The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-11-16
SCENE IN REAL LIFE.

We 10 not often indulge in the Sc timen'-
al. But, occasionally in our walks, our al
,enlion is called 10 events happening before
us, which leave an impression upon our
mind, and lead US TO thoughts and renec
tions which j, IS well we, as all other men,
should indulge in a, ,imos.
We had been on The North Side TO see an
.,4uai"'-re,. e, ~ hVt.i. '.'',' ..tu,ui"- l.,
Clark street, found, as is generally the case
when man is in hurry, the bridge open
A few moments previous, one OF those lille
busy inventions, a steam tug, had passed up
The river with small fleet of vessels in
tow, one of which had been cas-, of. and
had hailed in just ives, Of the bridge. See
ing no hope OF getting 10 our office for some
time, and knowing ,ha, our composlors
could no, be in any worse temper an hour
later than they were then, we resolved 10
bear !, meekly, aud find mental occupation
by observing what was going on about rs.
We lille expected wha, did occur.
The vessel we have mentioned had been
moored, or made fast outside several canal
boats, and as we stood looking ut The men
upon her, one oi them approached female
who had been crouched upon the deck, aud
addressing her, pointed 10 the shore, and
then 10 The bridge, aud then down towards
the ,hronced aud busy streets Of living,
moving, headlong Chicago. She rose,
picket up small bundle, from which she
drew forth n coin. which she rendered 10 the
hardy sailor. He refused II, whatever il
was, and lending her hand, helprd her
from the vessel TO the dock, and from the
dock up 10 The bridge. By this time large
crowd of persons lhronged the north end OF
where The bridge would be il i, was always
a bridge, and III contemplating the new
faces, and the representatives OF the various
classes there assembled, we had almos, for.
gotten the incident we have related. Our
attention was called from vain endeavor
to discover some hope OF a cessation of tug,
going up aud down, and brigs and schOoneTs
pulling in and out, by hearing a most audi.
BILE sob from some one near us. II was not
the sob OF childhood, caused by some sud-
den change from gae,y 10 grief; il was The
sob of some maiurer breast, filled with a
sense OF loneliness and despair. |, reached
other ears than ours. a lady, dressed in a
manner which bespoke wealth iha, could
could crafty taste and elegance, and who
like ourselves, was detained in that place,
stood near, accompanied by three children,
whose desire 10 get at the extreme edge of
the platform she with difficulty oppressed.
With woman's tenderness, her heart
recognized the sihcd cbul,ion of sorrow,
and approaching the person from whom it
came, who was none other than the woman
we had just seen land from the vessel, she
quietly, aud in that soft, swee, voice OF
woman, which none can resist, inquired il
she stood in need, or was she i'll, or was her
sorow such that could be relieved! A
/ portion OF the railing near us was vacant,
and towards that, and almost at our side.
these two women came to converse. The
stranger was fair, handsome girl, Of about
Il years; neatly, but coarsely dressed,
with shoes not only we'll worn, bn, heavy,
and unsuiicd as much for her sex as for the
season. The poor girl, in homes, simplicity
and with an carnes,ness which despair alone
could impari, related her history, uninier.
mpicd by single observation from her com
panion. bu, often accompanied by the tears
Of both. We have not space for It a, length
and we will give il, changing lis order Just
enough 10 enable us TO slaie il briefly.
She said she was born in Boston shc
had no brother or sister now she remem.
bered that shc had u sister the Oldest, whose
name was Lizzie; TIA, sister years ago,