Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-15
THURLOW WEEDS ADOPTED
CHILD.
A Domestic Romance as Nara.
ted iniIS79 By the Veteran
Journalist.
New York Word.

ASO missy % tAAc
Journalist.
New York World.
| called on Mr.. Weed yesterday and
found him once more up in the little
library room down stairs, nea the
little library room down stairs, near
the front door, where be loves to stay.
he was lying on the lounge and his
fsithtll daughter was sitting near
reading to him the morning news. |
took the offered hand and announced
my name to him, for the venerable
man can no longer see his visitors.
he was very pale and apparently
feeble; the pink had al fed from his
cheeks and the light from his face.
We'll. | an through a rather hot
summer. said he, but [ did think it
would Kill me this time"
Miss Weed said he suffered ex-
treme'y during the hottest weather,
but was now gaining fast.
My mind reyerts more than ever to
the old, old times, he said, drawing
his aand over his dim or6s thought
ully.
Father has been thinking about
Mary a good deal for the last few days
said Hiss Weed.
Her life seemed so strange and
beautiful, Harriet, as | look back at
it" said the old man. 1t is one OF the
pleasaBtest Of my recollecrions.
Miss Weed heyan to explain oriehy
to ne that Mars was his adopted
daughter, wh) died some years AGO.
when her father said it | would like
TO hear the story he would tell it.
assured him, and be began:
One day, in the winter of 1915,
while | was 10 q barber shop 10 Alba
n.y. heard that a Eritingmaster named
Chapman had been found dead in his
room, aud that his daughter, AGED two
years. had been alone with her dead
father for several hours. Chapman
vas adWarf Of Incorporate habits well
known IN Albany. The litile girl was
to be taken 10 the almshouse the next
morning. Ii was a sad case and moved
my sympathies deeply. | mentioned il
10 my family az the tea table without
manifesting sn7 feeling. but I saw a,
once that my wife and children shared
ny interest, aud when | vas leaving
the house half az hour later. nv
daughter stood al the hall door. and
said: i will 60 With you, father
She was right 10 her guess. Arriving
at Mrs. WOOley :, where the Eaif was
temporarily LODGED. If0and the child.
and she came 70 ms readily and sat on
my knee. l asked if she would 20
home with me, and she spoke up:
Yes, SRI remember her sweet
voice nos Well, We took her home.
aud l never think Of her without
feeling sure that a blessing went into
our house With that child. We were
all made happy by her ~artless ways
and by the Development Of her rare
and beautiful qualities. From two
years old, when she came, she grew
up very bright and rood-at home. at
school, With children aud with adults
everywhere she was a universal
taTorlte. Long before children gen
orally think Of sught but being cared
Tor she vas helpiul-careful Of her
self and thoushtfuI and pains
taking for others. Before she was FIVE
years old she had the care Of
her own wardrobe, keeping everything
systematically In order and watching
Tor opportunities to assist her mother
and sisters (fOr she was now one OF
49,. She vas always perfect in her
lessons. When she was seven. she said
she wanted 10 makes shirt for me; she
made u entirely without assistance of
any kind and it was 50 well done that
was sent 70 the fair Of the American
Institute in New York, where a silver
medal was awarded to her for the best
specimen Of plain needlework. We
all became fonder and foDder Of her
year alter year, anxious only about her
health. 10 October, 1866, from the
elects Of a cold that settled on her
luDgs. she diedg
The old man turned over on the
lounge and drew a long breath. while
Miss Weed went 70 q drawer and
brought forth the treasured medal Of
bright silver.
1T was a heavy bereavement 10
us" be continued. Hearing that
Mary had a brother in South Carroll.
"a. We vent there, and oddly eBouqh.
the hrst man / met had adopted The
boy whom bis mother bad LEFT them
some eighteen OF nineteen years be-
lore. He had been adopted by a
gentleman there, but was now in BIZ
thifd year 10 the South Carolina Col
lege, Wig gone there from the
orphan eehOol. where be won ne
schoiarship for personal merit. He
ressmbled our lost daughter Yery
strongly At our solicitation be vie.
TED Us 10 Albany during the summer.
snd VIC took him 10 see Niagara. He
lOok cold under the fall. and being
frsil Ike bis sister, be died. and We
laid him By her side ia November.