The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-06-25
HIS LITTLE SISTER.
John Melvina, of Post SO, Marblehe a. d,
Mass, Has Not seen Her for 80 Years.
Boston Herald

John Melvina, of Post S2, MarbIehe a. d,
Mass, Has Not Seen Her for 80 Years.
Boston Herald
Tackled up on some Of the posts along
fremont street, and displayed in the show
windows of some of the stores are small
cards, which have aroused considerable
curiosity during the Fast day or two. They
are printed on II pieces of cardboard,
and read AZ follows:
John Melvina, Post 80, GAR, Marble
head, Mass."
The casual observer will not see anything
remarkable about the card, but back OF 1t
and its inscription there lies q very tender
story. 1t simply means that John Melvina,
who parted from his brothers and sister in
Boston d years ago, is continuing the hunt
which for several years he has made for
some trace of them, and takes this means of
recalling to their minds, should they chance
to see the card, that they had brother of
that name, hoping that by seeing it they
would be induced to make inquiries inside,
and so effect reunion
john Meivina is q well-known resident of
Marblehead. For years he went out from
there as sailor, and now he is well known
III the quaint old town as boatman. In
boating parties out, particularly in the
vicinity of Marblehead Neck, where he acts
az n sort of n ferryman.
When he was boy he lived on Friend
street, in this city. That was good many
years ago. Mr. Melvina is now about so
years old, but time has dealt gently with
him, and he is rugged man aud typical
sailor.
There were six children in all. James
was the oldest. Then came Christopher.
He is the only one of which John ever re-
ceived any definite information, for nearly a
half century. He knows that he is dead.
for lie saw the Captain of the vessel on which
he contracted the yellow fever, and the Cap
tain tod him that his brother had died at
sea, and had been buried in the deep
John was the third oldest boy. The
others were respectively Thomas, Michael
and Catherine. Catherine WAS the baby.
She was only about five years old when
John, about 1850, went off to Marblehead,
u lad of 13 or IA, to go to work as shoe
maker
After he had been there for time he
thought lie would like to go to sea, and so,
for MARY years, he took up the seaiaring
life. This kept him away from this country
the greater portion of the time. he travelled
all over the world. All the while he never
heard from the other members of his family.
In 1861, at the breaking out of the war,
he was IN California, and In 1862 he
landed back III Marblehead. He imme-
diately shouldered his musket and went to
the front. He was "A good soldier, and at
the battle OF the Wilderness he was badly
wounded in the leg.
When the war was over he came home TO
Marblebead. aud has been sailofing or boat
ing from there ever since.
For The past four or five years he has had
time to think about his early
days and his brothers and sister, and his
constant hope is that some day he will be
permitted to see them again. Where they
are he has not the faintest idea. What
they would be likely to be doing he does
not know.
When he left home they had no trades by
which he would be enabled to trace them.
He has inquired here and there about them,
but the time is SO far in the distant past
that he has never been able to find any
tidings o. them.
I" / dunno as they'd know me-" said Mr..
Melvina. Catherine was only five when
went away. Of course she has changed
since then. So have /, too. / can't find
any OF the old friends / used to know. I'd
like 10 see Catherine, anyway. I've adyer-
tised for her once but never heard any
thing. / kinder think she may be on the
stage. / dunno why 1 think so, bat do.
I think she is in Boston, and don't be-
lieve she is married. / dunno why I think
this, but do. was coming down fremont
street one day, two years ago, when ! saw n
card on post in front of the fremont
Theater. 1t had the name, Miss Melvina,'
on it. There was something more in small
print, but I couldn't see il without my
specs, and I had left them at home. So
went off, and when l was on the train and
begun to think about the matter / was so
mad could have bit myself Next time 1
went there the card was gone.
THAT'S why had these cards printed. /
thought If that was my sister, and she was
putting up cards, I might be able TO reach
her by putting up my card"