The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-09-02
sYe}isteltaneuns Artieles.
From the Cincinnati, Times.
History of a Waif.

History Of Wait.
During the great food of 1S47, when
the Ohio River so far overleaped the
bounds of propriety as to come up to
Pearl street without any invitation, a
great many dwellings located on the river
banks were swept away and came float
ing down upon tho pitiless tide. Loss of
life not unfrcquently attended these disas-
rers, as when family, unconscious OF
their danger, were asleep in their beds
when the waters rose about their house
and lifting it from its foundations bore 1t
away amid the darkness and the turbu-
lent food.
On the west bank of the Ohio at that
time, between Marietta and Pomeroy
stood an humble dwelling occupied by
small farmer and hs wife, together with
FIVE children, the youngest an infant girl
little over year old. The river rose
during the night while the family were in
bed. The rocking of the house as the
surging waters claimed it awoke the In
mates, and through great and hasty ex
ertons the farmer was enabled to get all
his family, as he supposed, 10 place OF
safety, though he lost everything else
Standing on q little eminence near by he
saw, through the gloom OF that dreadful
night, his hShse with all its contents yield
itself to the grasping and avarclous flood
and hoat down the river, where it was
soon lost in darkness. He supposed that
all were saved, but alas, it was soon dis
covered that their infant girl was missing.
In the confusion and excitement Of the
moment the baby was left asleep on its
bed, and had been swept away to destruc-
ton with the house. Great was the grief
of the parents at the loss of their young
est born, and although due efforts were
made to learn whether or not she had
been rescued, nothing was heard of her,
and it was very naturally supposed she
was drowned in the river.
Such, however, was not her fate. A
hundred miles below where his dwelling
was swept away, some people on the river
bank the next morning saw something
peculiar floating down on the current.
They thought it was the form of an in
FAINT. A boat was procured and the OBJ
iect was indeed found to be an infant girl,
sleeping calmly and profoundly upon
bed
She was taken in charge by family in
the vicinity, who took such means as they
knew to ascertain to whom the child be-
longed, but there was no clue to guide
them, and soon the little waif that had
foated down to them came to be consid-
cred as their own child They adopted
her the more readily, perhaps on account
of being themselves childless and because
of their sympathies being SO greatly ex-
cited by the peculiar circumstances of the
case-an infant floating all that night of
terrible storm, amid wrecks Of bridges
and dwellings protected from danger by
an unseen power, that seemed to direct
her to their love and care. 1t may seem
strange to the reader that the parents
were not found for the child, or the where
abouts of the child made known to them,
but it must be remembered that newspa-
pers were not 50 numerous or accessible
twenty years or so ago, as now, and that
people didn't advertise the lost as they
do now. Besides, all the parties were in
humble life, and their circle of acquaint-
ance, as we'll as their means, were very
limited.
Meanwhile the waif grew into beau
tiful girl, and became as dear to her adop-
ted parents as though she was their own.
She had mourncd for mamma" little
time, but erelong all recollection Of her
early surroundings were but dim and
shadowy, and her new parents and her
new home became alln-al to her. A few
years and the family moved into Illinois,
settling on a farm near Chicago. The
man prospercd there, and was enabled to
give his beautiful Ohio,river founding an
education fitting her graces of person,
her amiabilty and her virtues. A short
time ago her hand was sought in mar
riage by worthy young farmer in the
vicinity of where she lived, consent OBJ
tained and the happy day appointed.
One day the family were in Chicago pur-
chasing her wedding outfit. At dry
goods store clerk who was waiting on
them observed our heroine intently, and
seemed singularly afected-so much so
as to attract attention.
"Excuse me-" he said, in some confus-
ion, addressing the young lady, "don't be
offended ct my staring at you, but the
truth is you are perfect picture of q Sis
ter of mine at home, and couldn't help
thinking you looked just as another sister
of mine would have looked, who was
swept down the Ohio in q great freshet
and lost.'
The words attracted the attention of
the young lady's adopted parents. The
L a,oI ont