Year: 1868

=.


y Many years ago, there came to Milwaukee,
from Prussia. man, his wife, and one child, a
,bright-eyed boy of FIVE summers. In Prussia,
the wife, when she went to the altar, sent the
fire of jealousy ranking in the heart of another
who had loved the husband, but had failed to
win his love. The discarded maiden was heard
to utter threats of vengeance against the bride,
but the latter, in her happiness, paid no heed to
them. A child was born to her-a child wor-
shipped by its mother-and which, in few


months, stolen from her. Long and earnest
,earch was made for the little one, but for two or
three years without success. At the end of this
tine a child was returned to the mother, of the
same age as her lost one, and she was told it was
the same. When taken, the child was young,
and in the interval had time for changing in ap-
pearance. as that returned certainly had


There was something in the young mothers
heart which told her the returned child was not
her lest infant but all her friends, including
the father, united in declaring it was and that
they could see the resemblance between parents
and child beyond dispute The mother felt that
she must take the child to her heart as her own
but still she never felt easy in regard to the
identity. Some time after this event the par
ents and child removed to this country and in
the course of events took up their residence in
Milwaukee,


The boy rapidly growing up, was bright and
intelligent, aud won all the fathers love and
mothers respect. --,sr


Last week the father was surprised and the
mother startlel by the appearance at their house
Of boy who had just made his way from Prus-
sia, and who claimed to be their real son. He
Was at best pitiful looking object. having been
brought up in ignorance and poverty. The boy
oJ thoI b,I L.,
been treated more like a dog than human being


He brought with him letter from person
long since forgotten by the parents the woman
referred to as having been discarded by the hus-
b'nd. The letter stated that the writer was
do ut to die, and must reveal great crime of
which she had been guilty. Out of revenge
upon the young wife she had stolen the young
child, and placed it in the hands of parties who
would ill-use it. She had also caused the other
child to be returned, intending at some future
day t. make an explanation that would bring
everlasting misery to the young mothers heart.
Some time ago conscience which had slumbered
long, came to life, and the woman who had


lived only for revenge, became more miserable
than she had ever hoped to make her rival. She
determined, if possible, to repair the injury she
had done, and she set about researches for the
lost child. She succeeded, after long search


in finding the child and also the residence of its
parents, and at once the boy was sent to them
with the letter, which pleaded in earnest terms
for forgiveness for the great wrong done. The
boy was impressed with the idea that he was to
lind parents who had waited for him long, and
would give him home with plenty. He seemed
to look upon it singular that his identity should
be questioned although of his early history he
knows nothing, and of his later years only that
he has been among rough men, who beat him
every day, gave him little to eat, but plenty of
ha work.


The reception of the child and the perusal of
the letter created strange apprehension in the
family. The mother at once believed the child
to be hers; but the father and near relations
can see no family resemblance about it, and they
do not know what to make Of the strange affair.
The father has not now, nor has he had, any
doubt that the first child spoken of is his own,
and believes that this later movement is but a
piece of revenge by his old enemy. At once he
sent to friends in Prussia to investigate the mat
ter thoroughly, to find the woman, and to leave
no stone unturned to find out if her story be true
Until this is done the boy will be taken care Of
as of the family, and, in any event, his wants
will be looked alter At the present time, the
mother is nearly out of her head over the newly
found child, which, we are told, she can hardly
be made to believe is not her own whatever may
be the result of the Investigation lMiraukee
u,py9c01