St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-01-21

some younger than herself, one by one
dropped and died; and soon the
mother, callngin agony upon her long
cxiled daughter, joined her boys in a
happier cline. None were now left
but the father and this poor girl. He
too was humblcd and stricken by the
slow but certain disease which lights
up the check and fires the eve with
the brilliancy Of health, even when its
victim Is on the confines of eternity.
He would sit and tell to his survi-
wing child the acts of winning love
and sacrificing devotion which had
made his Lizzie the very object of his
life. He would talk of her sweet
smiles and happy disposition, until
memory would lead him to the hour
when he bid her depart and not let him
| see her face again. His decline was
rapid, and his lone child saw the flow
ers which the warmth of Spring had
called from the soil of her mothers
grave disturbed, uprootcd and thrown
aside, that the ashes might mingle
with those of the mother of his child
ren.
At his death he charged her to pay
oil, as far as she might be able, the
debts incurred to procure the necessa-
ries of life. The land, which from
want of culture had not increased in
value, was sold and left her but few
dollars. These she expended i'll rear
| ing 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 of
fees where persons wishing employ
ment 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 deck, watch
ing the steamers depart, had inquired
and learned that she wished to come
hither but had not the money. He
brought her to Chicago on his own
vessel, and told her that by crossing
the bridge she could find one of those
places where situations were given to
worthy applicants.
Such was her history. She had
mentioned no name except that of her
father, mother, and the very cndearing
aIpcllations Of brother George, Willie,
&c. Both of the women were crying
bitterly. The fashionably dressed
lady turned her face towards the river,
that her tears, in so crowded and I'M
usual place, might not be observed
| She requested us to take her two boys
s-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 wandering
orphan stranger, said You are my
earn stStcr-I am Li--ie!"
These two beings, children Of the
same parents, how different have been
their paths and how deep their suffer
ings. We have seen them together
in Lizzie's carriage, driving down
Lake street. They are doubtless as
happy as their Observation-Disclosures
only by conciousness of duty faith
fully pcrtormed-can permit But the
suflcrings of the father aud mother,
seen by the story of the daughter,
what must have been the mental ago
ny Of that other daughter unkindly
banishcd from her mothers side, and
driven out into the world without a
farther's blessing? What must have
been her grief when her letters, writ
ten from prosperous city, from the
house Of her wealthy and kind hus
band, telling them of her success,
and the birth of her children, were un,
noticed and unanswered! She must
have felt indeed that the hearts of that
farther and mother, sisters and broth,
crs, were hardened against her. We
will say no more. That scene will
live in our memory while we can re,
member the holy love of a father
mother and kindred.