Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-05-16
TALES AND INCIDENTS.

ROMANCE OF REAL ItFE.-lhe editor OF the
Chicago Times, having been on the north side
Of that city to see friend, was recently pre-
vented from reaching his home, in conse-
quoncc Of stcam-tug having passed up the
river with Il 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 fol-
lowing scene
The vessel VIC have mentioned was moorcd
or made fast outside of several canal boats;
and as We stood looking at the men upon her.
one Of them approached female, who had
been crouchcd upon deck, and addressing her,
pointed to the shore, then to the bridge, and
then down toward the thronged and busy
streets of living, moving, headlong Chicago.
She arose, picked up small bundle, from
which she drew forth coin which she ten
dercd to the hardy sailor. lie refused it,
whatever it was, and lending her n hand,
helped her from the vessel to the dock. and
from the dock up to the bridge BY this time
a large crowd Of persons thronged the north
end of where the bridge would be il it were
always bridge; and, in contcmpla ting the
now faces, and the representatives. Of the va
rious classes there assembled, we had almost
forgotten the incident we have related. Our
attention was called from the vain cndeavor
to discover some cessation Of tugs, going up
and down, and brigs and schooners pulling in
and out, by hearing most audible sob from
some one near us. 1t was not the sob of
childhood, caused by some sudden change
from gayety to grief; it was the sob Of some
maturcr breast, filled with sense of lonli-
ness and despair; 1t reached other ears than
ours.
4 lady, dressed in manner which bespoke
n wealth that could crafty taste and ce-
gance. and who like ourselves, was detained
at that place, stood near, accompanied by
three children, whose desire to get at the ex
treme edge of the platform she with difficulty
rcprcssed With womans tenderness her
heart recognized the stiied ebullition of sor-
row, 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, and in that soft sweet voice of wo-
man which none can resist, inquired if she
stood in need, or was she i'll, or was her sor-
row such that she could not be relieved.
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 RI, of about
seventeen years; neatly, but cOarsely dressed,
with shoes not only well worn, but heavy,
and unsuitc1 as much for her sex as for the
season. The poor girl, IN honest simplicity.
and with an carnestness which despair alone
can impart related her history, uninterrupt-
ed by single observation from her compan-
on, but often accompanied by the tears of
both. We have not space for it at length,
but we will give it, changing its order just
enough to enable us to state 1t briefly.
She said that she was born in Boston; she
had no brother or sister now; she remember
ed that she had sister, the Oldest, whose
name was Lizzie; that sister, years ago,
against her fathers will had married, and
with her husband, having been banished from
her fathers sight, had gone off and not been
heard of sincc-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
II while came melancholy complainings by
the mother signing for the embrace of her
first born These soon led to anger and re.
elimination at nome and dissipation by the
father abroad. Losses came upon them, and
at last gathering the few remaining goods
they possessed, they left the proud city of
their birth, and settled five years ago upon
and purchased of the government IN Wis
consin. Her brothers, some older and some
younger than herself, one by one dropped and
died; and soon the mother calling in agony
upon her lonS-cxiled daughter, joined her
boys in happier cline. None were now left
but the father and his poor girl. lie too was
humblcd and stricken by the slow but GER
tain disease which lights up the cheek and
fires the eye with the briliancy of health,
even when its victim is on the confines of
eternity.
lie would sit and tell to his surviving
child the acts Of winning love and sacrificing
devotion which had made his Lizzie the very
object of his life lie would talk of her
sweet smiles and happy dispositions, until
memory would lead him to the hour when he
bid her to depart and not let him SEQ her
face again His decline was rapid. and this
lone child saw the flowers which the warmth
of spring had called from the soil of her
mothers grave disturbed, uprooted Il thrown
aside, that his ashes might mingle with those
of the mother of his children.
At his death he charged her to paw of as
far as she might be able, the debts incurred
to procure the necessaries of life. The land, !,
which, from want Of culture, had not in
creased 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, one after another her beloved
kindred. She had heard of Chicago. She
| had heard that in this city there were 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 depart, had inquired
and ascertained that she wished to come
! hither, but had not the money Tie brought
| her t. Chicago on his vessel, and had told her
that by crossing the bridge she could find
one of those places where situations were
| given to worthy applicants
such WAS her story She mentioned no
name except that of father, and the endear-
| ing app,llltions of brother George, Willie,
! &r. Both of the women were crying bitterly.
| The iaShonlbly dressed lady turned her face
towards the river. that her tears, at such a
crowded and unusual place might not be OBJ
s ryed. She requisite Us to take her two boys,
George and Willie she called them-by the
hand, to keep them from danger, and then
putting her hand around the neck of the
poor, iriendless, wandering, orphan stranger
! said
"}Ou are my oWn SISTER. am L'S:ie."
These two beings, children of the same pa
rents, how different have been their paths,
and how deep their sufferings We have
seen them together in ''Lizzie's" carriage,
driving along Lake street, They are doubt
less as happy as their Lereavements
relieved only by the consciousness Of duty
faithfully performed, can permit But while
tho suffering of that father and mother may
be family known from the story Of the
dau ghter, what must have been the mental
agony of that other daughter unkindly ban
ished from her mothers side, and driver
out into the world without fathers bles
ing' What mus; have been her grief when hei
cttcrs, written from prosperous city, IRON
the house of her wealthy and kind husband
telling them Of her success, and Of the birth
of her children, were unnoticed and uuan
swercd She must have felt indeed that The
hearts OF that father and mother, her sister
and brothers, must have been hardened
against her We will say no more, Tha
scene will live in our memory Will
We can remember the holy love Of father
mother, and kindred.
\ TououING INCIDENT The shdiest stor,
that We ever read was that of little child il
Switzerland, pet boy, Just az yours IS, read