The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-02-15
The Story Of IN Emigrant-An Heroic
Girl.

MANY q story might be told of the
prlvations that beset The emigrant, but the
following, which occurred not long ago,
Will suffice, its exact trutl, being vouched
ior on the best authority: james Stockton
lrved IN small town in England. Work
was very scarce and he, with many others,
felt that ne could not remain long as he
was. The fever to 80 to America had
penetrated the little village, and many
were selling what little they had at q
sacrifice to get means to come to this
country, where they thought all was pros
perity. Stockton had brother who had
gone to the United States and was reported
as doing 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 Of the country to which he was
going, and did not know where his brother
was located, he thought it would he a very
easy matter to find him. He soon discov-
cred his mistake.
After wandering about for some time.
he finally found good employment in q
little place not far from Cleveland. Time
passed and he gave up all hope of finding
his brother and prepared to return to his
family in England. One day fellow
workman asked his name, telling him
that man named William Stockton was
a 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 founc his brother COM
fortably situated with family around HIM,
and 1t made him long to have his dear
ones, also, come. He wrote to have them
prepare, as he would send passage tickets
in a short time.
He procured the tickets and was about
to send them, when he received letter
from England. 1t was long and affec.
tionate message from his wife, telling him
that she was all really to come, and would
bring to him a little child four months
old, born to them after his departure
would have in making the journey, know.
ing she would soon see him. The poor
woman little thought that her journey of
life was nearly over. At the end of the
letter were few lines from his oldest
child, girl fifteen years of age, inform
ing 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 c0nse-
quently 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 he gruffiy Or
dered off with the remark that he had no
time to trouble with the matter. Repeated
attempts 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 chiltreA
were delighted with the thought that they
would soon see their father. But tive
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 from her, and then her
father could not see it. The train made
|
place, and the children went out ON to the
platform for exercise. A lady, noticing
80 many children alone, went and talked
with them. She drew aside the cloak
from the little ones face and saw that 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 her 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 and
gave herself up to her long. pent grief,
telling through her tears how much she
had suffered, and how she had prayed
that she might bring the babe alive to ncr
father.
such was the experience of James
Stockton. 1t was sad trial for him, but
he is comforted with the thought that such
l . nOh1o 6ounht Ia cnarod IN hs,r, -