Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-12-12
geIcCtc0 AlistcIIann.
A CURIOUS STORY.

In the year 1851, amongst tho ship
ping at New Orleans, was Mexican
trading vessel commanded by an eccen-
trio Dutch captain whose character had
been morbidly affected in some respects
by the recent loss of an infant son for
whom he had an almost insane affection.
The child had died in Mexico, and let
ter from his wife in their adopted home
there informed the bereavod father of the
sad event, but it seems as though the
man could neither comprehend the loeali-
ty nor the fact Of the death and after
reading and frantically destroying the
letter it became his delusion that he ha |
brought the boy with him on the voyage
and would presently fluid him astray in
the streets. Otherwise fully master of
his reason, in this matter he was hope
lessly insane, and spent days in wander
ing modify along the water-side of the
city in search of the supposed truant. =
At last, after coming aboard his ship
very hastily one afternoon with some
kind Of mullcd bundle in his arms, and
burriedly locking it in his private cabin,
he gave orders for Immediate sailing in
the most excited manner and betray-
ed intense agitation until the vessel
was fairly under way. Great was the
amazement Of the mates and sailors to
discover by and by that the bundle which
had been SO hurriedly carried into the
cabin was very handsome little boy,
about three years old, who, by the time
he was allowed to play on the deck, ex-
hibited no particular sense Of strange
ness or distress. Where he came from
no one could guess. The captain called
and treated him as his own son, and APP
peared unconscious Of any other relation
ship, and as the dcluded man was hap
by once more in the misconception, his
interiors did not long trouble themselves
with specuations on the subject. Upon
the arrival of the ship ut her Mexican
port the crazed father carried the child
ashore to his house, and had scarcely
astonished his wife by the introduction
when he was seized with the brain fever,
imperilling his life for many weeks
During the delirium Of the disease he re-
pcatcdly boosted Of having recovered the
son they would have made him believe
was dead. But with his ultimate recov-
cry came a curious change. Regaining
his full reason with his health, he did
not at first even recognize the boy, and
it was only with great caution that he
was gradually reminded of the manner
of the young strangers coming. For a
time he could remember nothing about it,
and then almost reverted to insanity as
the facts came slowly and mistily back
to his mind. Leaving the child at hone,
be FASTENED back to New Orleans. Re-
turning. be sold bis ship, removed to the
City Of Mexico, and from thenceforth he
and his wife adopted the lad as their own
and called him BY their name. He was
reared and educated with ample parental
care and liberality, made the sole heir OF
his foster-father's respectable property
and allowed to reach manhood without q
dream of bis true nativity. Two or three
years ago the captains wife died, and
was flially incurred by the youth, ane
not until within few weeks Of the present
writing did the captains own death-bcd
bring solution Of the mystery Of more
than twenty years. Finding himself neaI
his end, some two or three months ago
the former skipper Of the trader, now !
decrepid old man, showed to bis adopted
son crumpled and discolored New