The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-05-15
FAp-AkH3

Cecilia.
have copied the following from the lei
ter itself. with only slight changes o
punctuation and spelling:
l. Roger Hartley Virgins. some tim
known as Adoniram Caldwell having nov
resumed my proper name and being abou
to marry and having begun the construc
ton of a habitation for myself wherein
TO end my days. truthfully set forth thes,
! matters:
My father, Hiram Virgins of Rhode Is
| land, having supported the royalist cause
| in our late war for independence and an.
! gered by my friendliness to the patriots
| and he. with '.' brothers and sister hav-
ing returned TO England after the evac-
! uation of Boston. | joined the Continental
! troops under General Putnam on Long
| Island in July I776. serving in various
commands thereafter 10 the best of my
| ability to the end My father has
now returned 10 Rhode Island and has, |
learn. been making Inquiries touching my
i whereabouts and condition, so that l have
every hope that we may become recon-
ciled. Yet as my services to the country
were against his wishes and caused SO
much harshness and heartache and being
now come into a part of the country
where am unknown. l am decided TO re-
sumo my rightful name, that my wife and
children may bear IL and in the hope that
l may myself yet add to 1t some hon
or. 49,
Nor shall my wife or any children that
may be born to me know from me . .
Gladly blurred) Yet not caring to de-
stroy my sword. which | bore with some
credit nor these testimonials of respect
and confidence | received as Adoniram
Caldwell at various times and from vari-
Gus personages OF renown. both civilians
and in the military service, | place them
under my house now building. where /
hope in Gods care to end my days In
peace. would in like case make like
choice again.
Ten lines following this were wholly
illegible. but just before the date June
II. 1881 and the signature. which was
written large, was this:
God preserve these American states that
they endure in unity and concord forever!
We had all been moved by the read
ing of this long lost letter. and Miss
Octavia's voice had faltered several
times.
Mr.. Virgins once told me that his
had lived somewhere
in Westchester county. but fancy he
hhN nv iuVd ihdt I1optuelu WAS Tue |
identical spot" remarked Miss Octa-
via. 1T seems incredible, and yet | |
dare say the hand of fate is in it."
"Oh. it's so wonderful; so beyond be- |
liefr' cried Cecilia. reverently folding
the letter. which. observed. she re-
tanned in her own hands.
Its wonderful" added Miss Octa-
via promptly. taking the sword. which
Pepperton had with difficulty drawn
from It's battered scabbard. that even
a discerning woman like me could have
been so mistaken. | recall with humil-
ty that last Fourth OF July. at Berlin,
reprimanded MIR. Virgins severely
because his family had not been repre-
'ented in the war for American indie
,endepce. BY the irony OF circum-
stances 1t becomes my duty to present
O him the very sword that his admi-
able great-grandfather bore in that
struggle"
Several copies of New York newspa-
ers. half dozen French gold coins, !
be miniature of a woman's face,
which we assumed to be that of Roger !
Higgins mother or sister, were briefly
Continued to Page z.