Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-03-05
On the Road-Ths Story 81 q Queer Family
from Virginia.

nave DeeH dcCuStoiueu " seo poverty
in almost every conceivable shape, but
the appearance upon our streets yester-
day morning of an emigrant family
from Virginia, in the most abject and
miserable manner, Is beyond anything
previously witnessed. The family or
the two families, as will hereafter be ex-
planned, consisted of nine persons a
mother and daughter, fifty five and
thirty years of age respectively. four
children, and babe at the breast
scarcely two months old.
Two grown male members complete
the party, unless we should include a
dog, who looked like he had been ted
on charity soup for the past six months
at least. The party was provided with
hand carts so arranged with shoulder
bands, etc, that the men could pull
them with very little exertion. In one
Of these carts d small, sickly looking
child was buried in Cheap of filthy
rags and other articles, and looked as
if it was almost frozen. We Question
ed the elder of the two men as to his
name and former home, and to his OBJ
ject in coming west. a.
In reply to the first question he said
his name was John Co,bin, and that he
was born and raised in Page. county,
Va. AS TO his coming west, hesitated
with an answer, but finally he sobbed
out long history of his misfortunes
He said that be mad small but com
Portable home in Virginia, and that he
always lived peaceably and happily with
his faulty until that scoundrel (refer
ring to his male companion, who was
standing with his back toward us but a
short distance. away seduced his daugh
ter, and who afterwards even gained
the encouragement of his wife in his
conduct.
ut is bad enough" he continued, "to
have your own child injured and your
self brought to shame, but this man has
a nice wife snd three pretty children in
Winchester, Va, in destitute circum .
stances, whom he has abandoned.
/ We asked whether the man had ever
been married to his daughter, and he
said he had not. 81 did everything pos
sible, said he, "to cause him to diseon
tinue his visits to my daughter, but fail
ed, and when he saw that was max
ing it uncomfortable for him he gained
the consent of my wife and daughte,
to go West, and leave me and their
home. love my wife only as man
can love woman, and my only. object
in living is for her; so, when | found
she had LETT me, l knew this scoundrel
was at the bottom of it all, and | deter
mined to 80 and find her, if possible.
l travelled many miles alone, inquiring
for the party. l heard of them at one
place or another, and at last overlook
them about three weeks since, at An.
derson, Ind. But my wife and daugh
ter would not consent to return to Viz
ginia. l finally induced them, however,
to go and try and find brother who is
residing near Springfield, Ohio.
In reply to question why he had
not gone directly from Anderson to
Springfield, instead Of coming to Gin
cinnati, he said chat man and my wife
and daughter were in favor of dress
ing ourselves and our children in the
most miserable clothes we could find,
and beg along the road to Cincinnati;
this plan was carried out, but not with
my consent, although I came along
and pulled one of the hand carts full Of
dirty bed clothes, and one of the chill
dreu, all the way. We stopped at eve
ry farmhouse, and of every person we
met we requested some n, thing to eat or
wear, bit always. took money when we
could get it. l don't know how much
we begged during the trip, but it was
a good deal. That man there (again
referring TO his companion) has got
twenty OF thirty dollars in money yet.
We leave for Hamilton and Dayton
this morning. Y..- s..
BY this time the crowd Of children
and idle grown people who had collect
ed around the cars was so great as to
o,mpletslly fill the streets. and the po-
lice had to Interfere.
1t appears from this simple mans.
story that these travelling raupers are
not wholly IMMERSED in the weakness of
human nature: and are not altogether
unwilling to take advantage of their
knowledge, CHM. Gazette.
| ~
Love and sorrow in our souls re-
semble the fire in some deep mines; it
may for a long time be apparently
smothered,, we fancy that it is entirely
extinguished, but some sudden draught
some'ashss dropped, and the flames,
wild and consuming, will break forth
with redouble fury.
A newly married lady in Haddon-