Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-06-14


may find some clew TO her relations"
Mrs. Turner lifted the gossamer-white
dress, and turned it over and over.
The square and compass placed there
by Mr.. Durant, flashed upon the eyes
Of all at once. The doctor and Mr..
Turner looked at each other, but neith-
er spoke, and Mrs. Turner did not no
tice the tears that glistened in her hus-
bands eyes.
The doctors fears that Eva would
not rapidly recover proved to be well
founded; days and weeks of fever sue
ceeded in awakening her to life, during
which she talked incoherently of
"papa" and "poor mamma" and the
"burning ship" and of "hunger."
She fully awoke TO consciousness, and
asked many questions as to where she
was and how she came in the dark
room, and who were those who attended
her; but DIR. Hunt forbade her being
questioned until she was stronger.
How interested were all in the little
convalescent, whom the elements had
cast into the little seaboard town! The
ladies declared that never before did a
child possess such lovely eyes or beauti-
full curls, while the gentlemen seemed
no less interested, and brought her gifts
of everything that might please her
childish fancy.
"My dear little girl" said DIR. Hunt,
when Eva was at length able to ride
out, "will you tell me your nameP
Eva" said the child; 81 thought
you knew it."
Eyes, know your name is Eva; but
l want to know the rest of your name
your fathers name"
Eva Durant Mr.. Durant is my
papa"
ayes, want you to tell me all you
can remember about your father and
MOTHER
Eva's eyes filed with tears.
80 sir, my mamma died and went
to live with the angels. And do not
know where papa is. He said if never
saw him again, must know he had
| gone to mamma"
"Where were you when he told you
thisP"
"On the ship; and oh! the fire
burned so, and papa held me in his
arms until strange man tied some.
thing under my arms and threw me
into the water, and have not seen papa
since. o sir, can you tell me where he
isP'
mo, dear child; but perhaps we may
yet find him.
And this was all that Eva's new
friend could discover. twas plain she
had come from the ship which had beer
burned few weeks before; that shC
had been cast upon the sea, and tloateC
to the shore; but where was her father
Had he been saved, and was he search
ing for his child? Every possible effor
was made to find him.
The circumstances of the case, will
the statement of the child, were pub
lished fully in the newspapers of tn,
neighboring cities, butthe grief-strickel
father, believing his child to be lost
had sailed week before for Europe
and it soon became settled in the mind
of Eva's protectors that he had per
ished. But the little one still prattlet
about her "papa," and said he woult
come by and by; those who believe,
differently would not pain her by con
tradiction.
The square and compass that ha,
been found upon her clothing was re
garded as a powerful appeal from
mason to his brethren to care for hi
child. So it came to pass that Eva be
came, as it were, the special charge o
Hiram Lodge, No. SO. Mr.. Turne
would gladly have taken the entir
care of the little waif, and the wealth,
Senator W requested to be allowed
to adopt her as his daughter; but tn,
brethren of the lodge assembled, de
clared by vote that Eva should b'
reared, educated and protected by tn,
lodge, and that, as Providence haC
placed her in Brother Turner's house
that should be her home.
And so years went by, and Eva be
came a healthy, joyous child, fitting
here and there, and everywhere meet
ing the warmest of welcomes. Th,
masonic hall was but q few rods from
Mr. Turner's residence, and Eva Otter
went with him as fer as the door, ant
then returned alone, always bidding tn
tiler "take good care of Pa Turner, ant
send him home early"