Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-10-20
From the CHICAGO Times.

We do not often indulge in the sentimental but
OCCASIONALLY in walks, our attention is called
TO events happening before US, and lead us to
thoughts and reflections which it is we'll we, rs
other men, should indulge in at times.
We had been on The North Side, to see an ac-
quaintance ut his hotel, and returning by Clark
street, found rs is generally the case when man
is in hurry, the bridge open. few minutes
previous. one of those little busy inventions, a
steam tug, had passed up the river with a small
fleet of vessels in tow, one of which had been cast
off, and had hauled in just west of the bridge
Seeing no hope of getting to our Office for some
time, we resolved to bear it meckly, and find
mental occupation by observing what was going
on about us. We little expected what did occur.
The vessel We have mentioned had been moorcl
or made fast outside of several canal boats, and
as We stood looking at the men upon her, one OF
them approached a female, who had been crouch
ed upon the deck, and addressing her, pointed 10
the shore, then to the bridge, then down towards
the thronged and busy streets OF living, moving,
hesdlong Chicago. She rose, picked up small
bundle, from which she drew forth CON, which
she rendered to the hardy sailor. He refused it
whatever it was, and lending her hand, helped
her from the vessel to the dock, and from the
dock up to the bridge. BY this time large crowd
of persons threnged the north end of where the
bridge would he, if it always was bridge, and
in contemplating the new faces and the raprescn-
tatives Of the various classes there assembled,
had almost forgotten the incident we have ,elat-
cd. Our attention was called from a vain en-
deayOr to discover some hope of cessation of
tugs, gong up and down, and schooners and brigs
pulling in and out, by hearing most audible sob
from some one near 1t was not the sob of
childhood, caused by some sudden change from
gaiety to grief; it was the sob of some maturer
breast, filled with sense of loneliness and des-
pair. 1t reached other ears than ours. A lady,
dressed in a manner which bespoke wealth that
could crafty taste and elegance, and who like
ourselves, was detained at that place, stood near
accompanied by three children, whose desire to
get at the extreme edge of the platform, she with
difficulty repreSsed.
With woman's tenderness, her heart recogni-
Zcd the stifed ebulition of sorrow, and approach
ing the person from whom it came, who was none
other than the woman we had just seen land from
the vessel, she quietly and in that soft sweet voice
of woman, which none resist, enquired if she
stood in need, or was she i'll, was her sorrow
such as could be relieved? portion of the rail-
ing near was vacant, and towards that, and al
most at our side, these two women came to con-
verse. The stranger was fair, handsome girl of
about seventeen; neatly, but coarsely dressed,
with shoes not only we'll worn, but heavy, and I'M
suited much for her sex for the season.
The poor girl, in honest simplicity, and with an
earnestness which despair alone could impart,
lated her history, uninterrupted by a single ebser-
vation from her companion, but often accompani-
ed by the tears of both. We have not space for
1T at length; and We will give it, changing its or
der just enough to enable us to state it briefly.
She said that she was born in Boston !; she had
no brother or sister n0iU she remembered that
she had sister, the oldest whose name was Liz
zis; that sister, years ago, against her fathers
Will, had married, and with her husband, having
been banished from the fathers sight, had gone
of, and had not been heard of since-no doubt
was dead. AT the time of her sisters marriage,
her parents were wealthy the pride which drove
away Lizzie, had brought silent regrets, and after
a while came melancholy complanngs by the
mother, signing for the embrace of her FIRST born
these soon led to anger and examinations at home:
and dissipation by the father abroad. Losses
came n,o,. them, and at last, gathering the few
worIair oooas hey possessed, they left the proud
eiy of tbeir birth. a. dsetled live years ago, upon
land purchased by the &C. IN " iSconsin'
IIe. brothers, some older anu somc aounS1 tnan
herself, cnn by one drooped ana 'ou Gnu SUN
the mother, calling in agon! upon the 'o" vA"oo
daughter, Joined her boys in y happier june
None were now left but the father and this p.or
girl. He too was humbled, and stricken by that !
slow but certain disease which lights up the cheek,
and fires the eye with the briahcy of health, even
when its victim is on the confines of eternity nc
would sit and tell his surviving child the acts OF
winning love, and sacrificing devotion, which hnd
made his Lizzie the very object OF his Lie. lie |
would talk of her sweet smiles, and hor happy dis
position, until memory would lead him to the hour
when he bid her depart and not let him see her
face again. His decline was rapid, and this lone
child saw the first flowers which the warmth OF |
spring had called from the soil of her mothers
grave, disturbed, uprooted, and throw: aside, that
his ashes might mingle with those Of the mother
of his children. At his death he charged her to
pay off, far as she might be able, the debts in
CURED to procure the necessaries of life; the land
which for want Of culture, had not increased IN
value, was sold, and left her but few dollars.
These she expended in rearing some boards to
mark the spot where she had seen buried after
another, her beloved kindred. She had heard of
Chicago. She had heard that in this city there
Offices where strangers wishing employment,
could find work. She had On foot Travelled many
miles, until she reached Milwaukee, and thence by
the kindness of poor sailor, who had seen her day
after day on the dock, watching the steamers de-
part, had inquired and ascertained that she wished
to come hither, but had not the money. He brought
her to Chicago on his own vessel, and had told her
that by crossing the bridge, she could fad one of
places where situations were given to worthy
applicants.
Such was her story. She had mentioned no
name except that of her father. mother, and the
endearing appellations of brother George, Willie,
&c. Both of the women were crying BITTERLY
The fashionably dressed lady turned her face to-
wards the river, that her tears, at such crowded
and unusual place, might not be observed. She
requested us to take her two boys---George and
Willie, she called them---by the hand to keep
them from danger and then, putting her arm
around the neck of the poor, friendless, wander
ing orphan stranger, said, "you are my own sis
ter, l am Lizzie.'
These two beings, children of the same parents,
how different have been their paths, and how deep
their sufferngs! We have seen them since. We
have seen them together in "Lizzie's'' carriage,
driving along Lake street. They are doubtless rs
happy as their bereavements, relieved only by the
consciousness of duty faithfully performed, can
permit. But while the suffering of that father
and mother may be family known from the story
of the daughter, what must have been the mental
agony of that other daughter, unkindly banished
from her mothers side, and driven out into the
world without fathers blessing? What must
have been her grief when her letters, written from
prosperous city, from the house Of her wealthy
and kind husband, telling them of her success. and
of the birth of her children, were unnoticed and
unanswered9 She must have felt that indeed the
hearts of that father and mother sisters and BROTH
crs, must have been hardened against her. We
will say more. That scene will live in our
memory while we can remember the pure and holy
love of father, mother and kindred.
A Coon HIr.-The following sentiment
was received with great zest at late political
re-union
Our Bleeding Cotmtry-may it never be
Pierced again.
Tomorrow is like a iuggler that deceives
us. a ouack that pretends To cure M and thin ;cs