Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-27
THE DAILY PRESS.
Romance Of m Old Couple.


The following somewhat remarkable mar
rative is related by Western lady, now on
a visit to this city from Matiposa. She is
herself character. She has crossed the
plains twice first in lS49, during which her
husband perished- and is the first American
lady who returned to the East by the way
Of the Isthmus of Panama. She is a genuine
heroine-a fine specimen of stout-hesrted
Western womanhood-an her adventures
in the wilds of the unpeopled West have
been numerous and exciting. If the good
folks of Mariposa have missed lady from
their neighborhood, they are hereby apprised
that she is comfortably located at the board
ing house of Mrs. Nesbit on the corner OF
Montgomery and Sutter streets, and will not
return TO the mountains until Holmes, of the
Gazette, ceases to harrow the hearts of Mari.
posa mothers by calling their little babies
dbrats:"
Well, while the train of which this lady
was q member was encamped at point on
the Humboldt, where the Lessen trail inter.
sects the Carson track of travel, she visited
the tent of family, consisting of an elderly
couple and one child-a daughter of fourteen
or fifteen years. The old lady was sitting
on pile of blankets, under the canvas en-.
coursgiug q most determined attack of the
''salks," while the masculine head of affairs
had planted himself on his wooden tongue,
aud was sucking his pipe as leisurely as
though be expected to remain there forever.
A single glance developed the fact that there
was q difficulty in that train of one wagon
and three persons, and that it had attained a
point of quiet desperation beyond the reach
OF peaceful adjustment. Three days before
they had pitched their tent at the forks of
the road, and, as they could not agree upon
the route by which to enter California, there
they had remained. The husband expressed
preference for the Carson road-the wife for
Y al H..
wife declared she would remain there all
winter; the husband said he should be pleased
to leugthen the sojourn through the summer
following.
On the morning OF the fourth day the wife
broke a sullen silence of thirty-six hours by
proposing division of the property, which
consisted Of two yoke of cattle, one wagon,
camp furniture, a small quantity of provi.
sione, and twelve dollars in silver. The pro-
posal was accepted, and forthwith the "plun.
der" was divided, leaving the wagon to the
old man and the daughter to the mother
The latter exchanged with a neighborine
train the cattle belonging 10 her for pony
and pack saddle; and piling the daughter
and her Portion of the divided spoil upon
the animal, she resolutely started across the
desert by the Lessen trail, while the old man
silently yoked the cattle and took the other
route. Singular as this may seem, it is
nevertheless true. 1t is among the many
occurrences of life stranger than fiction. O
course both parties reached California il
safety. We say "of course, for it is scarcely
possible that any obstacle-death included
could have seriously interfered with the pro
gress Of stuhbornness so sublime. Arriving
at Sacramento with the daughter, the ole
lady readily found employ women
were less plenty then than now-and subse-
quently opened boarding. house, and in q
few years amassed a handsome fortune
Two years ago she went to San Francisco,
and the daughter, whose education had not
been neglected, was married to one of our
most substantial citizens.
And what became of the old man? The
wife had notseen or heard of him since they
parted on the Humboldt. They had lived
happily together as man and wife for years.
and she sometimes reproached herself for
the willfulness that separated them after so
long a pilgrimage together through this
rough life. But he was not dead. We can
not trace his course in California, however.
All that we know of him is that fortune did
not smile upon him, and that for years he
had toiled without hope. Finally feeling
scarcely able to longer WELD the pick and
shovel, be visited San Francisco, in the hope
of obtaining employment better adapted to
his wasted strength.
For three months he remained idle after
arriving here, and then, for want of occupa-
tlOuJ DCCulliS Juc T6LhllcE vi D6duuLS
and oranges, with his entire stock of traffic
in basket upon his arm. This was about
six months ago. A few weeks since, in pass.
ing the open door of a cottage in the southern
part of the city, he observed lady in the
ball. and stopped to offer his mere ,ndise.
As he stepped upon the threshold, the lady
approached, and the old man raised his eyes,
and dropped the basket. And no wonder
either-for she was his wife-his "old wo-
man."
She recognized him, and, throwing up
her arms in aDazement, exclaimed: "Great
God John, is that you?"
"All that is left of me" replied the old
man.
With extended arms they approached.
Suddenly the old lady's countenance
changed, and she stepped back.
John" said she, with look which might
have been construed into earnestness, show
did you find the Carson road ?"
Miserable, Suky-miserable |" replied the
old man; "full of sand and alkalil"
"Then was right, John?" she continued,
inquiringly.
That's enough" said she, throwing her
arms around the old mans neck; that's
enough, john" and the old couple, SO
strangely sundered, were again united. Both
are living with their daughter on Second.
street.-Sdn Frdneisco Mirror.
The Bronze Doors for the National Capitol
1t is known that the artist Rogers wa
commissioned some years ago by our Gov