Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-12-07
A SINGULAR ROMANCE.
A Supposed Orphan Finds He Has
Father-A Reunion after Thirty
five Years Separation = Truth
Stranger Than Fiction.

A Supposed Orphan Finds he Has
Father-A Reunion after Thirty
:. Stranger Than Fiction.
From the Boston Journal,l
The truth Of the familiar adage, that
truth is stranger than fiction, has recent
ly been fully shown in the experience Of
the well.known chaplain Of the State
prison, Mr.. William Colburn, who some
six months ago received a letter from
his father, whom he supposed had been
dead for years. 1t appears that thirty
five years ago the father of Mr.. Colburn
left his wife and two small children, then
residing in Maine, and, ccmt2Y to Bos-
ton, suddenly left for parts unknown.
The wife and children, a son and daugh-
ter, were thus thrown upon the world
without any resources for support The
son was then three years of age, and his
sister younger than he. Mrs. c., finding
herself reduced to straitened circum-
stances, was very reluctantly obliged to
let her children be sent to the alins-
house. They remained there, but a
short time, however, for an uncle, hear
ing of this last shift Of poverty, had the
children taken to his own home. The
mother toiled on, eating the bread of in
digence and charity, and oftentimes
heart and strength almost failed. After
some years the daughter died, and seve-
raj years after that the mother, too, was
released from her troubles by death,
leaving the son William, as was sup
posed, an orphan.
He lived with his uncle but few
years, when, by the death Of that rela-
tive he was left TO depend upon his
own resources to gain a livelihood. He
managed to acquire a good common
school education, and felt impelled by
his convictions Of duty to prepare him
self for the work of the ministry. Grad
uating from Methodist theological sem
mary, he entered with much enthusiasm
upon his clerical duties This was in
the spring of the year 1860, and the
scene of his Ministerial labors was in the
State of Massachusetts,. His labors were
crowned with success, and in one tewn
where he was settled he was instrument
al in the erection Of a Methodist chnrch,
to which he attracted large congrega-
tons. While pastor Of this church Mr..
Colburn used often to speak Of the hard
and bitter experience he had endured as
a poor orphan boy, for he considered his
father as long since dead. Because Of
his deep sympathy with the poor and
unfortunate, he was subsequently ap-
pointed by the Governor without being
solicited to do SOY Chaplain Of the State
Prison, where his active sympathies for
its confined inmates would find the larg-
est scope for exercise.
7 A few months since, while company
of friends were seated at the table at
Mr.. C.'s, where they had been spending
the afternoon in friendly intercourse
with his family, it was noticed by his
friends that he appeared to be very much
agitated. as Soon as he dispensed with
the first course he asked his friends to
excuse his further presence at the table.
After tea he returned to the company OF
his friends, and, on being asked if he
vas III, be made denouement substan-
TALLY as follows
Until now, had supposed that both
Of my parents were dead, and that from
the days of my childhood | had been an
orphan, But to- days mail has brought
me a letter from Washington Territory,
announcing to me the bewildering fact
that my father is yet living. He writes
10 me to the effect that ror what he then
deemed justifable cause he abandoned
his homo and his friends when ! was
three years of age, to become an adven-
turer, intending, when fortune favored
him with competence, 10 return to
New England and make happy his wife
and children. From uncomfortable CIR
cumstances his stay on the Pa6;::cc coast
was prolonged to a much greater length
of time than originally intended, until
he felt ashamed to return.
"0n making inquiries concerning his
family, and receiving no tidings from
them, he came to the conclusion that
they all we're dead. Having finally be-
come wealthy, he instituted further in
quiries through paid agents, who were
successful in their Investigations. He
writes that as he was deprived the privi-
lege of rendering his family support,
and caring for and educating his own
children, he now proposes to return to
New England to do all in his power to
make amends for his past neglect by
rendering my future years as pleasant
as he possibly can with the means at his
command. 10 Mr.. Golburn's children
he proposes to do as he ought to have
done to his son and daughter. He ex-
ceedingly regrets to know that his wife
is beyond the reach Of his disposition to
love and beneG. her. He informs his
son that he is soon to start Tor AMsssa-
chusetts, where he hopes to spend the
rest of his days in the enjoyment OF
peace and plenty"
Rev. Mr.. c. is now daily expecting the
arrival of his long absent father.