Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-09-08
A TOUCHING TORY.


We hare Just listened to the recital Of
a most piteous tale, that. were not the
Circumstances already matters Of history,
would seem too strange for credulity.-
About ten years ago there resided in
England a sea captain. his wife and an
only clild-a boy of Ave or six years.
A difficulty having arisen between an
aunt of the boy and his parents, the
maliciously abducted the child
and escaped with him to this country,
and found her way to Providence. Here
she soon wearied Of her ill-gotton charge,
and finally abandoned the little fellow to
the tender mercies Of the streets of Prov
idence while She left for the far West
whence 1T is not known that she ever
returned.
The young English lad, thus left with
entered npoh a career that soon brought
him to the notice of The magistrates, and
he was sent to tic Reform School. The
salutatory training that he received in
that institution wrought an entire change
in the boy, and two years ago he was dis
charged as reformed. Since that time he
has been constantly under the observation
OF the superintendent aud trustees, and
in no particular has he seemed to swerye
from the right principles inculcated at
the Reform School.
Tie auub on leaving England had
assumed a false name; bnt the boy had
always treasured in his heart the name
and address of his father /; and after his
discharge from the Reform School, by the
advice Of Mr. Cushinan, he wrote to his
parents informing them Of his condition
and circumstances.
The effect of that lester may scarcely
be Observation-Disclosures it cannot be-
It was as if the grave had been opened,
and their eldest born had come forth to
greet them. The father was in the East
Indies, in command of a ship of which he
was a large owner. When in a distant
port he received the tidings that his son
was alive. be Immediately sold his inter.
est in the vessel, resigned the command,
and embarked for England. writing to
his son in Providence that. God willing,
&c would speedily see him face to face.
After the capfafn's arrival in England,
and a hurried visit to his wife, he en-
barked at once for this country to reclaim
his long lost son to his heart and home.
Alas for the f%utility OF all earthly hopes !
When three days out from England a
furious gale made havoc on the ship, and
a falling spar struck the fathers head,
causing almost ins.ant death.
Slowly and sadly the storm stricken
strip toiled back to the port of departure,
aud tire wogpl tidings were sent to the
mother, who was wearily counting the
weeks that must elapse before her hus-
band and her first born son would be
restored to her arms. Although a sailors
wife, and accustomed to look calmly on
the perils Of nav igation, this suddsn dis
polling Of tile pleasant vision quite over
came her. She was seized with the pangs
of premature labor, aud in a few hours
joined her husband in the world where
separations como not, and storms and
shipwrecks ere unknown.
The letter announcing the death Of bis
father and mother, as we have narrated,
reached the boy in this city on Tuesday
last, and, as nay we'll be supposed, over
whelmed him with grief, and a sense of
utter desolation. Let us hope that He
who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb,
will so guido and support his youth, so
.singularly and deeply afflicted, that he
may be enabled to- recognize with flial
lovo'a Father who cliasteneth whomsoev.
er He loveth.