The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-01

AYrER sIxrY-TwO YEARS or SEPARATION rBr
w0ODw0RTH BROTHERS MEET IN RICHMOND
AN INTERESTING CHAPTER.

I Romantic ReumiOu.
AfrER sIxfY!Tw0 YEARS or SEPARATION THE
| w0ODw0RTH BROTHERS MEET IN RICHMOND
AN INTERESTING CHAPTER.
There are unwrItten chapters in the lives
OF many families that are full Of interest TO
others besides immediate connections and
friends that In many cases would
furnish good foundation for the novelist
or poet, bot which ofttjmes go unwritsen
and unsung. They furnish the theme OF cou-
versation in the summer twilight or at the
winter evening freside, and delighted
hearers gather around the narrator as be
tells the story, often eliciting more deep and
heartfelt interest than the pages OF the most
entertaining novel. One Of thescunwritten
chapters has recently come TO car know
ledge, and Is nearly as follows:
On Saturday the 21st OF August stranger
came here and made inquiries regarding the
whereabouts OF Mr.. John Woodwork, q
worthy farmer, who owns the place formerly
the property OF Lewis II. Frayser, Esat, on
the Williamsburg road, about four miles
from this city. The stranger bad the ap.
pearmce Of q wel-to.do farmer, and was
evideaty not familiar with our localities.
He, however, soon found Mr.. Woodwork,
at stable on Eighteenth street, bitching up
mis- team and getting ready 10 go out home.
lie entered into conversation with Mr.
Woodwork, asking him several simple
questions, to which Mr.. Woodworth, sup
posingJhm TO be q sewing.machine or light
ning.rod agent, returned eyasiye answers.
Presently, however, becoming more earnest
i'm bis manner, he startled his hearer by re-
marking. - / am going home with you to-
night. Although you don't know me, |
know you. am your brother William"
Mr.. Woodwork was dumbfounded At this
remark. and disposed to be distrustfuI, but
bis brother recalled incidents OF their child
hood which were distinctly remembered by
him, though he was only three years old at
the time, and convinced him that he who
thus addressed him was indeed his long.lost
brother.
Mr.. William Woodwork had followed
Mr.. Greeley's advice and gone West, set.
tliDg in Michigan, where he had accumu-
lated quite a property, with his children
and children's children around him.
From the retinited brothers we gather the
following facts and incidents, which throw
a glamor OF romance around them. and
show life not entirely devoid OF interest:
II seems that about sixty-fjve years ago
their father and mother, with their children,
William, Margaret, John, and Absalom,
were living in or near Albany, n. Y. The
death OF the parents following close the one
upon the other, when Absalom was mere
infant and John only three years old, caused
a separation and scattering Of the family,
kind friends taking the little ones and min
istering to their wants. They thus grew
ND In ignorance OF each other, and without
that brothePly love which serves 10 knit
and bind the members OF a household to-
gether.'
The bows, without bone attachments or
home influences to restrain them, wan
dered off early in life to various por-
tions OF the country. John was the only one
whose WANDERING could be traced; for
when, thirteen years after, the sisters visit
ed the scene of their early childhood his
whereabouts was easily discovered, and
communication was at once entered into
with him. No knowledge could be obtain
ed OF the others. 4 short time ago that feel
ipg which has q lodgmcnt Ia every human
breast to visit the old homestead, revive
again the recolleetiOns Of youthful days,
and roam over the weII-remembered paths
trod in gleesul years, induced William to 60
to Albany and see once more the place oil
his infancy and the friends Of bis early life.
Here be found bis sisters, or ut least learned
that they were living, and beard that his
brother John was also alive and living near
this city. The determination was made tc
visit him without notifying him OF his com
ing, or even OF bis eXsteace. The result
of this determination has been stated.
The whereabouts of the younger brother
Absalom, even should he be living, Is un
known. No trace Of him can be found
though dilgent and earnest Inquiry has been
and is still being made. IL would be almos
a marvel should it turn oat that after th'
lapse OF siyty.two years al five OF then
should be alive. But scarcely less wonder
ful is the retiniOn OF the four now living
John, we believe, never left his native STATE
until he came here in 1850, soen after tn
close OF the war. and settled on his presen
homestead.
The circumstances above narrated recall
10 the mind OF friend at our elbow yer.
similar occurrence in our city a few year
since, in which a brother, native OF Name
who had left home at q VeFyaarly age, ant
never returning 10 hear OF the whereabuut
OF other members OF his family, found here
sister OF whose very existence it IS sup
posed he was ignorant. They had b0tl
come here soon after the close OF the war
she. now married, ADD with her husband
and children living here, from her naiiy'
State, and he from another and distant par
OF the country. The sister deda few year
since. but up to that time no one could b
more devoted to enc another than they. 1
lifelong intimacy could not have deyasope
closer or stronger lDye and affection.