National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-26
HELPED BY MERMAIDS.
The Wonderful Story Told by n CoIOred
GirI in Search of Her Mother.

G1El IN search OF her MO1ners
"Please, sir, l want you to help me find
my mother" and the speaker q slight formed col
ored woman, of dark complexion, came forward
10 the desk where THE REPUBLICAN hireling sat
grinding out copy.
where is yourmother?" asked the scribe, think
ing that she was old enough to find her mother.
Deed 1 dun kno'," was the reply. She's some
Hhar about this city. I was stole away from her
when Twas year old and taken to Cuba and have
been slave there ever since. They treat you awful
cruel down there deed they do. They makes you
eat oats and dogs and cotton seed bread. You
ean'tget no meatand bread as people have phere."
'Who stole you away"
al allus heard ii was Dr. Paddock. He lives here
now, don't he? He used to come down thar every
year. and take coffee away and bring it 10 this
country. He used to tell my master, Samuel Nick
erson, that he knew my mother, Sarah Brooks, and
she was living in Washington"
"When were you stolen from here?'
About sixteen years ago.
"How old are you now?'
''Well, 1 was about year old when was stolen,
and it was sixteen years ago. spect that would
make me about fourteen now
This did not correspond with the arithmetic of
THE REPUBLICAN office, but the reporter made no
comment.
How did you escape?'
Iran away one day down to the ocean, and
swan about two miles TO a vessel, and the captain
was kind, and took me on board and carried me to
Galveston, Texas. They chased me right smart,
and fred atme. One ball hit me in the head, and
came out the other side Another ball went in my
side, and is there now. But was on q piece of
board, and the mermaids helped me along. Deed,
lift had not been for the mermaids would never
have got TO the vessel
What do you mean by mermaids?'
Didn't you ever see mermaids? There are lots
of them in the ocean about Cuba. One-half of
them is persons, and the other half is fish. They
have beautiful long hair, hanging down"
"What did they do?'
"There were three of them, and they swan by
my SIDE and helped me alongup to the ship. One
was aman, and the other two women"
did they say anything to you?"
ayes, they talked TO me all the way"
did they talk English?"
"No; they don't understand English. They
talk Spanish, and they live all the time in the
water, and can swim, and can't drown"
did the captain of the vessel seethem?;
Yes; but just as soon as they got me TO the YES
sci they left l did work about the vessel during
the passage, and when 1 got to Galveston the
colored people helped me to come here
when did you leave Galveston?"
Last Wednesday, and people have been kind
to me and helped me along. l got here at twelve
o'clock to-day, and am staying at go G street
northwest until can find my friends"
She stated that she was sick, and had trouble
from the ball in her side, which, she thought, af
fected her heart. The reporter concluded that the
ball which had passed through her head had
affected her brain. He, however, promised to help
her find her mother, and if Mrs. Sarah Brooks is
in the land of the living she can find her longlOSt
child at the place above named.