Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1856-05-22


reaching his home in consequence Of
steam-tug having passed up the river with
a small fleet of vessels in tow. one of
which had been cast off and hauled in
just west Of the bridge, leaving the
draw still open. While waiting he
witnessed the following scene:
The vessel we mentioned was moored
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 crouched upon deck, and
her pointed TO the shore. then
to the bridge. and .hen down toward the
thronged and busy streets of living. NOV.
ing headlong Chicago. She rose. picked
up small bundle. from which she drew
forth a coin 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 thronged the north
end Of tho bridge; and in contemplating
the new faces. and the represe entotives OF
tho various classes there embled. we
had almost forgotten the incident we have
related. Our attention was called from
the vain enGeavor to discover some ces
sation Of tugs going up and down. and
brigs and schooners pulling in and out.
by hearing q most audible sob from some
one near US. Ii was not the sob Of child
hood, caused by some sudden change from
gniety to grief; i. was the sob of some
maturer breast, filled with a sense of
Loneliness and despair. 1t REACHED other
ears than ours.
A lady dressed in a manner which be.
spoke a wealth that could crafty taste
aud elegance. and who like ourselves, was
detained at that place. stood near, accom-
panied by three children. whose desire to
get at the extreme edge Of the platform
she with difficulty depressed. With q
woman's tenderness her heart recognized
the stifed ebulition o: sorrow. and sp-
preaching the person from whom il came,
who was none other than the woman we
had just seen land from the vessel. she
quietly. aud in that soft sweet voice of
woman which none can resist, inquired
il she stood in need. or was she iii. or
was her sorrow such that she could not be
relieved. A portion Of the railing near
US was vacant, and toward that and al
most q. our side these two women came
to converse. The stranger was fair.
handsome girl Of about seventeen years;
neatly but cosrsely dressed. with shoes
no: only we'll worn but heavy. and suited
as much for her sex as for the season.
The poor girl. in honest simplicity and
with an earnestness which despair alone
can impart, related her history, uninter-
ruPted by single observation from her
companion. but often accompanied by the
tears of both. We have not space for it
at length. but we will give it. changing
it's order just enough to enable us to stnie
il briefly.
She said she was born in Boston. she
had no brother or sister now; she remem
bered that she had a sister. the oldes,
whose hsme was Lizzie: that sister, years
ago, against her fathers will had married,
and with her husband having been ban
ished from her fathers sight. had gone off
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 bad bro't
silent regrets. and after awhile came mel
ancholy complainings by the mother SIGH
ing for the embrace of her first born
These soon led to anger and crimination
at home. and dissipation by the father
abroad. Losses came upon them. and ct
last gathering the few remaining goods
they possessed. they left the proud city Of
their birth. end settled five years ago up
on lands purchased of the Government in
Wisconsin. Her brothers. some older
and some younger thar HERSELF one by one
drooped and died: and soon the mother.
calling in agony upon her long e1iled
daughter, joined her boys in a happier
cline. None were now left but the iath-
er and this poor girl. He too was hum
bled and stricken by the slow but certain
disense which lights up the chesk and
fires the eye with the brilliancy Of health
even when its victim is on the confines
Of eternity.
He would sit and tell TO his surviving
child the act of winning love and sacri-
fcing devotion which had made his Liz
zie the very object ofhis life. He would
talk of her sweet sweet smiles and happy
disposition, until memory would lead him
to the hour when he bid her depart, and
not let him see her face sgain. His de-
cline was rspid; and this lone child saw
the flowers which the warmth Of spring
had called from the soil Of her mothers
grave disturbed, uprooted, and thrown
aside. that his ashes might mingle with
those of the mother of his children.
At his death he charged her to pay off,
as far as she might be able. the debts in
CURED to procure the necessaries Of life
The land, which from want Of culture had
not increased in value. was sold. and left
her but few dollars. These she expend.
ed in rearing some boards to mark the spot
where she had seen buried. one after an
other. her beloved kindred. She had
heard of Chicago; she had heard that in
this city there were Offices where strang-
ers wishing employ mont could find work.
She had on foot travelled many miles, un-
I'll she reached Milwaukee. and thence by
the kindness of poor sailor. who. having
seen her day sfter day on the docb witch
ing the steamers depart. had inquired and
nsce rtsined that she wished 10 come hith-