Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-10-07
A Strange and Touching Story

A Providence paper relates touching
story Of young English lad who came to
that place under singular circumstances.
About ten years ago there resided in Eng
land n sea-captain, his wife and only child
"a boy Of five or siI years. A difficulty
having arisen between an aunt Of the boy
and his parents, the woman maliciou.ly ab.
Quoted the child and escaped with him to
tai, country, and found her way TO Provi.
dence. Here she soon wcaried OF her III.
gotten charge, and finally abandoned the
little fellow TO the tender care Of the streets
of Providence while she left for the far
West. whence it is not known that she ever
returned.
The young English lad, thus left without
home or protection, Of course soon entered
upon career tha, brought him to the no.
,icc Of the magistrates, and was sen, to the
Reform School.
The salutary training tha, he received in
that institution wrought an entire change
in the boy, and two years ago ho was dis.
charged as reformed. Since that time he
has been constantly under the observation
Of the superintendent and trustees, and in
no particular has be seemed 20 swerve iron
the right principles inculca,cd at the Re.
form School.
The aunt on leaving England had as'um-
ed false name, but the hoy had always
treasured in his heart the name and address
Of his father; after his discharge from the
Reform School, " the advice Of Mr..
Cushman, he wrote to his parents Inform.
ing them Of his condition and circumstan.
ces.
The eiTee. Of that letter may scarcely be
magned-describcd il cannot be. II was
as II the grave had opened and their eldest
born had come forth to greet them. The
father was in the East Indies, in command
Of q ship OF which he was large owner.
when In distant por, he received the tid-
ings ,ha, his son was alive, he Immediately
sold his interests in the vessel, resigned the
command, and embarked for England,
writing TO his son in Providence that God
willing he would speedily zee him face to
face.
After the captains arrival in England.
A L..
barked at once for this country to reclaim
his long lost son to his heart and home.
Alas for the fd,lity Of all earthly hopes !
When three days out from Englsnd iuri.
Gus gale made havoc on the ship, and
falling spar struck the fathers head, cads-
Ing almost instant death.
Slowly and sadly the s.orm-strieken ship
,oiled back to the port Of departure, and
the woeful tidlngs were sent to the mother
who was wearily counting the weeks that
mus, elapse before her husband and her
first born son would be restored to her arms.
Although q sailors wife. and accustomed
to look calmly on the perils OF navigation,
this sudden dispelling Of the pleasant vision
quite oyercame her. She was seized with
the pangs Of premature labor, and in a few
hours joined her husband in the world
where separation comes not, and storms and
shipwrecks are unknown.
Tho letter announcing tho death OF his
father and mother, as we have narrated,
reached tho boy in this city on Tuesday last,
and as may we'll be disposed. overwhelmed
him with grief, aud sense Of utter dssola-
ton. Let US hope that He who temper'
the wind to tho shorn lamb will so guide
and support this youth, so ,insulsrly and
deeply afflicted, that he may bc enabled to
recognise with flial love the hand of
Father who chasteneth whomsoever He
loveth.