The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-01-29
A Scene in Real Life.

my ptsseu up llc iNeI WIN " oih"ii ii0oe VI
vessels in tow, one of which had been cast off
and hauled in just west Of the bridge, leaving
the adraw" still open. While waiting, he
witnessed the following scene:
''The vessel we have mentioned had been
moorcd 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 the deck, and
addressing her, pointed to. the shore, then to
the bridge, and then down towards the
thropgcd and busy streets of living, moving,
headlong Chicago. She rose picked up a
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 a 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 where the bridge Would be,
if it was always a bridge; and in contcmpa-
ting the new faces and the representatives Of
the various classes there assembled, we had
almost forgotten the incident we have related.
Our attention was called from vain endeav-
or to discover some hope of cessation of tugs
going up and down, and schooners and briggs
pulling in and out, by hearing most audible
sob from some one near us. 1t was not tho
sob of childhood, caused by some sudden
change of gaicty to grief; it was the sob of
some maturer breast, filled with sense of
loneliness and despair. 1t reached other ears
than ours.
A lady, dressed in manner which bespoke
wealth that could crafty taste and elegance,
and who, like ourselves was detained at that
place, stood near, accompanied by three chill
dren, whose desire to get at the extreme edge
of the platform she with difficulty reprcssed
With woman's tenderness, her heart rccog
nized the stifled ebplition of sorrow, and APP
preaching 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 can
resist, inquired if she stood in need, or was
she i'll, or was her sorrow such that she could
not 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 seventeen years, neatly, but
coarscly dressed, with shoes not only we'll
worn, but heavy and unsuited as much for
her sex as for the season. The poor girl, in
honest simplicity, and with an carncstness
which.despair alone could impait related her
history, uninterrupted 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 its
order just enough to enable us TO state it
briefly.
Cbo coil ,lot L. l.. l.
had no brother or sister now; she remem-
bercd that she had a sister, the Oldest, whose
name was LIZZIE; that sister, years ago,
against her fathers will had married, and
with her husband, having been baniShcd the
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
had brought silent regrets, and after while
came melancholy complainings by the mother
signing for the embrace Of her first -bom.-
These soon led to anger and crininations at
home, and dissipation by the father abroad
Losses came upon them, and at last, gather
ing the few worldly goods they possessed, they
left the proud city Of their birth. and settled
five years ago upon land pure hased Of the
Government in Wisconsin. Her brothers,
some older and some younger than lcrsclf,
ono by one dropped and died; and soon the
mother, calling in agony upon her long cxiled
daughter, joined her boys in happier climc.
None were now left but the father and this
poor girl. He too YVES humblcd and stricken
10y the slow but certain disease which lights
up the check, and fires the eye with the brill
fancy of health, even when its victim is on
the confines of eternity, He would sit and
tell to his surviving child the acts of winning
lo'e and sacrificing devotion which had made
his Lizzie the very object of his life. He
would talk of her sweet smiles and her happy
disposition until memory would lead him to
the hour when he had bid her to depart, and
not let him see her face again. His decline
was rapid, and this lone cdild which saw the
first flowers which the warmth of spring had
called forth from the soil of her mothers
grave disturbed, uprooted, and thrown aside,
that his ashes might minglo 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 incurred
to procure the necessaries of life. The land,
which, for want of culture had not increased
in vahae, 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 kim
dred. 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 upon the dock, watching the
steamers depart, had inquired and asccrtaincd
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 find one of those
places where situations were given TO worthy
applicants.
Such was her story. She had mentioned
no name except that of father, mother, and
the cndearing appcIations Of brother George.
Willie, DC. Both of the women were crying
bitterly. The fashionaby dressed lady turned