Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-08-21
The CnIIet'S RAbN

pBut uh0re an ye're not tie young gentle.
man that aa be hfther laving ye're babyf
Holy Yarginl My character Rd he, ruined
iutifely. ihtirelyf Iassnred her of The reeti.
t,ide 81 ny intentions, and sent her OF, but
she was at my room in the morning before
had left my bed and nothing wonld induce
her TO keep her charge another instant
took the stage for my country home.
The driver recognized the lad he had driven
so often over the same road. "How you're
grown TO he sure, Mr. Edward Your folks
won't know you, I'm thinking, especially with
that baby in your arms, Seems to me you re
get6n TO be family man a teetIe too early.
laughed and took my seat But as we
began to near my home grew terribly ner
yous and cowardly. The house stood some
distance from the road, and as walked NJ
from the gate saw the whole family gathered
on the piazza to welcome me- ] think
should rather walk up to the cannon's mouth
NY sister started down the steps TO meet me
then stopped i stepped on to the piazza
Nv mother, pale as death, sunk into her
chair Ny pretty cousin, Ella, on whom had
always, from round jacket day, been sweet in
a sneaking sort of way, darted an annihilating
glance at me, and ran to support my mother
My father advanced.
'"What do you dare to bring here, you
shameless young rascal Is this place
Here he broke down so angry that utteranc'
was absolutely impossible. AT any Other
time l should have shouted with laughter a
the ludicrous spectacle he presented; now
only hastened to tell my story In few
moments my mothers arms were around me
my sister and cousin were contestlng Eeurt fol
possession of my baby, and my father recoy
cred from his rage sufficiently to welcome hii
only son, though | did hear him grow
through his white beard, "Conioundet
spooneyF --s. wv
advertised far and wide TO no purpose
But my baby grew so into the affections of al
the household that had no other steps T.
| take We named her Perdida, and left he
with my mother. When returned, year al
Ter wear, found her each time growing
healthier and pretter, and she each tim,
| manifested on affection for me charmingl,
legitimate-for was she not my babyf A
such cherished her
She was six years old when / left Yves
Point for active service. After that ] led
wandering and adventurous life for years "b.
food and held.p "My baby wrote me, at first
often. Her first letters were curious speci
mems -half-wriiten, half.printed, and sometime
her meaning eked out with rude drawings
In those days she was charmingly personal
81 do so and SOL think so and SOL love 81
and so. But years changed her ealigra
ply, and, alas the feeling Of her letters
! Now in her charming girlish characters
stood, "Your mother does so and so; o
"Your sister thinks and loves etc. M
mother wrote "We cant call Perdida you
''baby" any longer She does not permit tn
title, and you were you TO see her, coul
scarce Imagine that our fair young queen wa
ever a baby. am too old 10 be enthusiastic
but our darling is surely the loveliest yiso
these eyes have ever rested on. She make
hearts ache, but as yet their pain is yair
We tried to be so cautious; but she has some
how learned about her finding, and il is BIZ
ter knowledge TO the proud little heart ]
may be that that makes her melt only to US
VIII YOU never come home to see US an
her p
It was in the spring of the year 1856.
was on my way home to America An elder
ly gentleman who had evidently been
soldier, occupied state-room next 10 mine
A similarity Of taste and feeling brought u
much together during the voyage He ha
been absent from his country many years.
"When left it, said he to me, 81 mean
never to visit the shore that had been accur
ed TO me. lost there my wife and child NJ
; der the most cruel circumstances and coul
not remain. thought then | could neye
see again the spot that had been so fatal I
. me And yet / return now, impelled by som
feeling which | can neither account for nc
resist dream that am going TO see m
child; sometimes, even in my waking m,
ments, am fully convinced that shall fin
: her"
"How, interrupted in spite Of myself
"is not your child deadY'
"Alas do not know
"You do not knowl did she not die bofo
you LEFT American
''No Three months ago should hay
said wished she had, rather than live lost /
me, exposed TO iates | shudder 10 think o
Now am hopeful More--trusthl II seen
TO me she has been kept pure, aud that sha
know her Aud yet'--and he sighed heayil
81 haven't the shadow Of reason for sue
hopes and trust"
was excited compared therememhrau,
! Of the miniature ON my baby's' sleeyeohai
B with the figure before me, ! made him e.
! plain all He told me Of the child birth, II
4 delicate health Of his wife afterwards, his :