opossum
or screech owl. "Ah. no, John!" exclaimed
the young wife, sit is young childr' She
sprang from the bed, as did her husband, and
both ran to the door; basket was set on the
doorstep, covered with abanket, which Mrs.
May removed, and there lay, imbedded in
snow. white muslin and linen, beautiful in.
fantl Lifting it in her arms, she ran into the
house, and laying it on her lap, examined its
features with delighted curiosity els it not a
beauty?" she cried looking up in her husbands
face; ''and the way it has come is SO funny !"
The stern farmer replied, that he could see no
fun in having other peoples brats thrust upon
him; but his grumblng was hushed by the be-
nevolent woman, whose whole soul went forth
in Kindness towards the little helpless crea-
ture-evidently not more Than four weeks old
thus cast on her maternal care. Notwith-
standing the dlspleasure of Mr.. May, which
she knew to be more appearance than reality
she kept her resolution Of adding the trouble
of providing for 1t to the charge Of her own
four children.
Matters went on thus for two or three years
and the founding. increased in beauty, be-
came the pet of the hosehold. Mr. May, how
ever treated the little girl with an indifference
amounting to dislike, and manifested an1oy-
ance, particularly when his wife would tell her
visitors the child's brief history, always pre-
facing it with the exclamation. "TEe way the
way the dear little creature came to US was SO
funnyp One day while he was alone in the
room he was playing with little Mary when
hearing his wife's step he set her down quickly
pushing her from him. The child cried Mrs
May took her up and spoke complainiugly Of
the husbands unkind treatment of the little
desolate creature, whom he seemed to hate
"You are mistaken, Nancy" replied the far
mer; II do not hate the child; see she knows
love her as much as yourself" and as hs
smiled and held out his arms, Mary sprane
from the lap Of her protectress and came t.
him, laughing merrily.
"But why, John, do you always treat th'
poor thing SO unkindlys' ashed the wife.
II will tell you Why. Nancy; because yo'
tell every body all about her; and it frets M
to have people suppose am bringing up no
body knows who, as my own; besides it is
disgrace to the child Now ifyou will agre
to what propose, am willing, for the child
\ good. to sell ont and move to one If the north
ern territories. But you must promise heve
to let any one know that we are not her parent
and never again to allude to the 'fanny way
in which she came to us.'
Mrs. May readily agreed to this generou
proposal. The farmer sold out and remove
to what was then the territory of Michigan
We will now take up another portion Of tn
story.
In one Of the eastern cities Mr.. Ian
Miss c., both Of highly respectable fan
ilies. had formed matrimonial engagement
with their parents consent. Rut q wealthit
suitor came, to whom the father, stern an
violent man, determined to wed his daughte
The lovers was secretly married, and arrang'
/ menfs were made with respectable famil
going 10 Missouri, to take the bride with the
the husband who called himself her brothe
promising to join them shortly. He left u
city sometime before Miss C-'s disappea
: ance, and all believed that he had gone on
sea voyage. Soon after leaving home Nh
i-yrote to inform herparents tha. she VI