The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-06
A STRANGE RELNI0N.
LONG SEVERED, svT vN!TEp AT LAsr.
Brother and Sister, Separated In Baby
hood, Find Each Other Under the
Most Peculiar circumstances.
[west Jefferson to.) Special. !


Among the many strange things that
happen in this world there is one that oc-
Cured few miles southeast of this place
that may interest your readers.
In August last young man of genteel
appearance applied for work as farm
hand at Mr.. James Paign's, of Franklin
County. He called himself John Ham,
mond, and said he was from West Virginia,
near Wheeling. He was intelligent, and
In dress and appearance was rather above
the ordinary farm-hands, and about TWEEN.
ty.two years Of age. Mr.. Paign was much
pleased with his address and appearance,
and employed him until after corn-cutting.
He soon observed remarkable resem-
blance 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 year, to which Hammond con-
sented, remarxing that he had dot found a
place so much like home as the home of
his employer. The resemblance referred
to was frequent subject of conversation
between Paign and his wife. One evening
during the recent cold weather they were
all sitting around the fire. Paign was
playing with his two little children.
Young Hammond was reading the Bible
n thing quite usual for him when about the
house and not otherwise employed. Hap
pening to turn 20 the family record he
read "Catherine Hirn Finch"
lie asked Mrs. Paign, with a surprised
look, If that was her.
"Yes," she said; "that is my true name;
but my adopted fathers name was Finch
Rev. Mr.. Finch"
"Well," said he, "that is my name, too
John Him; but l was raised by Mr..
Hammond. l had a twin sister by the
name of Catherine, but have not seen her
since my mothers death, which occurred
when was about three years old"
"Why," said Mrs. Paign, "that is
strange. had twin brother by the name
of John that have not seen since was a
little girl. Where were you bornp
Hammond replied that he was born in
Baltimore, and that his father was killed
before the war by an accident in ma
chine-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 taken and adopted by
William II. Hammond, who shortly after
moved to West Virginia, or rather he
drifted there after the war, and his family
followed him, and they settled near Wheel.
ing, where they still reside; that he had
learned that masher had taken his sister
and moved out West, but he 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's eyes, and az its conclusion she
caught hold of young Hammond and en-
braced him, exclaiming amid her tears:
"Why, that is my history, and you are my
dear brother" ......t
After the excitement had somewhat sub
sided Mrs. Paign said to her brother that
she had been raised by Rev. Mr.. Finch,
who lived near Athens, o., where she had
been married, and that she and her hus-
band had both been informed OF the cir
cumstances above related, and that the de.
sire to find her brother was the burden Of
her mind; that she had wept and prayed
many time to be again 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 see his
sister; and now, in the providence Of God,
he had succeeded when he least expected 1t.
They both claim that from the very first
meeting there was mysterious influence
that they were unable to 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 on
her husband retaining him through the
winter, when in fact they could have done
without his services.
Paign says it did look little queer to
see his wife jump up and hug his hired
hand right before his face, but he guesses
"it's all right" He likes his brother-in.
law because he loves his wife, and he loves
his wife more because he likes her brother.
There is some property in Baltimore and
in the:old country belonging to the brother
and sister that will be looked after.