The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-28
\ FATHER WHO is LOST.
Pa thetic Letter by Feeble Colored
Woman.

IA tHctIC LcttcT Dy FccDIc OOiOEcu
Woman.
There Is touch of pathos about letter
received by Postmaster Backus yesterday
tina. at once singles it out from the many
communications which that official re-
ceives from all sorts of people. 1t is only
a letter of inquiry-and how many of such
letters there are year In and year out in
search Of dear ones long lost-but it mas a
tone of quiet resignation about it under
very adverse circumstances that at once
recommends the writer, colored woman.
as being little superior to the great.
needless, selfish mass of humanity. And
the tale it tells Yes. it contains its own
peculiar story of a father long since torn
away from a struggling daughter, who is
left to fight the stern battles of life alone,
save that the tender companiOnship of a
cousin helps to smooth what otherwise
might be for her q very rough field of con-
flict.
nor all the family includes
her fathers and her aunts-''there are
only two of US left" she writes; and one
can almost fancy the heartrendings and
bitter experiences to whose sacred sorrows
those few words furnish the key; and
then comes the stern realization of the diff
Guilty which "two feeble women" have in
The letter is addressed to her lost father
and is accompanied by request of the
Postmas ter 10 find out If possible where
Henry PerpenO may now be found. But
let the words speak for themselves in
their own simple way:
1886 North Grand avenue
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, July %, 1893.
Mr.. Henry Perpeno-DEAR FATHER: You
may think strange OF my writing to you at this
late day. but as have written you before and
which you promised her you would answer and
as yet have patiently waited for the letter that
never came
Some six months since Mrs. Pierce from Cali
fornia left word in St Louis that you wished
me 10 come ont TO you, but did not see Mrs.
Pierce and only received this message from
others TO whom she delivered 1t. or all the
family there are only two OF us left. Aunt Mar.
tha's daughter. Sarah, and myself. / am
TOO feeble to make the long trip. but Sarah,
should you so desire, might come out and pay
you short visit; we would be much pleased to
have you make us visit if ouly short one, if
you could make the effort Sarah and myself
are living together and trying to make as much
OF lie as possible. under the circumstances. but
feeble women to contend with this wick ed
world. And often we feel that our condition
should be different. But with the LAPSE OF time
ana my inability TO secure your address and a
communication with you. my affairs remain the
same as when we heard from you last.
l nave addressed this In care OF the Post.
maStoI W whom nave also Written ictter OF
inquiry requesting information concerning your
neaitn ana whereabouts. Should you receive
TINS through the kindness Of tho Postmaster
please write me at once In care OF the above
number and oDlige your dutiful daughter.
LAURA TAYLOR.
The letter to the Postmaster is as iol-
lows:
postmaster, San Francisco. Cdl.-DEAR SIR:
We, me stepdaughter and niece OF Mr.. Henry
LeIpeho colored, either OF your city or ViciO.
RIA. d. e., would be glad Of any information you
cSula IninisE us concerning his present where
aDouts, whether dead or alive. A number of
years nave passed since we have had any com.
munication with him. The last letter written
Dy MN and addressed TO US was written 10 Vic.
toria ana finished In San Francisco. The writer
OF ms letter, A. X. Mcdonald. formerly of
fOrk. New York. was well and favorably known
Dy MI. John Stewart of your city, who. II still a
resident. think would kindly Interest himself
ID rendering us this favor IfyOu know OF such
person as Stewart please turn this letter over
10 MN and oblige. II not found please furnish
US any news you can and Oblige yours respect
Iuiy, MISS LAURA TAYLOR.
MISS SARAH VINNEY.