Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-06-03
out of the Forest.

Under sucn title, 10 introduce IL as a
pendant OF q sketch in a somewhat sim
liar vein called "0ut Of the Street" 7"
may be narrated the very latest exam
pie of that order Of story which de-
scribes the fortunes Of lost children.
Two weeks ago gentleman visiting
Montreal from Quebec had occasion to
enter the store of halter named Rich
mond, in the former city, and was greatly
startled to discern in the tradesman's S
countenance a very remarkable resem-
blance to himself. Indeed, he betrayed
an agitation thsreat much beyond any
conceivable influence Of such a cause
merely; and while the halter also seemed
struck by the corresponding likeness, he
was yet more amazed at the staring and
stammering of his customer. Appar-
emily forgetting all about the hat he had
come to buy, the latter precipitately in
troduced himself as Mr.. Richard, from
the walled Canadian city, and earnestly
besought q private interview, excltedly
declaring that he was sure the resem-
blance between them involved matter
of vital interest TO them both, which
might be revealed by further acquain-
tance. Something in this remark seemed
to communicate something of the
speakers sudden excitement to the
tradesman, who, upon taking the visitor
to his private Office, did not deny that
eccentric gentleman abrupt charge
that his life had been one of no common
history. Little by little he was per
suaded to confess that he actually knew
nothing Of his own family, and finally
gave his biography to the following eff
feet:
As far back in childhood as memory
would carry him, he was with band OF
Huron Indians in forest bordering on
a lake of that name, and supposed him
self to be the son of squaw who had
taught him to call her mother. Living
thus with the savaIes in the wilds for
years, partaking of all their customs, and
having but the vaguest dream of any
previous different condition of life, he
never knew the truth about himself until
he was nearly full grown, when the In
dian woman told him with dying lips
that size had stolen him from a home
somewhere in the suburbs of Quebec at
a time when he was scarcely three years
old, and that she could remember no
more of his parents than that their name
was Richmond. The white blood of the
boy instantly asserted itself at this reve-
lation, and as soon after the death Of the
squaw as he could escape from the band,
he took his way to Quebec, and there
sought long and vainly for the father and
mother from whom he had been kidnap-
ped. No Richmond family remained
to claim his flial relationship, and,
after many disappointments and but
fets, he had been obliged to re-
linquish the hope of ever finding
such a one, and make his way
in civilization for himself. This lnfor-
nation was all that seemed essential to
the hearer of his story in the hat store
Mr.. Richard-who at once claimed him
as his own brother, lost from their home
in st. Roch suburbs Of Quebec, thirty
years ago, and insisted that he should
Immediately join in double letter to
their mother, who still lived in the latter
city and had never ceased to mourn the
mysterious loss of her frst-born. Not
doubling for an instant that he had in
deed found his family at last, the de-
lighted victim of the Hurons accepted |
the correction of his name from Rich
mond to Richard, and hastened to pen
the first flial epistle of his life. The
equally delighted Mrs. Richard, says the
Montreal Gazette, wrote back to inquire
if he could identify himself by certain
birth marks which she alone knew and
could remember after three times ten
long years; and upon his answering sat
called him to receive with his
brother the maternal embrace. He went
a few days ago, concludes the same pa
per, to a home which he might have
regained long ago, but for the Indian
mistake in remembering the
name of those from whom she stole him.