St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-03-19

3 thoughts of what she should do, an,
: where she should go, began to posses
: her mind, and raise it above state Q
!. brooding melancholy.
, The promise she had made to he
mother short time before her death
filial love and duty required her to pei
: form, although her own feelings wer
altogether opposed. She did not wis
to know the relatives who had treate
} her mother with cruel neglect VIII
had, in fact, cast off much less seel
them out and apply to them for SUP
port and protection. But, her wore
had been given to dying parent, ane
that word she dared not violate.
With most unconquerable reluc
tance, she set about making prepara
tions for journey to Philadelphia
Not single person, among the few
people with whom she was acquaint
ed, knew any one in Philadelphia, OF
could give any information as to where
she should go, or how she should act
on her arrival in that city. The
amount of money that she received
from the sale of few articles of fur.
niture, was barely sufficient, after
paying two months rent, and buying
herself some necessary articles of
clothing, to meet the cost of her pas
sage up the river and across the noun.
tains.
Suppose l cannot find them p
What shall do in a strange place p
she asked herself on the evening be-
fore she started, and shuddered at the
question, but she could only go for.
ward and trust that all would come
out right in the end.
A man who had lived near neighbor
and who had been we'll acquainted
with her father, went with her to the
steamboat when she started, and put
her under the captains care, who
promised to see her safely in the stage
for Philadelphia, Immediately on the
arrival of the boat at Pittsburg.
No incident worth noting occurred
on her passage up the river. At Pits
burg she was placed hy the ceptain,
according to promise, in the eastern
stage. After her passage was paid,
she had only about three dollars left.
She was the only female passenger
among nine persons. Her heart trem
bled when she found herself thus sit.
uated but for this there was no cause
She was treated with the kindest at
tentions during the whole journey OF
three days. 1t was midday when
they arrived in the city.
Shall get carriage for you ?"
asked one of her fellow passengers.
Anna started from the deep reverie
into which she had fallen, and replied,
No, sir, thank you," almost in
voluntarily. The man paused mo-
ment, and then left her to look after
his own baggage. She was now alone
in strange city.
d" A carriage, ma'am ?" "Any bag
gage, ma'am?" asked three or four
porters and carriage drivers, passing
up to the bewildered girl as she de-
scended to the street. She had
trunk, and she knew that she would
have to employ porter to carry it
for her; so she engaged one, who took
charge of her baggage.
" Where do you wish it taken, mad
am ?"
This question awoke Anna to full
realization of her situation. "Where ?"I
Alas She was homeless. And worse,
had not SO much as a dollar in her
purse. The small sum that remained
on leaving Pittsburg, had been nearly
expended for meals on the road.
"Do you wish your trunk taken to
a hotel or private house 2"
The porter asked this question with
evidences of impatience, as he had
waited for over minute for an an
swer to the previous one.
:" To a hotel" Anna said, family.
Which one, ma'am ?"
:. "Do you know where a Mr.. Grant
lives 2"
g No ma'am," returned the porter.
"Or Mr.. Markland 20
" Does he keep hotel ?"
" don't know 2"
never heard the name. But
where shall | take your baggage ?"
Annals thoughts had been so much
in confusion ever since her departure
from Cincinnati, that she had not been
able to determine what course to take
on her arrival in Philadelphia. She
was, therefore, utterly at a loss how
to answer the porter's question.
Can't my trunk stay here for lit
tie while?" she at length asked.
"Oh yes, ma'am. | can put it in
the Office for you, and can get it at
any time. My name is Bill. Ask for
Bill, when you call for it or, if l am
not here, leave word where it is to
60"
The trunk was, therefore, deposited
in the rail road Office, and Anna start
ed to go-she knew not where!
The sky had been overcast since
No rain had yet fallen, but
the wind was from the east, and the
air damp and cold. 1t was late in No
Anna went forth from the car office,
and took her way down Market street.
She had yet settled upon no course of
action. She walked along, because
to stand still, while striving to think,
would attract the attention she wish
ed, as timid girl, in strange city,