Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-05-16
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Romance of Real Life.
A TOUCHING STORY.


city to see friend. was recently pre-
vented from reaching his home, IN
consequence of a steam-tug having
passed up the river with a small fleet
of vessels in tow, one of which bad
been cast of and hauled in just west
Of the bridge, leaving the q" draw
still open. While waiting, he wit
messed the following scene
The vessel we have mentioned,
was moored or made fast outside Of
several canal boats aud, as we stood
looking at the men upon her, one of
them approached female who had
been crouched upon deck, and ad-
dressing her, pointed TO the shore,
then the bridge, and then towards
the thronged and busy streets Of lv-
ing, 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 lend
ing her a 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 throaged
the north end OF where the bridge
would be If it were always a bridge !;
and in contemplating the new faces,
and the representatives. of the various
classes there assembled, we had al
most forgotten the incident we have
related Our attention was called
from the VAN endeavor to discover
some cessation of tugs going up aud
down, and briggs and schooners put.
ting in and out, 10y hearing most
audible sob from some one near US
1t was not the sob Of childhood,
caused by some sudden change of
galety TO grief ii was not the sob Of
some muturer breast, filled with Il
sense Of loneliness and despair it
reached other ears than ours.
A lady dressed in a manner which
bespoke wealth that could crafty
taste and elegance, and who. like our
self, was detained at that place, stood
near, accompanied by three children
whose desire TO get to the extreme
edge Of the platform she with diff
Guilty repressed With a woman's
tenderness her heart recognised the
sliiled ebolulion of sorrow, and ap-
preaching the person from whom it
came, who was none other than the
woman we had Just seen landing 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 Ill, or was her
sorrow such that she could not be
relieved. A portion of the railing
near us vas vacant, and towards
that, and almost at our side these two
women came TO converse The
stranger was a fair, handsome girl,
OF about seventeen years, neatly, but
coarsely dressed, with shoes not only
well worn, but heavy, and unsuited
as much for her sex as Tor the season.
The poor girl, IN honest simplicity,
and with an earnestness which de-
spair alone can impart, related her
history, uninterrupted by n single
observation from her companion, but
often accompanied by the tears OF
both. We have not space for il at
length, but we will give it, changing
its order Just enough 10 enable us to
state it briefly.
She said that she was born in
Boston she had no brother nor Sis
ter now she remembered that she
had sister, the oldest, whose name
was Lizzie that sister, years ago
agnIas, her fathers will had married
and with her husband, having beer
hanished from her fathers sight, har
gone off and had not been heard o
slnce-no doubt was dead At tn,
time of her sisters marriage her pa
rents were wealthy; the pride which
drove away Lizzie had brought sien
regrets, and after while, came mel
ancholy complainings by the mother
signing for the embrace of her frs
born. These soon led to anger an,
elimination at home aud dissipation
by the father abroad. Losses cam
upon them, and at last, gathering tn,
lew remaining goods they possessed
they left the proud city of their birth
and settled five years ago upon land
purchased from the government il
Wisconsin. Her brothers, some olde
and some Younger than herself, ON,
by one dropped and died and sool
the mother, calling in agony upon he
long-ex!led daughter, joined her boy
in a happier cline. None were nov
left but the father and his poor girl
lie too was humbled and stricken b,
the slow and certain disease which
llghtens up the cheek, and fires tn,
eye with the brilliancy OF health
even when It's victim is on the con
fines of eternity.
He would sit aud tell to his surviv
ing child the act Of winning love anC
sacrificing devotion which had mad,
his Lizzie The very object of his life
He would talk of her sweet sniilel
and happy disposition, until memory
Il Al.
bid her to depart, and not let hiu
see her face again. HIS decline was
rapid, and this lone child saw til,
flowers which the warmth of sprn,
had called from The soil of her moth
ers grave disturbed, uprooled anc
thrown aside, that his ashes nigh
mlngle with those Of the mother o
his children.