The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-03-16
A SorrOwfnl Tale.

James Stockton lived in r. small town
in England. Work was very scarce,
and he, with many others, felt that he
could not remain long as he was. The
fever to go to America had penetrated
the little village, and many were sell
ing what little they had at sacrifice to
get means to come to this country, where
they thought all was prosperity. Stock
ton had brother who had gone to the
United States, and was reported as do
ing we'll. He determined to hunt him
up, and, if work was plenty, to send for
his family. Although he had no idea of the
size oft country to which he was going,
and did not know where his brother was To-
Gated, he thought it would be very
easy matter to find him. He soon dis
covered his mistake.
After wandering about for some time
he finally found good employment in a
place not far from Cleveland. Time
passed and he gave up all hope of find
ing his brother, and prepared to return
to his family in England. One day a
fellow workman asked his name, telling
him that a man named William Stockton
was neighbor to him. Stockton felt
that he had found his long-lost brother,
and was so rejoiced that he could not
finish his days work. He found his
brother comfortably situated with family
around him, and it made him long to
have his dear ones, also, come. He
wrote to have them prepare, as he would
send passage tickets in short time.
He procured the tickets and was
81 20 <ho,r ho q
letter from England. 1t was long and
affectionate message from his wife, tell
ing him that she was all ready to come,
and would bring to him little child
four months old, born to them after his
departure from home. She spoke of
the Joy she would have In making the
journey, knowing that she would soon
see him. The poor woman little thought
that her journey of life was near over.
At the end of the letter were few lines
from his oldest child, girl fifteen years
of age, informing him that, on the next
morning after her mother had written
the letter, the children heard the little
babe crying, and, as the mothers voice
was not heard, one of them went to see
what was the matter, and found the
mother dead in bed with the child clasped
in her arms. This left the care Of five
small children to this girl of fifteen years,
and she asked her father what she
should do. AS he had good situation
here, he decided to have them come.
The little nurse started with her
charge. She knew nothing of travelling
and consequently her difficulties were
MANY. When one or two days out on
the ocean the babe took sick, and all the
others were more or less seasick. AS
the child grew worse, she applied to the
physician for medicine. He ordered
her to give the child warm bath each
morning. She went to the cook for the
warm water, only to be gruffiy ordered of,
with the remark that he had no time to
trouble with the matter. Repeated at
tempts proved no better, and being too
timid to apply to Others for aid, she
could do nothing for the little sufferer.
New York was reached at last, and she
thought her journey almost over. The
children were delighted with the thought
that they would soon see their father. But
a two days journey on the cars still
awaited them.
The babe grew worse, and on the last
day it died in her arms. She dared not
tell any one of the fact, for fear the
child would be taken away from her and
then her father could not see it. The
train made longer stop than usual at a
certain place, and the children went out
onithe platform for exercise. A lady,
noticing so many children alone, went
and talked with them. She drew aside
the cloak from the little ones face and
saw it was dead. The poor girl begged
SO piteously that she might be allowed
to take it the few more miles she had to
go, that small coffin was procured and
the dead babe laid in it. The children
started once more on their way, the
young nurse carrying the coffin on
her lap.
The father was reached in due time at
the home of his brother, and the poor
child laid the little coffin on the floor
aad gave herself up to her long pent
grief, telling through her tears how
much she had suffered aud how she had
prayed that she might bring the babe
alive to her father.
Such was the experience of James
Stockton. 1t was sad trial for him,
but he is comforted with the thought that
such noble daughter is spared to
him -Clereldnd Leader.
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