Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-11-15
Child Stealing i'm New York.

Child Stealing I'm New York.
1t is said, and the records of the depart
ment of Police in some measure confirm
the On.dit, that the little olive branches
which are supposed to flourish best around
a mans table, are occasionally plucked
10 by outsiders and carried away to be
transplanted in some strange places.
Nurses and other attendants, who have
left the little darlings alone in the parks
or public places for few minutes, have
been sorely surprised to find them gone,
and that all subsequent efforts to gain a
trace Of the lost ones, have proved abor-
tive. This may appear strange, but it is
true. Some people suppose that the child
rem thus kidnapped are taken to be 'nl-
tiated into the secrets of ground and lofty
tumbling, or to become incipient wonders
of salatorial display on the tight-rope, or
juvenile equestrians. Others say that they
are taken for religious purposes, to be
proselytes to celibacy. We do not know
how this may be but, we have heard Of
so many strange efforts to obtain the
guardianship Of children from the Supreme
Court, after their mothers have entrusted
them to outsiders to rear, that we can
easily credit any such rumors. The fol-
lowing singular item Of news was related
TO us few days ago by member OF the
Bar.
Our informant said he was applied to by
a gentleman of wealth Of this city, to OBJ
tain the restoration of young child which
had been taken away from the care of his
family, under very singular circumstances.
The gentleman in question had married
lady Of remarkable beauty and accom-.
plishments, who, after their union, had
introduced to his home child of most
winsome manners and beauty, which she
called her niece. This scion soo2 be.
came an especial pet of the household. and
was duly installed as the feature Of the
family. In the course Of the summer, the
gentleman with his wife and the child
took up their residence at fashionable
watering. place on Long Island Sound, and
the child was there much noticed by all
the visitors as little paragon of pertecti-
bility in petticoats but one, Southern
lady, appeared to have imbibed for it an
ardent affection, and wished to adopt it as
her own. The offer was not accepted.
A day was at length fixed for the departure
Of the party for their home in the city,
when, 70 the utter establishment Of all. the
child was missing, and could not be found.
Every nook and corner Of the house and
grounds were searched, but in vain; and
the lady and gentlemen returned to the
city. the former inconsolable for the loss
of the child which she then confessed was
hers, before her marriage to her present
husband. This confession did not proven,
him, however, from doing everything in
his power TO solve the mystery. With
that view he applied to our legal friend for
advice, and the latter recommended the
service of writ of habeas corpus on the
Southern lady-who was then in the city
directing her to bring the child before
one Of the Justices Of the Supreme Court.
This course was pursued, and the mandate
served with singular result; for on the
morning Of the day the child should have
been brought before the Judge. it was left
all forlorn in the Office Of the lawyer, but
SO sadly changed, as to be hardly recog-
nizable BY its fond but erring mother. Its
beautiful auburn locks had been cut of.
its features dyed to deep brown or dusky
hue it was clad in habiliments of the most
AFFECT poverty, and presented, altogether,
one Of the most depiorable spectacles that
could be imagined. The first impulse of
the lawyer was to send the little "vaga-
bond to the Aims. House but on reflec.
ton, he dispatched messenger for his
client, and tho lost one was thus restored
to the arms Of its mother. . The child. al.
though most intelligent for its age. could
not furnish any clue for solution of the
Of its disappearance. -s.-G
re- [Porters Spirit Of the Times.
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