The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-10-19

The Providence EUening Post tells the fol
lowing sad story, illustrating the proverb that
trnth is often stranger than fiction, and that
man is born to troubles as the sparks fly up
ward ~.f p .- f-.=.- ef- gf-aa5 5i
"We have inst listened to the recital of
'most piteous tale. that, were not the circum-
stances already matter of history, would seem
too strange for credibility. About ten years
ago, there resided in England. a sea captain,
his wife and an only child-a boy of FIVE or
six years A difficulty having arisen between
an aunt of the boy and his parent7. the woman
n,aliciously abducted the child and escaped
with him to this country. and found her way
TO Providence. Here abe soon wearied of her
ill.gotten charge, and finally abandoned the
little fellow to the tender mercies of the streets
of Providence while she left for the far
West, whence it is not known that she ever
returned. " ''s
The young English lad thus left without
home or protection, of course soon entered
upon career that brought him to the notice
ofthe magistrates, and he was sent to the Re
form School. Thesalutary training that be re-
ceived in that institution wrought an entire
change in the bov, and two years ago he was
discharged as reformed. Since that time he
has been constantly under the observation of
the superintendent and trustees, and in no par
ticular has he seemed to swerve from the right
principles inculcated at the Reform School,
J. t.1 Ii 10. .rH-1-l a. 3 .
The aunt on leaving England had assumed
n false name but the boy had always treas.
ured in his heart the name and address of his
father; and after his discharge from the Reform
School, by the advice of Mr.. Cushman. he
wrote to his parents informing them of his
condition and circumstances. e,
The effect Of that letter may scarcely be i'm
agined-described it cannot be- It was as if
the grave had opened and their eldest born
had come forth to greet them. The father
was in she East Indies, in command of ship
10 which he was a large owner. When in a
distant port he received the tidings that his
son was alive he Immediately sold his interest
in the vessel resigned the, command and en-.
barked for England. writing to bis son in
Providence that God willing he would speed
| lily see him face to face. .-. .:f -,
After the captains arrival in England. and
hurried visit to his wife, he re-emharked at
once for this country. to reclaim his long. lost
son to his heart and home Alas for the fulfil.
ity of all earthly hopes When three days
fout from England furious gale made havoc
on the ship, and a falling spar struck the faith.
ers heal, causing almost in slant death. ,s
Slowly and sadly the storm stricken ship
toiled back to the port of departure, and the
woful-tidings were sent to the mother, who
was YEARLY counting the weeks that must
elapse before her husband and 6rst-born son
would be restored to her arms. Although q
sailors wife, and accustomed to look calmly
on the perils of navigation. this sudden dispell.
ing of the pleasant vision quite overcame her.
She was seized with the pangs of premature
labor and in lew hours joined her husband
in the world where separations come not and
storms and shipwreck are unknown.
The letter announcing the death Of his ia.
ther and mother, as We have narrated, reach.
ed the boy in this city on Tuesday last, and,
as may well be supposed, overwhelmed him
with gref and sense Of utter desolation.-|
Let US hope that He who tempers the wind to
the shorn lamb will so guide and support this
youth, so siugularly and deeply afflicted, that
he may be enabled to recognize with tlial love
the hand of Father who chasteheth whom.
soever He loveth. .'