The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-14
THE CITY.
On the Streets at NIidnight-ROmnnce In Real
e-DesertiOn-POverty.

tOlled out the hour OF midnight and scarce had IN
echoes died away in the gloom and silence OF tn
hour, when the stiffness was broken by the wall
| OF female voice in tones 80 filed with august
and heart-sorrow, that naturally our steps wer
turned to the spot from whence the sound pro
ceeded.
| On approaching we perceived a female form
scantily Clad and upon more careful examina
ton discovered face, though pale and wan, from
| the lnroads OF life of suffering and dlsappoint
ment, must have been in its day one of i'm posing
beauty. Eyes, though now dmmed by watching
| for that something that cometh not, shone forth
under the blare of the Pickering gas-light il
plaintive and brilliant beauty. form and face OF
l.Grecian mould though attenuated by hunger and
| poverty, which had been the lot of the unfortu-
nate, as will be seen hereafter Approach
view to question this poverty ncken waif. Sud
denly she started up and looking around in wild
confusion, she cried.
Is Ii He. Is It'll ee
And then, seeming again disappointed in her
llfe-search, of some long-lost and dearly loved
one, she sank into silence once more, from
which we aroused her by questions as to her
past life and future prospects. Drawing a long
breath, she turned her sad eyes upon us and
narrated her life in the following
sad History.
Well sir, she began you ask me to tell you of
my life. cannot gre you all of it, for it would
take volumes to tell but l will give you the
principal outlines of my sufferngs in this cold and
cruel world. | was born in the year 1850 in the
town Of, Connecticut | was an only child, and
therefore much petted and beloved by my dear
parents gradually grew up into womanhood
and wlen about eighteen years OF age my father
died, leaving my mother, though not in actual
poverty, yet in very reduced circumstances. By
dlnt OF economy, We managed to get along very
well Tor few months, but toward the end OF the
year noticed that my mothers health was rap
idly failing, and that the loss she had sustained
IN the death OF my father was telling wotully
upon her, and at last the relentless reaper came
and cut my mother off from life, leaving me alone
and friendless to buffet as best may the rough
and surging pillows of adversely.
found that through my mo. hers sickness and
other causes the little we had was now dwindled
INTO nothing. So set hard to work, and after
had succt eded in accommodating some little
money, took my all and opened small fruit
struggling on i'll this way for perhaps month, |
living from hand to mouth, when one morning |
man OF rather prepossessing appearance entered |
my little store ana purchased some Of the fruit |
out seemed reluctant to leave all the while OBJ
serving me closely; asked him what he desired
urther. was just noticing your face. he said,
md its sad expression; though Young YOU seem
20 have had goody portion of this worlds sor-
'ow meted out to your lot. briefly narrated to
lin my past life and late sorrow which seemed
lie said to me: My child, l am the captain
II ship now lying III port and if
'ou will accept the position of stewardess, |
VII pay you good wages, and think the change
VIII be beneficial to your dropping spirits.
l scarcely knew how to decide. | had never
cen the man before; but at that moment all my
'ast sorrow crowded upon my brain, and could
ee nothing but future of poverty and misery.
n moment OF desperation 1 resolved to accept
ny position that would serve an alienation OF
ny sufferings; so on the morning OF the 18th of
february, 1870, l was in stalled in my new posi-.
ion as stewardess of the British ship -,
ound for Calcutta. During the trip the CAPTAIN
'as very kind to me his attentions were almost I
nbounded; he seemed to anticipate every wish
my heart. We made the trip in the usual time, {
nd the ship remained IN Calcutta several weeks |
me morning as l was engaged in the perform
nee OF my duties, the Captain approached and
uslness, III his state-room l Immediately COM
he'd with his request and accompanied him to !
IS apartment: he closed the door and addressed
Re i'll the following manner: $
Annette, said he, You are good girl, and
might as well state my business in few words.
nd be candid. Ever since l first saw you in your
tile fruit store, admired your beauty and have S
we'd you ever since. l knew Of no way by 2
hlch to gain your affections save the tone to S
hich have resorted Now tell me- in all can v
ugh seaman like myself for your nus band 2"
scarcely knew what to answer. My whole l
anne seemed to be on fire my brain was in a =
hirl !; my heart beat unanimously but clear
IL
FUNDED in my ears. l told him he should have s
final answer the next day. In my calmer mo-
ents, thought the matter over and my better .
dgment told me that to refuse 80 advantageous "
offer would be more than folly, and, to tell the I
nth, nv heart was not wholly free from love. :
on the next day, when he came promptly at o
&c appointed hour for his answer, consen, ed to q
&c me his wife. He desired to be married i'm
ediately. Calling his mate as witness to the
remonles, he took me to ma is rate near by, Z
here were made l.
Man and Wife. fl
Everything for a while went on smoothly. e
thing occurring to mar my happiness but as b
ne pass ed away the sea voyages brought III
alth upon me and | noticed that my husbands
amer toward me had changed materially a
le day, after several trips, when the ship was Il
ng III Calcutta, he cameto my room and told me Il
at as he expected rough weather on the next n
p, l had better remain where I was. Never c
a moment suspectlng him OF any duplicity, fC
de him farewell with many wishes for his
eedy and safe return. Several weeks passed
ay after the vessel was due in the United il
ates and became uneasy; various nightmares c
haunted me continually. But these ii
que imsginings We're dispelled, for | received Sc
paper in which | read of the safe ia
'ival of the ship. &C
Week after week, month after month, waited T
suspense worse than death. | could remain no "
l9er IN ignorance, and determined with what
,ney had left to take the next vessel for the
ted States. Arriving at the town where his pr
p usually went, engaged small apartment NJ
myself, where l determined to begin the
rch for my husband. A few days after my
ival l had made some few purchases in the We
yn and returned home. The articles / had &C
ught were wrapt up in an old newspaper of q
ne months back; having no other readable la
tier at hand, ! began to glance over the W
umns of the old paper, when suddenly my OF
IS fell upon tn
A Marriage Notice. u
Oh, God the anguish suffered in that mo-
mt words cannot describe; I could scarcely be- is
We that | was awake; the letters swan in wild th
Illusion before my bewildered gaze; I uttered NJ
wild scream of agony, and fell upon the floor. ri
len [ returned to consciousness I found my ba
surrounded by strange faces; upon inquiry, sa
y told me that had been very i'll with brain n
er for several weeks; that they had found me lo
my room, as they thought at the time, dead. is
l as no one knew me | was taken to the town
,pital. They asked me who the man was that
ad continually called for in my delirium. S.
d them OF my marriage, and the strange he
+l,a+ ho1