Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-04-22
A Romantic St0ry.

In August last young man of genteel
appearance spilled for work, as farm
hand at Mr.. James Paign's of Franklin
county, Ohio. He called himself John
Hammond, and lived in West Virginia,
near Wheeling. He was intelligent, and in
dress and appearance rather above the ordi-
nary farm hands, and about TWENTY-FIVE
years of age. Mr.. Paign was much pleased
with his address and appearance and en-
ployed him until after corn.cutting. He
soon observed remarkable resemblance
between young Hammond and his (Paign's)
wife, especially in the color and peculiar
expression of their eyes.
At the expiration of his time, Paign and
his wife having become much attached to
the young man, insisted on his remaining
with them a year, to which Hammond con-
sented, remarking that he had not found a
place SO much like home as the home of his
employer. The resemblance referred to
was a frequent subject of conversat ion be-
tween Paign and his wife. One evening
recently, they were all sitting around the
fre.-Paign was playing with his two little
children. Young Hammond was reading
the Bible-a thing quite usual for him
while about the house and not otherwise
employed. Happening to turn to the fami-
ly record, he read 'Catharine Him Finch
He asked Mrs. Paign, with a surprised
look, If that was her name.
Yes, she said, that is my true name
but my adopted fathers name was Finch
the Rev. Mr.. Finch
We'll, said he, that's my name, too
John HIM: bit | was raised by MI Ham,
mond. had twin sister by the name of
CathaIine, but have not seen her since my
mothers death, which occurred when was
about three years DID,
why, said Mrs. Paign, that is strange.
l had twin brother by the name of John
that | have not seen since was a little girl.
Where were you born?'
Hammond replied that he was born in
Baltimore, and that his father was killed
before the war by an accident in machine
shop, and that his mother died when he
was about three years old, and as they had
no relatives in this country, being Germans,
he was adopted by VIM. D. Hammond, who
shortly after moved to West Virginia, or
rather drifted there after the war; ano his
family followed him, and they settled near
Wheeling, where they still reside that he
had learned that a man had taken his sister
and moved out west, but did not know
where.
During the time that young Hammond Tor
Hirn) was relating the above part, Paign
says he noticed the tears starting in his
wife eyes, and atits conclusion she caught
hold of young Hammond and embraced
him, exclaiming amid her tears: why,
that is my history, and you are my dear
brother
After the excitement had somewhat
subsidized, Mrs. Paign said to her brother
that she had been raised by the Rev. Mr.
Finch, who lived near Athens, Ohio, where
she had been married, and that she and her
husband had both been informed of the cir
cumstances above related, and the desire to
find her brother was the burden of her
mind, that she had wept and prayed many
a time to again be united with him.
Young Hammond replied that the desire
to see her SO wrought on him that he al
most became wanderer; that he had but
one object in life, and that was to find his
sister and now in the providence Of God
he had succeeded when they least expect
ed it.
They both claim that from the very first
meeting there was mysterious influence
that they were unable te explain to each
other. 1t was this influence, or whatever
it was that induced him to remain with |
Paign, and induced his sister to insist OF |
her husband retaining him through the |
winter, when in fact they could have done
without his services.