Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-09-14

""yuniig ol Her uaugnter I'LL Tue nlSht poioIo'
She had identified Captain Lotion as soon as he
entered the theatre, and his name being mem
toned by lady, Il stranger to her, who hap
pened to be in the same box, joined in the con-
versation, and named the circumstances which
she had heard of on American sea captain of
that name having adopted, as a daughter, a
c'ild who was picked up by him in the street,
who was then living, she believed, with family
in her part Of the city. This led to such further
inquiries and answers as made Mrs. Grayson ac-
qaalnted, without revealing her own interest in
the subject, with the exact situation of the place
where the girl, whom she doubted not to be her
own child, could be found, and ended in
promise of an introduction to the family. And
SO promptly did she avail herself Of these i'd
vantages the next morning that. bafare noon.
the reunion of mother and daughter was 80
happily effected, and with such confidence in
each other, that the latter went home with the
former, where the present surprise and meeting
were planned and executed in the manner We
have described.
Supper was now announced, and Mrs. Gray
son led the way to the table, which was loaded
with the rarest of delicacies.
After the repast was over, they returned to
the parlor; when the daughter, after exchang-
ing look of intelligence with the mother, left
the room.
" Now, Captain Lotion" said Mrs. G., .,"I
will ask your indulgence for few moments,
while revert to that dark spot in my checkered
life when, a poor, broken-hearted creature, I
met you in the streets of this city and though
expect not to justify my conduct, yet hope to
offer circumstances which you will consider some
extenuation of an act which you must have
looked upon as both base and unnatural"
"No, lady," interposed the captain, g not SO
I believed you driven to the course you took
by misfortune, that should awaken sympathy
rather than censure"
"You judged generously, if not truly, sir,
and shall with more confidence give you my
little history"
She then proceeded to relate her story as Lo-
ton had already heard it, with the addition that
as soon as it was discovered by her Landlord that
her husband had died without leaving any
means for her future support, or even for paying
the small debt already contracted, he harshly
ordered her to leave the house, and seek new
quarters and by way of justifying himself in
his cruel course, he assailed her character, Civ
ing out that, though a mother, she had never
been wife. This, she soon found, was easier
to deny than to make the contrary appear by
any evidence that would command belief. The
clergyman by whom she was privately married
was not Il permanent resident, and had left the
Island for parts unknown to her, and the only
witness of the marriage had died of yellow
fever u few months after that event; and her
own assertion gaining no credit against the stu
diously circulated insinuations of her slanderer,
she Was now turned into the streets in perfect
destitution, and finding every door shut against
her,among the few acquaintances she had formed
in the city, despair took possession of her mind
and she prayed for death to end Ter sufferings.
In this forlorn and distracted condition she
wandered from street to street with her babe in
her arms, till utter exhaustion compelled her to
seek place for rest, which she soon found in a
corner of the veranda of large warehouse.
Here, unobserved, among the bales Of goods
which screened her from public view, she hush
ed her babe to sleep, and for a bed deposited it
in the basket containing all that was left unsold
of her wardrobe. As she was thus employed
and while she was darkly revolving in her mine
the fearful alternatives of suicide or life o
beggary and disgrace, her eye fell on Captain
Lotion, standing on the opposite side Of thu
street, whom she heard gentleman near hel
pointing out by name, as an American soa-cap
tain of fine qualities; and the sudden though
struck her that she would throw herself on hi
mercy But as she approached him, her cour.
age failed her, and she suffered him to pas
away without attracting his notice. 1t was
however, as she thought, her last hope, and sh
timidly followed him till he turned and took he
: burden from her hands. She could not evel
then open to him her wishes, or tell him wha
the basket contained. And knowing that tn
truth might the next moment be revealed, AM
fearing it would bring her humilating re
pulse, she resolved, in her desperation. to throw
her child on his benevolence, and take hersel
away to some lone spot to die. Accordingly
wpq hastily-breathed prayer for her child
safety, and with some directions to him, sh'
scarcely knew what, she passed hurriedly int
an alley, and fell down in swoon at the doo'
of benevolent lady, by whom she was taker
into the house. revived, pitied, retained in tn,
family, and in few days invited to 60 will
them to their home in Bermuda, where she be
came permanent resident, and where she once
and once only, had the unspeakable pleasure tt
learn, accidentally, that her child survived, an'
had been adopted by him in whose hands sh
had left it.
This is all l can offer by way of palliation,
said the lady, as she concluded her story.
"And what more or better could be offered
' dear lady" responded Captain Lotion, in a fran
and cordial manner ' for me 1t is enough
abundantly enough--to confirm the charitabl
view Of the act which have ever contended
should receive"
clam deeply gatefal to you. sir" rejoina
the other with emotion, 90 for the constructo
;. puton my motives and conduct and for tn
part Of my obligations feel that can new
sufficiently reward you. But for all the rest
:. am happy in having it in my power to RENT
neratc you. And now I offer you a pecunial
compensation for all your sacrifices, expense
:, and care of my daughter, in such q sum as "
'e shall name"
H Al tn raanniar,, nvI ~ ,t.a,.uad tha oa