SINGULAR DISCOVERY OF A LONG LOST CHILD. '

Otago Witness, Issue 296, 1 August 1857, Page 6

SINGULAR DISCOVERY OF A LONG LOST CHILD. '

On Monday about four in the afternoon, 1 an unusual crowd was collected at the foot of Warriston Close, Edinburgh, attracted by the wild behavior of a respectable; middle-aged gentleman who was gazing with interest on a portrait displayed in the window of" Giles's Photographic gallery. He exclaimed with a strong accent which bespoke him " ayont the Tay," " Guid gracious, do my c'en deceive me ! It maun be her — sac like her mither ! Far could that come frae ? It's jist her — my aia dochter ! What are ye a' glourin 1 at ? Whar's the man that's sellin' my am flesh and blood ?. — and in a Christian kintra tae !" The shouts of the crowd and the loud declamation of the stranger brought a young man to the door to ascertain the cause of such an unusual disturbance, and imagining the gentleman was intoxicated, he called out to Mr. Giles to quell the threatened riot. When that gentleman appeared some boys and flesher lads called out, " That's the man that sells your dochter." The stranger rushed upon him, declaring the picture he should have though it should cost him ten pounds. Alarmed at the impetuosity, of the man, he was invited in, when, after a little time had elapsed he burst into a flood of tears — " Dear, dear, sirs, this is strange. Whar did you get yon picture ? Oh, tak' it oot o' the window. Gi'e it into my am hand. I'll gi'e ony money fort." After examining it minutely, he asked in a subdued tone how it came,into his possession, and was informed that "a yotfng lady sat for it on Friday last, and not calling according to promise, he put it in the window as a specimen. "It has been so ordained then, an' I may see her yet ; you'll be the means- of restoring her to me. Sis years ago I left Montrose, after my wife's death, to go to America, leaving Nelly with her grandmother. ' On my, return, I learned that my puir mother was dead, and Nelly had left hame'td seek' service in the -Lothians. Fruitless endeavours to discover her retreat "have since been' made ; .'but, noo Providence maun h£e directed me here; for ;this is jist • her verra sel\ An'^will ' you'^ho sel't?" Being informed that 1 portraits J could; only be given to the originals, the 'face 'of the stranger became pale" as ashes, until hope^whis-"

pered, " Nelly might ca' hersel' yet, and glad nhn wi' a - sweet word as.weel'as her' am look';" which Was verified by the identical Nelly stepping in for her picture, apologising for not being punctual to her appointment ; and great was her surprise when she listened to the tale the strange gentleman' who took away her portrait.. But greater still Avas Nelly> joy, and happiness when she heard that the gentleman was in an adjoining mii, anxious to behold her, when she, full of anxiety, rushed to the appointed place, and in a few minutes was locked inla father's fond embrace. — Edinburgh North Briton. '

We understand that Mr. William Chambers, of Edinburgh, has purchased the fine old mansion in Peebles, formerly belonging to the Earls of Tweeddale and. the last Duke of Queensberry, with the view of fitting it up, with adjoining buildings, for a public readingroom, library, lecture-hall, museum, and gallery of art — the whole to be presented by Mr. Chambers, as a free gift, to his native town. — Athenaeum.

The Railway Accident in Canada. — Details of the shocking railway tragedy in Canada are reaching us day by day. A Canadian journal thus touchingly describes some features of the scene : —

" Yesterday morning the wife of Mr. Morley arrived from St. Catherine's to pick out of the many dead his body. The scene was heartrending as she passed from one dead body to another, all marking death Avith greater horrors by being more or less mangled. At last one cA r en more distorted and mangled than the rest was come to, and a wild scream but too Avell told her tale of woe ; and in a large storehouse, streAvn with dead bodies, and Avith others going the rounds to make similar heartrending discoveries, was she left to kneel down and bewail her bereavement While on one side of the large building a row of bodies was placed as yet unrecognised, and questions were asked of every new comer if he or she knew anything of them, a sob or a moan would be heard in another part, indicating that some one had come from a distance and found all her sad expectations realised. Nor was the circumstance less harrowing of passing the stranger by who, far from his home, aud far from those who were dreaming of his return, lay there a mangled, unrecognised, umvept victim of a railroad disaster. Here was evidently a poor Irish labourer ; his pipe Avas still in his hand, and a smile played over his kindly countenance. One passed, yet another, and still another, and no one kneAV him. God only kneAv the grief that some would feel who did knoAv him. Here again a larger group. They are looking at the figure of a Avoinan once beautiful, and though her hair lies tangled and Avet, an her face is distorted from the effects of drowning, she still chains that idle croAvd with a melancholy interest. She has a marriage ring on her finger. Two lockets are on her breast, and a brooch is suspended by a yellow riband round her neck. For whom did she wear them ? Who were dear to her ? To Avhom was she dear ? No one knew her. God help her ! She alone then required to be but recognised by him. And so passed the scene. Here a moan and a tear marked the recognition of the mangled remains of a friend or relative. There strangers with heavy hearts gazed on those who were unwept, and thought of themselves if ever such a lot should be theirs. There may be scenes of sorroAV and of horror, but who can conceive aught so utterly heartrending as when people go away in peace and happiness, to return this evening or to-morrow, and are first heard of as mangled and drowned by such disasters ?"