The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-10-25
The Adopted Daughter

While soiourning temporarily with some
old friends in the post-village of Fairfax,
Franklin County VT, in the year 1858,
benevolent elderly gentleman and his wife,
from q part Of the State still further
northward, paid visit to the County Poor
house which is situated in that township,
and were particularly attracted by the
good looks and precociOus intelligence of a
little pauper girl The child. who was
about seven years old, and said to have
been placed in the forlOrn institution when
she was scarcely more than an infant by
a family Of French ,tramps from Canada,
had the dainty form, regular features, and
high expression of a very different heredi-
tary extraction from that with which she
was credited as aforesaid, and not only
lacked any foreign accent of speech, but
had always insisted that the French Cana
dian people were not her relatives. These
were peculiarities of history and character
calculated TO interest any intelligent OBJ
server in the iriendless young creature,
even though her persistent assertions in
the last respect should be attributed 10
mere childish fancy and the present yis-
tors found themselves moved thereby u a
compassionate admiration of more than
passing sentiment. All their children, with
the exception of son in his tenth year
were full grown and married; the home
stead was lonely therefrom and why
should they not secure another daughter
TO their old age By adopting this misplaced
little oneY Such was the question sug-
gested simultaneously to the humane
hearts of both Of the good old people by
the story and bright manners of the pau
per girl and after brief consultation, the
authorities of the institution we're prompt
ly petitiOned for the desired privilege. The
Girl herself seeming delighted ut the idea,
and her French Canadian depositors ap-
parently Indifferent as to her fate she was
readily transferred to her new guardians,
and gladly taken by them to their home
further up the Lamoille River From the
adoption thus induced and begun both
parties thereto derived uninterrupted hap.
piness for several ensuing years. Removed
from the shabby surroundings of public
charity 10 the plentitude and cherishuent
TO foster parentage including every ele-
ment of natural parental affection. the
child fine nature and quick intelligence
developed into exemplary trains of flial
grace aud duty, and her protectors had in
her the same pride and love as though she
had always been their own But in 1864.
Ehen the adopted daughter was thirteen
years old, circumstances compelled an un-
pleasant turning back ~ a leaf of her ear
lier history. A man from Canada, claim
ing that he was her father, had made de
mand for her at the Fairfax Poor. house.
and, being necessarily informed whittier
she had been taken, wrote to her devoted
friends that she must be surrendered 10
i, Il 4
the girl energetically denied that they were
her relatives who had suffered her TO be.
come a charge upon the Franklin County
authorities, though she could recollect moth
lug Of her history prerious thereto. IL was
an instinct with her. and she could account
for IL IN no other way than as an impera-
tive COMPLETION Of her inmOst nature, This.
OF course, war not proof, aud the paternal
claimant declared his ability IN prove him
self her father yet the adopted parents re-
solved Ia retain their prize at all hazards,
and paid no heed 10 the Canadians de
mands and threats But the former va
grants from over the border, whether the
true kindred Of the girl or not, had
some urgent reason, apparently. for
wishing 10 regain possession Of her,
aud were not 10 be thus baf-
fed. One day "A low-brcwed foreign look
ing man, accompanied by three associates
OF equally forbidding aspect suddenly in
vaded the quiet home OF the old people
and their adopted daughter, and iorcibly
carried of the latter by carriage and rail
road before the neighborhood could be raj
lied ~ the rescue. As soon as he could
get ready for the journey the venerable
head of the desolated household, in COM
pany with his young sou, started in pur-
suit Of the audacious kidnappors, whom
happily they were able 20 trace 10 Burling
ton. Officials and passengers ON the ears
had noticed and pitied the tears and re-
sistance Of a captive girl under the harsh
authority Of men who represented them
selves as the father and uDcles Of way
ward runaway and upon arriving at the
city just named the pursuers were sOOnable
10 discover that she was there u prisoner,
While the sorrow stricken old man pom
dered means of affecting her delivcranee
without public tumult he was unexpected.
ly befriended by kind lady of Burlington,
who knew that the object Of his frenzied
search was under watch in y miserable
tenant-house, and believed that she could
help her 10 eludc her kidnappers and get
her out OF the city, il allowed TO attempt
the achievement alone. Listening TO the
counsel OF this good and shrewd woman
the father and son took the train for their
nome ~ though relinduishing their mis-
SOD and within twenty-four hours there
atsos ehe wise feminine. Samaritan had
'no almost despsiring girl safely out Of her