Connecticut western news., 1885-02-11
JOHNS DAUGHTER.

"You will care for my child? You will not let my little one suffer"
 My old friend and college chum, John Harmon said this as he wrung my hand hard. I repeated my promise that in my own homenest, where there was a nursery full of little ones, Susie Har- mon should hold daughters place.
 We were standing upon the wharf waiting for the signal that it was time for my friend to step aboard an out going California steamer. He had lost bis wife within the year, and soon after was beggared by fire that totally de- stroyed the cotton mills in which he had held the position of superintendent for ten years. With his home desolate, his purse empty, he resolved, as many man had done before him, to seek his fortune ill the modern Ell Dorado, and dig for gold in her mines.
 The only drawback to this scheme was the difficulty of taking his three- ycar-old daughter, who had been in the care of hired nurses since her mother died. I, who shared every thought of Johns mind, talked with my wife, and found her eagerly willing to take care of the little one.
 ''I am sure I loved Mary as we'll as you loved John," she said, ''and there is no one can have 8 stronger claim upon the child than we have"
 So, sure of her cordial welcome in our nursery. I made John the offer of home for his little one, and it was ac. cepted as lovingly as it was offered. This care removed, my friend hastened his preparations for departure, and &C., companied him to New York and saw him of.
 The next morning returned home to find Susie almost inconsolable, crying perpetually for "papa to come to Susie."
 My wife was distracted at the failure to comfort this childish sorrow, and our own three children looked on wonder ingly at - --
 Naughty Susie, who cried and cried, after mamma told her to be quiet"
 Fortunately, Susie was accustomed to see me, to snuggle in my arms when talked with John, to associate me with her father, and she allowed me to com fort her. In time this violent grief wore away, and the child became very happy in our care. My business, that of a hardware merchant, being very pros- porous, we did not feel the additional expense of the child's support 8 burden; and as the years wore by, she was as dear to us as our own little ones.
 But she understood always that she was not our child, but had dear father who loved her fondly, and was away from her only to make fortune for her. As soon as she was old enough she had her fathers letters read to her, and her first efforts at penmanship were letters to "Papa.
 John wrote often for ten years, re- counting his varying success, sometimes sending money to buy presents for Su- sic. He was winning fortune slowly, not at the mines, where his health broke down, but in the employ of San Fran cisco merchant, and some speculations in real estate.
 He was not a rich man, he wrote after an absence of ten years, but pros. pering, when he purposed paying us a visit. He wrote hopefully of seeing his child, perhaps of taking her home with him, setting no definite time, but lead ing us to expect soon to see him. Then his letters ceased, and he did not come. wrote again and again. Susie wrote. No answers came to either one or the other. We did not know the name oi his employer, and after nearly two years more passed we sadly thought he must be dead.
 It might have seemed to many un. natural for Susie to grieve so deeply as she did for father almost unknown tc her in reality, but she was girl O most sensitive feelings. with tender loving heart, and we had always kep her fathers name before her, striving tt win him place in her fondest affection That we had succeeded only too vel was shown by her sorrow, when weel after week passed, and there was nC good news from California.
 When we had really. lost all hope, i became Susie's greatlpleasure to sit be side me and ask me again and again fo the stories I remembered of her father boyhood and youth, his college life, oul many excursions, and, above all, of hil marriage and the gentle wife and mother SO early called to heaven.
 She dearly loved those talks, and n, memories were more precious than m, description of her fathers pain in part ing from her, and his desire to wi money in California only for her.
 Time softened Susie's grief, and g eighteen she was one of the sweetest most winning girls ever saw. Withou being O wonder of erudition, she wa well educated, had fair musical taIen and a sweet, well-cultivated voice. Sh was tall and graceful, snd when she we introduced to society with Joanna, m