The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-09-17
REAL ROMANCE.

- xV...a.rs,,l History Of % Roy-StOIen
nv G,psies. He FINALLY FINDS ISIS IA
rents After Absence "f S'xser"
Years.
On a hot July day in the summer OF
1874, boy of perhaps fifteen OF sixteen
years, weary and footsore, was making
his way along the dusty highway tnat
passes the farm OF x-hepresehtative
David f. Croan, four miles north OF tins
city. Espying hands at work III a harvest
field near by, he timidly approached
them and asked to work Tor something
TO eat. Mr.. Croan's son William took
him to he house, where his mother gave
him a bountiful dinner. Mr.. Croan
then set him to work, and, finding HIM
willing and Industrious, employed nm
TO work. The boy could give but little
account of himself The first he re-
membered of himself was travelling from
place to place with his parents, as he
supposed them to be, called Gypsles.
After travelling about for five or SIX
wears the family finally settled down
near Newcastle, Henry County, this
State. There, after enduring inumera-
bic hardships and cruelties, he deter
mined to run away from his wretched
surroundings. One evening after recelv-
ING n terrible beating from his father he
grew desperate and after dark stole
away. going north, and sleeping the lat
ter part of the night near the mounds.
The next day he made his way To Mr..
Croan's, and here found a comfortable
home for several months. Since that
time he has worked for several in the
neighborhood, always being economical
and saving in his habits, and laying by
quite sum of money. A few weeks
since he determined to go back to New
castle and visit the home of his former
miseries, in order to see his sister, to
whom he was warmly attached. From
his sister, who was much older than him
self he heard wonderful story. She
told him his name was not Hiram Brit
ney, as he supposed, but Hiram Twiford;
that the Britneys had stolen him when he
was but six or seven years of age from
his mother, widow by the name of
Twiford, living near Angola, In Steuben
County, this State. His mother made
every effort to find him. The country
was secured; the river was dredged adj
vertisements were inserted in the news
papers of the day, but all to no avail,
search as hopeless, and settled down to
endure as best she could the horrible
agony and doubt surrounding her child's
disappearance. From that time on up to
three weeks since, period of sixteen
years, no tidings had been received of
the lost child Young Britney, or Twi-
ford, as we shall hereafter call him, on
hearing this strange story from his sup
posed sister, determined to go to Steuben
County at once and fathom the mystery.
Arriving there, he inquired for family
by the name of Twiford. He was di-
rected to their residence. Knocking at
the door, he was admitted and invited to
take seat. This he did, asking numer-
Gus questions regarding the surrounding
country the crops, ETC., the lady eyeing
him closely all the while Finally he
asked:
did you not lose boy some years
since?"
YES" replied the lady, and tears
came unbidden to her eyes, "and I
would give anything in the world L pos
sess to find him" Another look at the
stranger, and with mothers quick in
stinct she threw her arms about him.
folded him close III her loving arms. saw
ing, my child, my child! My long
lost child, have found you at last"
When the lady had recovered her self
possession sufficiently, the boys story
was told and his identity established be-
You'd doubt, one of the strongest proofs
being scar on his face. The news
rapidly spread to the neighborhood, and
hundreds of persons focked to see him.
apd for some time he was the lion of the
neighbOrhood.
Mr.. Twiford came back to this county
few days ago, settled up his business.
and returned to Steuben County, here
after to live with his real mother and
sister, from whom he was so long and
cruelty separated, and to take charge of
his mothers large farm, on which she
resides. This is, indeed, romance in
real life, and we can truly saw. "Tbe
web of Life Is strann nl,r ,rn,.o,, ~