Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1853-08-11
The Orphan Girl and Steamboat

Anete "ds lauy topK paSSag
: with US at Pittsbarg S ONE time il
the year of Al, booked herself a
a Mrs. Winslow, for New Orleans, hav
ing for her companion girl seven o.
eight years old, evidently her daugh
ter. This lady was quite reserved
and distant in her manner, and tc
all inquiries made Of her in thai
spirit of freedom which grows out O
a long trip of this sort, t,she only gave
lit to be understood that she was
going down to join her husband, an
officer in the Mexican war at New
i Orleans.
!. The j title girl, Ellen by name,
was one of those lively, fluttering
things sometimes seen that infuse
/ JOY into every beholder. l never
sd creature that 50 much fitted
m y idea Of an angel; 50 innocent, 50
/ ig norant Of double meanings, and
ueceltlul ways, SO unSophlStlcated,
one could not but feel that it was a
pity to educate such a creature, see-
ing that she must learn so many
things that would unfit her to return
I'd heaven. This sweet child had
been instructed by her mother to tell
| the truth always, 50 she said; and
TO do what she was bid. 1t would
have bee ludicrous sometimes had,
it not been so irreslstlbly touching
10 hear her plain truthful replies to
the ques stions the passengers were
continually asking her about her.
self, what she thought Of them; of
their looks; Of their actions; of God
land other things.
Captain Seeley, an old weather.
beaten man as there was on the riv-
er, was "A consummate swearer, and
rarely finished a sentence when out
Of hearing of the ladies, without an
oath. The day after we left Pitts
burg, little Ellen was sitting on the
guard amidst circle of listeners to
her childish prattle, when the Cap
tain joined them and asked her what
she thought of him? She replied /
with an artless smile, that she thought /
God would forgive him of all his
other sins if he wouldn't swear any
more! The old man flushed up, tears
filled his eyes, and he turned away
unable to speak a word; but from
that hour he sought every spare
minute to draw little Ellen to his
side and converse with her.
1t was touching contrast between
that wicked old man, so years on
the western waters, ana that spot
ess little soul just stirling upon
her first travel! All the passengers
noticed it. They attempted, Indeed, \.
% rally him upon it; put he gave I
hem such a gruif reception that it
vas thought imprudent to make a {
'urther jest Of the matter, and they
ct him alone. !
So we passed Cincinnati and Lou
sville and in due ii me emerged from
La belle rir1ere into the muddy Fa-
her Of waters.
Mr.. Winslow saw without ihterpo- {
ing any objections, the Influence {
Ter child was exciting over the old I
Japtain's mind, but she steadfastly
'efused every advance either from '
himself or other persons towards
orming acquaintances. She was evl- {
le1tly victim to grief, her coupte-
lance was fixed in settled gloom, '
nd she remained all day 'reclined t
lpon sofa, solitary, ant q engaged in z
he perusal Of t be }ible-
One morning, it was when we had
got about half way to Nlemphls, the !;
announced that Mrs. p
VinsIow was very i'll. Little Ellen q
n coming out to breakfast informed
he lady passengers that she had Sat 7
" her mothers bed all night long $
olding water, of which she drank i
1t was tou nd upon ex- G
by a physicia an on board ! !
hat she was in a high fever and al I I
eady deranged. She died just as t
e rounded out, lFsm n Memphis; was a
id in a coffin Ia@ by the hands Of d
bo boat's carpshfer, and buried in "
be grave yard aF Helena. $
Nothing could be found in her J J
tunks to denote her husband or IT, :
ie, where she hIad lived, who we're
er parents. what was the cause ol Z Z
er melancholy -all a total blank !
here was about fifty dollars in gold, q
few trinkets, a good stock of gar q