, 1854-10-07
An Affecting Story.

The MIssING STEAMER CRY OF GAS
COW IAN AFFECTING SroRY.-The .srsev
Blue has the following affecting story {:
During the latter part Of our career
in the Philadelphia post Office, we became
acquainted, amoug the mass Of human be-
ings whose faces appeared daily at the
general delivery window, where we were
stationed, with an intelligent, happy look
ing Englishman Of about As years Of age,
who came frequently to inquire for letters
from home. He was a man of pleasing
manners, and evidently had been well edu-
Gated, and accustomed to the refnements
and elegancies of really good society. Be
ing a stranger on our shores, he was glad
to avail himself Of IN opportunity of con-
versiug with US, and spoke freely of bis
past and bis hope for the future.
He had come. over to Philadelphia
bringing with him little son, apparently
about IL years Of age, to select residence
for the rest Of his family, which he had
left in England, and to make all the ar
rangements necessary 10 their comfort,
when they should arrive. He had accom-
plshed this, had taken and furnished o
house in Philadelphia, and was expecting
letters from his wife, informing him Of her
sailing with their other children, in the
steamer City Of Manchester.
We handed him letter--it spoke of
her expectation to sail in that steamer,
and he went away with such glad anticipa-
tions as might be supposed to fill the heart
Of % husband and father long absent from
the wife and children whom he soon ex-
pected to meet and embrace again. A few
days passed, and another foreign mail ar
rived, and with letter for our friend from
his wife, saying that she had not been able
to make her arrangements in time to sail
in the MdRehester, but that she should GER
tainly sail in the GiasgoV.
Some time after this letter came, which
she had mailed at the time Of embarking
in this ship, and now be was unspeakably
happy with the utmost certainty Of seeing
his wife and children in very few days,
for the New York mail steamers generally
make their passage but few days sooner
than our screw steamers. Soon he, with
many others, commenced going down eve
ry day to Queen street wharf to look for
the incoming steamer.
But who shall speak Of the horrors to
comel Day after day did he, with the
many others on that sad week, go down to
the wharf and strain his vision to descry,
among the numerous vessels down the
river, the anxious expected steamer. We
saw him when the vessel had been some
thirty days out, and were startled at his
appearance. The plump, happy seeming
face Of one month before, was haggard as
the face of death; the eyes that we had SO
shortly before seen dance in the light Of in
ward joy, were blOodshot, wild and glaring
upon us with a maniac expression.
He walked mopingly away, but his face
haunted us still. A few days after this,
steamer arrived bringing the report that
a vessel somewhat resembling the Glasgow
had been seen of the Bahamas; this report
brought him to us again. oh, how that
false hope had frightened his cOuntenance!
His eyes had regained their expression Of
intelligence, and he clung to this baseless
hope as q drowning man to straw.
We left the post Office few days after
this. Yesterday we inquired concerning
this wretched man, and was told that he
had been for some time in the lunatic asy-
lum, a raVing maniac. May God reward
him in eternity" ...r