News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-08-30

INTERVIEW WITH FEEBLE TRAY
| EIER In RAILROAD DEPOT.
How an Adopted Daughter Showed Grati-
| tude TO Her Protector.
Those who happened to be at the
Union Depot recently probably noticed
an old and white haired man who sup
ported his feeble body with a pair OF
rustic crutches. A lovely blonde woman,
richly attired, assisted the old man from
the train to the waiting-room, and her
marked respect toward him attracted un-
usual attention. A Globe reporter ap-
Droached the feeble 'aTeler and asked
him which way he M travelling. In
the meantime the lady went to an ad-
iacent ticket office to ascertain rates,
ETC., while orlr reporter found the old
gentleman willing and fluent converse
tionalist. After saying that his name
was Sylvester G. Abernethy, he was asked
who the lady accompanying him was.
"It is long story, he said, "but If you
have time 1 will relate her history in
connection with my own." The reporter
agreed, and the old man gave his entire
history, which is briefly given below:
Sylvester Abernethy was once a mod
erateIy rich man in Northern Indiana
town, possessed of family of three
sons and an adopted daughter. The girl
was a little waif whom he had adopted
from founding asylum at Indianapolis
when but few months old. At this
time his Youngest son was of age, and
was doing for himself. One by one his
sons left for other fields of labor, and in
the course of a few years Mr.. Abernethy
found himself alone with the little girl,
whom he loved as dearly as if she was
his own flesh and blood. When the
child was fifteen years of age a crisis
came upon him, and, by failure which
he did not explain, he lost all he had.
The girl. who had now grown to be a
young lady, was constantly devoted to
his cares. He frankly acknowledged
that his sons had taken the thorny path,
and he could not call on them for assist
ance. The adopted girl, whom he named
Belle Abernethy, declared she would go
out and work and earn living for them
both. Finally an opportunity presented
itself whereby Miss Belle was offered
position in another part of the State.
The old man thought it best for her to
accept it, which she did.
Mr.. Abernethy, although sixty years
of age, was not contented with his hum
BILE home, and gathering up his scanty
means, started West. Drifting about
from place to place, and his intirmities
fast appearing, his money was soon
spent. In the mea1ttime he had lost
race of the girl, who had removed from
her former home to another city. For
five years the old man worked about at
. 80. - -r=-'- 'vs= ia
Southern Missouri, spending most OF
that time in St Louis. From there he
went to Kansas City, and after remain
ing there a few months, came to Atchl-
son. and went from here to Topeka. AT
the latter place he was taken violently
sick. and had to rely on the city authorl-
ties for shslter for his decreplt body.
They claimed there that as he was not
resident, he could not be kept at public
expense, and as soon as he was conva-
lescent they shipped him off. He was
again thrown upon the mercies OF the
world. and wandered about until he
found himself in an almshouse III Cow
lev county. His inirmities prevented
his doing any manual labor, and he was
entirely dependent upon public charity
During this time Belle Abernethy, the
waif, turned out to be an he1ress, the
manner of her being cast off was fully
explained to her, and she was put IN
possession of an estate worth $89, 600.
She still remembered the good man who
had adopted her and raised her from
childhood, and tried every means III her
power to ascertain his whereabouts, ad-
vertisiug extensively in the leading pa
pers of the country. A gentleman con-
nected with the Cowley county instltu-
ton noticed the advertisement in the
Chicago Tribune and called Mr.. Aberne-
thy's attention to it. The old gentleman
produced the paper, which was dated
May 81, 1888, and allowed the reporter
to copy the following "Wanted-lntor-
nation regarding the whereabouts OF
Sylvester G. Abernethy, seventy-tWo
years of age, slight English accent low
stature. Address Mrs. FL. M. Martin,
Box 2,OO1, New Orleans, La" The OLD
man Immediately communicated with
that address, and received word that the
advertiser was none other than Belle
Abernethy, who had married wealthy
sugar refiner, of Louisiana. His help
less condition was communicated to her
she wrote to him to expect her IN June
and true enough, she came, and is nov
on her way to her home with the maj
who cared for her when she was help
less.
The old gentleman declared this to bt
the happiest moment of his life, and al
he was about through with his romantic
history the lady returned, and the re
porter bade him goodbye and godspeed
-Aldu8on (Kan.) Globe.