The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-06-13
sTAUNTON. VIRGINIA. JUNE 10. 1878.
The Story of two Waits

from Inc new 1Ork buuJ
In 1855 there lived in New York Ger
tain family named Scanlon. The family
consisted only of the mother and three
children, the father being dead. Mrs. Scan
Ion found it very difficult to provide food fol
her little ones, the oldest of whom was only
five years of age. The youngest, an infant,
was taken sick and died from lack OF proper
medical attendance quite as much as from
violence OF the disease. The mother en-
deavored to make up for the want OF medi-
cine and delicacies by constant nursing and
unwearying watchfulness. But when her
little one died her grief was SO great that she
became i'll, and she died a week after her
child was buried. A few days later the
two surviving children, James, aged fifteen,
and Mary, aged eight, were taken to the
nursery, on Randal's Island. A few months
after Quaker and his wife visited the nur-
sery, and taking liking to Mary, adopted
her.
In 1858 the brother found his way back to
the city, and for three years lived as wait
about the streets, doing odd Jobs, sleeping
in areas and Railways, land on the hay barges
and piers, often going without food, and
sometimes almost without clothing.
On the breaking ont of the war the lad at
once Joined the army. He was first in the
Army of the Potomac, and then in the West.
He finally came back from the Territories,
long after the close of the war, to settle in
Salem county, NJ Neither brother nor
sister had heard of each other since their
parting one summers day on the grounds
of the charity school on Randall's Island.
The boy had not much time for repiniDg at
the forced parting. and thought often when
lie was hungry and cold, that his sister was
warm and happy with the people who had
taken her away. The little girl, on the
contrary. wept on leaving her brother, and
often asked in her new home when he would
come to see her. Even after years had
passed she was often surprised by the moth
erly Quakeress while weeping alone over
the memory of Ter brother and playmate.
She had been taken by the Quakers, VIII ose
name was Tonlison, to Blackwoodtown, in
Gloucester county. There, few years ago,
she was married to Mr.. Pfifer, who is in
charge of the Swedesboro branch of the
West Jersey Raild-road.
James Scanlon has often come up from
Salem in the past few years to visit an old
army friend named Seagraves, who resides
In Woodbury.. On one Of these occasions
he presented Scagrave's little daughter with
a ring, and this week ago the child lost in
the street. One day this week the little
girl, while on visit to the family of Mr..
Wise, in North Woodbury., related the story
of her loss, and was told that Mrs. Pffer
had found such ring. The child ran to
Mrs. Pliers residence, and asked to see the
ring that she had found. When questioned
as to why she thought so much of the ring
she said, because my uncle, Jim Scanlon,
gave it to me-
"Why," said Mrs. Pfifer with emotion,
81 had little brother once named Jim
Scanlon it was great many years ago."
Then she took the child in her arms and
caressed her while she led her to tell all she
knew OF her uncle Jim. He was not her
real uncle she said, only she called him un-
Gle because he was so nice and was in the
war with her father. The girl returned
home with the ring and the message.
A correspondence ensued. Mrs. Pffer
remembered that her brother Jim had been
accidently scalded on his arm and breast.
scald. He was able to recall many Incl
dents of their childhood. So the two waits
found each other again after years of sep
aratinn