Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-03

AbuppOsed Orphan Finds He Has n
Father-A Reunion After Thirty-five
Years superintendent Stranger
Than Fiction.
From the Boston journal.
The truth of the familiar adage, that
truth is stronger than fiction, has recently
been fully shown in the experience of the
well-known Chaplain of the State prison,
Mr.. William Colburn, who some six months
ago received letter from his father whom
he supposed had been dead for years. 1t APP
pears that thirty-five years ago the father of
Mr.. Colburn left his wife and two small
children, then residing in Maine, and, COM
ing in Boston, suddenly left for parts I'M
known. The wife aud Children son and
daughter-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., find
ing herself reduced to Strengthened circum-
stances, was very reluctantly obliged to let
her children be sent to the alms-house.
They remained there but a short
time, however, for an uncle, hearing
of this last shift of poverty, had the
children taken to his own home. The
mother toiled on, eating the bread of indi-
gence and charity, and oftentimes heart and
strength almost failed. After some years
the daughter died, and several years after
that the mother, too, was released from her
troubles by death, leaving the son William,
as was supposed, an orphan.
BE lived with his uncle but a few years,
when, by the death of that relative, he was
left to depend upon his own resources to
gain livelihood. He managed to acquire
good common school education, and felt i'm
PEELED by his convictions of duty to prepare
himself for the work of the ministry. Grad.
uating from a Methodist theological semi
nary, 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 town where he was
settled he was instrumental in the erection
of a Methodist church, to which he attracted
large congregations. While pastor Of this
church Mr.. Colburn used often to speak of
the hard and bitter experience he had en-
dured as poor orphan boy, for he cOnsid-
cred his father as long since dead. Because
Of his deep sympathy with the poor and
unfortunate, he was subsequently appointed
by the Governor without being solicited
to do SOY Chaplain Of the State Prison.
where his active sympathies for its con-
fined inmates would find the largest scope
for exercise.
A few months since, while a 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 be appeared
To ha x-oY-r orrffa fa1 A. no
dispensed with the first course he asked his
friends to excuse his further presence at the
table. after tea be returned to the company
Of his friends, and, on being asked if he was
i'll, he made deIIOueTaeIt substantially as
follows:
"Until now, l had supposed that both of
my parents were dead, and that from the
days of my childhood | had been an or
phan. But to-day's mail has brought me a
letter from Washington Territory, announc-
ing to me the bewildering fact that my faith
er is yet living. He writes to me to the
effect that for what he then deemed justi-
fable cause he abandoned his home and his
friends when was three years Of age,to be-
come an adventurer, intending, when for
tune favored him With a competence, to re-
turn to New England and make happy his
wife and children. From uncomfortable
circumstances his stay on the Pacific coast
was prolonged to much greater length Of
time than originally intended, until he felt
ashamed to return.
"On making inquiries concerning his fami-
ly, and receiving no tidings from them, he
came 10 the conclusion that they all were
dead. Having finally become wealthy, he
instituted further inquiries through paid
agents, who were successful in their investi-
cations. He writes that as he was deprived
the privilege of rendering his family a sup
port, and caring for and educating his own
children, he now proposes to rettrn to New
England to do all in his power to make
amends fol- his past neglect by render
ing my future years IS pleasant as he
possibly can with the means at his command
TO Mr.. Colburn's children he proposes to dc
as be ought to have done to his son and
daughter. He exceedingly regrets to know
that his wife is beyond the reach Of his dis
position to love and benefit her. He in.
forms his son that he is soon to start fOl
| Massachusetts, where he hopes to spend the
rest of his days in the enjoyment of peace
and plenty"
Rev. Mr.. g. is now daily expecting the
arrival Of his long absent father.