Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-05-19
BRATTLEBORO, W.: MAY 10, 1860.

Cupleu tne stalefOOm next TO NINE. "A similar
ity of taste and feeling brought us much togeh-
er during the voyage. lie had been absent
from his country many years.
"When | left it, said he to me- 81 meant
never to revisit the shores that had been ac-
cursed to me. | lost there my wife and child
under the cruellest circumstances; and | could
not remain. | thought then could never see
again the spot that had been so fatal to me-
And yet return now, impelled by some feeling
which | can neither account for, nor resist ]
dream that am going to see my child some
times, even in my waking moments, am fully
convinced that l shall find her."
"How," interrupted, in spite of myself; "is
not your child deadp"
"Alas do not know"
"You do not know did she not die before
you left America"
"No. Three months ago, I should have said
| wished she had, rather than live lost to me,
exposed to fate | shudder to think Of Now
| am hopeful. More-trustful. 1t seems to
me she has been kept pure and that shall
know her. And yet"-and he sighed heavily,
81 haven't the shadow of a reason for such hope
and trust"
was excited-1 compared the remembrance
of the miniature on "my babys" slice, e-chain
with the figure before me. ! made him explain
all. lie told me of the child's birth, the deli
cate health Of his wife aterward. his taking her
to Cuba, leaving the child in, as he supposed,
truSty care, the death Of his wife in Havana,
aud while he was still in tie first anguish of her
loss, news from his child's nurse of It's death,
and of her speedy return to Ireland. lie came
10 New York too late to find her, and left Amer
Ca at once-is he supposed forever III Eu-
'ope, years afterward, he had met servant who
lad been with him during his brief married life,
and whu declared to him positively that his child
was not dead at the date on which the woman
had written him but further than that, he could
not say, as he had followed the fortunes of an
other master. The unhappy father sought vain
~ for the woman, and now returned as a last
means to America. lie described the chids
nurse. 1t was the woman who abandoned her
child in my arms, and the face was the changed.
aged one of Perdida's miniature. Not many
lays thereafter, restored to my friend his so
'arly lost child, and gave up my baby to her
ightful father.
Withou, pang9 Yes. Did console my
sell with the pretty cousin aforementioned? p
She hadn't had patience to wait, that | might
"a husband and several olive branches pre-
luded that. How, then? | saw "my baby
lately, radianty beautiful woman. Sht called
ne Major -, she treated me in the most
'recise and formal way-the utmost favor she
'cstowed upon me, was the slightest possible
,uch of the fingers, as she bade good night, or
ood morning, and | saw her hourly in her
lolizing fathers arms. lavishing the tenderest
lresses upon him. Would have it otherwise?
Io. There was dearer delight in the reverse
sith which was treated-the faintest flush that
olored her cheek when was near her, or ad-
ressed her, had for me an inexpressible sweet
iess that | wouldn't have bar;crc, for aught on
arth short of what | eventually obtained.-
What. you don't mean that YOU, Il Scared OLD
eteran of between thirty and forty, dared
Didn't |? Hum. And this was the way of it.
n my military capacity. was invited to West
Point. went, and my friend and his daugh-
er accompanied me. | sat beside her in the
ars. The happy old gentleman, at a little dis
.ance, read diligently. | said,
"Perd'da you have travelled this route be
ore with me; do you recall this scenery at ALL"