Year: 1870

Uncle had been dead for u score of years.


Reader think of my joy in reading
that letter that brought me the news of
the Lost Uncle and his Family" Near
half century had passed since that
Uncle had left the parental roof, and
now for the first time, was the hearts of
those who mOurned his absence, made
glad. Still being anxious to learn more
Of the family, wrote to the aged wild
owed Aunt, who by this time was re-
siding, temporarily in an adjoining
State. The letter falling into the hands
of cousin, an excellent lady, a few
years my senior, she at once wrote me a
letter styling me her unknown cousin.
had now accomplished what I had
been seeking for more than twenty-five
years. Not being satisfied with the mere
fact Of knowing where they lived, I re-
solved to bring about a meeting at the
old homestead Of our father. I suggest
ed the 18th of April 1868, for the propos-
ed meeting. Although having received
no satisfactory answer when the time
arrived, 1 started for the place of the
proposed meeting. Arriving at the
place a day or two in advance of the ap-
pointed time, I found a letter addressed
to me at Cynthiana, informing me that
she would be there on the 25th if not
prOvidently hindered. The afternoon
of the 25th of April 1868, found me at
the Depot, anxiOusly counting the min
utes as they slowly passed away, with
an anxiety, unspeakable, watching with
eagerness the approach Of the train that
would bring that strange cousin to my
presence. In order that I might recog-
nize her, she had described herself as
woman of remarkable height, five feet,
nine inches. With a friend I stood
watching for the first sound that I might
hear Of the coming train. The opera
tor had informed me that the train was
on time, hence, I was the more certain
that my most sanguine hopes would
soon be realized. We were not long
waiting until I could hear in the dis
tanee the low mumbling of the approach
ing train. In few moments more,
and before the train was in sight, by a
loud shrill whistle, she announced her
near approach. Soon she came thund-
ering around Redmonds Hill, and a mo-
ment longer she haulted in a favorable
position for me to have a fair view of
the door, of the ladies car. The brakes
man threw the door open, and shouted at
the top of his voice, the name of the
station. A number of lady passengers
appeared on the platform, but none an
swering the description of the strange
cousin. About the fifth one that appear
ed, was gentleman, and yet while I
was not looking for any, save the lady
cousin, and not even knowing that such
being lived, as this male passeng-
er, yet the moment looked upon
him, I recognized him as a cousin
also, and so strong was this recOg-
milton on the part Of both Of US, that
we approached each other in perfect 81
Ience and shook hands, until the tears
began to chase each other down our
cheeks without uttering a single word.
Presently I broke the silence by asking
him if was mistaken, and he respond
ed by saying I aOa8 not. By this time
the strange lady cousin came out of the
cars, and threw her arms around my
neck, and gave vent to her feelings by
such a reception as Inever again expect
to see. Soon We were on our way to
spend the night around that same old
fire place, where our fathers had spent
their boyhoOd days more than fifty years
before. We remained together but two
or three days, during which time the
entire history of the family was rehears-
ed. The lost Uncle had long since gone /
to his grave, and the family of whom I
had reason to be proud, had all passed /
the meridian of life. Twelve of the
fourteen children have gone to their
long homes, while the remaining two
have passed their three score years and
ten, and are only waiting to be called to |
that cline where the lost Uncle has long
since gone, and where separation is un-
known.