The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-01
Incidents about Home.
THE YOUNG HEROINE.

$780,
A near approach discovers its different parts,
and the generel effect is lost. The prominent
virtues OF persons at a distance have been
presented to our view, giving the outlines and
general appearance Of their character. Like
the scene In the distance, we have lost sight
OF every imperfection, and nothing but models
oil perfection have been seen. Examples Of
heroic fortitude, of patient endurance and per-
sistent effort have been given, and have been
invested with more than human qualities, and
we wonder If any such persons live now. A
careful examination will show that the princi
pies which in history have made heroes, are
acted upon every day in our midst, and only
great public occasions are wanting to make
them prominent. Fisie - a
Ten years ago, in the eastern part Of this
State, a man Led to the hymenial altar beau
tiful young woman; not SO beautiful as some
others. but more so to him because he loved
her more, for love is the chief quality Of beau
ty. No thought of violating his marriage
vows could enter his heart then, nor did either
of them dream Of anything but happiness in
this new and sacred union. But there was
seed of evil sown which soon after sprang up
and bore bitter fruit 4 e4AAESa
The husband became intemperate and tickle.
He had command of vessel, but lost it. He
kept moving his family from place to place,
and every time he moved he became poorer,
He had one freak-as all drunkards do have
their freaks--and that happened to be a. good
one. When intoxicated, if he had money he
gave it all to his wife, and this enabled her to
live with him until the first Of last summer
But these ten years which might have been
years of happiness were years of suffering
Article after article was parted with,until they
became entirely destitute. At.last he left,her
himself. yiasH9 Foisssgs e l'1olo 'isa : ~
Application being made to me for aid, call
ed to see her, and found her destitute Of both
food and fuel. An. infant two weeks old was
in her arms. and to keep them both warm abe
had kept the bed for the past four or Eve days.
Here, in this place, the young woman of whom
am to speak, shared with this mother in the
sufferings which she endured.
In atown on the Penobscot river, where the
4 family once lived, an acquaintance was form
ed between the two which grew into deep and
abiding friendship. After the husband left
his family, the. wife's friends removed her to
this city, where with her brothers help and
by her needle she lived comfortably well until
near the time of her confinement. About
three months ago our young friend came, in
answer to call for her services. The mother
expected to have money from her brother
but in this has been disappointed.
Now let, the reader consider the following
narration of facts. A young woman, nineteen
years Of age thoueh mot larger than a,gifI 20
\ fifteen summers, modest and amiable in ap
pearance, being educated by.a sensible New
England mother in habits of self reliance
leaves her home at her own expense, loses OF
the way her best clothing, finds her friend il
forbidding locality of the city, almost desti
tute of the comforts Of life, and remains aud
suffers with her for three dreary months. sThe
expectations Of her friend of receiving money
being disappointed, she still refuses to leave
her, though there is no hope Of any compensa
ton. More than this, she spends her owr
4 money to supply their needs. Even more, she
goes out as a substitute for a washer woman
4 and earns something to buy bread. While the
mother was lying in bed, our young heroine
eked out their scanty fuel by being at neigh
boris house during the day, makingn fire only
in the morning and evening. She received
five dollars from her step-father, who is sol.
der in the Union army, and this she also
spent. sAll the wood which they burned she
sawed and split with her own hands, Never
Respondent, she always had cheering word
for her responding friend. Playfully she
\ would tell her that she was going to write Q
book and give an account of her romantic ad.
4 ventures In Portland, I'M $1,000
Our young friend has returned home, and
her friend has gone to meet her brother in an
other State. 80
i Besides living in such condition OF power.
ty the poor girl, in time and money, has me,
with loss OF atleast fifty dollars. Unques
/ tionably she has seen and felt so much misery
/ which is caused by rum, that, rather than ever
marry man who drinks it, she will vow to
| live forever single. al EsFTS no. PIT. {