The Portland daily press., 1869-11-02
Meeting of Two Long Separated sis-
ters-A Cordial Greeting 10 the Wan

derer.
[From the st. Louis Republican, Oct. POL ..
During the storm of yesterday there occur
red, in this city, one of those episodes in hu-
man life, the circumstances and particulars of
which make it seem more like stage produc-
ton than living reality-the meeting OF two
sisters after long years Of separation-oue of
them for a few years past resident OF one Of
our most fashionable thoroughIares, and the
vile of successful and respectable business
man; the other unmarried, and Tor some years
past playtlling for the freaks OF fortune.
The meeting took place on the pavement,
in tiont of the well-known dry goods estab-
lishment, and was witnessed by number oil
passers by, who, seeing the lady in silks, sat
ins and furs, in communion with one whose
bonnet was old and tatteIed, whose shawl was
faded, whose dress was travel soiled, and
whose shoes lily protected her tired ieet from
the snow that lay beneath them, paused TO
observe the Ito themJ strange spectacle. The
facts, as hastily cleaned from the porter and an
intimate frIeno of the family, are as follows:
Years ago. the wife oi whom we speak. Iv-
| ed with her parents in the State OF New York,
| where she was courted and won, but in oppo-
| sision to the will of her parents, by the man
| who is now ber husband. For a time the mar
riage was delayed, in the hope that the rela-
tives would finally give their consent, but the
hope was vain. An elopement was Planned
and succe sfiilly carried out, and from that
day forward no tidings of her parents, broth
ers or sisters, were ever had by the eloping
daughter. The couple came west, and by judi
cious and careful management, industry and
economy, a nice competence was accumulat-
ed, and few years ago this city was selected
as their future and permanent home. ...,
After the elopement came the war, and the
two brothers, responding to their country's
call, went forth, to return to their homes no
more. they Iell in the battle of Pittsburg
Landing Sickness came TO the father, moth
er and only child-a dhuehter-and with sick
ness and disease, other mistortunes that eat
up the substance and estate of the parents,
and, with hope to recover in some mea>ure,
their lost competence, they Joined colony
tha' was or9aniZlhg for settl. ment on some
of the tributaries. Of the Republican river In
| Kansas.
The fate of that colony is well known to
those who are familiar with numerous indian
| massacres on the Western borders within, the
| last two years. Tie aged father and mother
were among those who were murdered, and
the daughter was left without home or shell
ter, or the knowledge OF the existence of a re-
lation west OF her place of birth, and to her
friends there she determined to appeal Tor
home Letter after letter was written but no
| ing, and, after some months of waiting, she
determined to attempt the journey and make
her way back to the place where she was
born.
With this intention she gathered together
her scanty wardrobe, and in company with a
returning family, started on her long journey.
Their means were scanty, and, by the time
they reached the State line at Kansas city,
| they were left penniless. The family with
whom she was travelling cole uded to stop
| there, but the young girl decided to prosecute
| her journey to a termination. Out OF money
and destitute, she frankly made known ber
| condition and the circumstances attend ne her
| checkered life to Col. Sam. Lowe, of the State
| Line House, and that gentleman, with his
| well known chivalry and liberal hearted
| ness, provided her with part oil the funds to
deiray her passage to st. Louis, and saw that
| the lack OF the balance should not prevent her
reaching this city. ....
On Saturday afternoon last. she took the
| evening express, and on Monday morn
| ing found herself here, without a single
| dollar, End 70 clothes but those she wore.
| Monday she spent in seeking employment, hut
her garb was poor recommendation, and
| she was turned from every door at which she
| applied ior the means of earning a subsistence.
| Where she rested on MONDAY night is not
known to us, but yesterday morning she wan
| dered out in the storm and snow with, as may
be supposed, heavy heart, ana co'd ana
suffering body as well. l
In her meanderings, she Glanced to pause
| in front of the palace of fashion already indi-
| Gated, and as she paused she sobbed and wept,
as who similarly situated would not?
| While weeping and sobbing a ady emerg-
ing from the store, happened to see her tear
stained face and he II her sobs, and, perhaps,
some old memory was awakened, and though
her carnage was in waiting, she turned ASIDE
and engaged the wanderer IN conversation.
Question followed question, the answers
were frank and candid, and in few minutes
the gaily-attired and fashionable woman re-
cognized in the weeping girl the youngest Of
her parents once happy household, and, not
| withstandng the wondering gaze OF the spec
tators W o had gathered around them. she
clasped her in long. fond embrace, and free
| ly mingled her tears with those of her sister.
| The denoument may be easily imagined.
| The carriage was called, and the two sisters
entered, and, again clasping each other in sis
teri, affection, were driven away to a home
and comfort and ,afiiuence.
The meeting was as singular as happy, and,
so long as she wills it, home and lite OF joy
and contentment is open 10 the one who had
suffered so long aud endured such trials.