Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1869 — Sad Episode in an Actor’s Lift. [ARTICLE]

Sad Episode in an Actor’s Lift.

When the company came to St. l*aul a few weeks ago, tlie wife and children of Mr. Slieldon remained behind to pay a visit .to some friends, expecting to meet the husband and father in a short time, - in i this State. The time had elapsed and Mr. Sheldon was anxiously looking for Ihetr' arrival every day, longing once more to clasp his darling to his. heart. Day aftbr? day passed and they did not come. On Thursday evening hist, Just as tho curtain was about to rise for the play of “ Under the. Gaslight.” at the Opera House, in Minneapolis, in which, it will be remembered, Mr. Bheldoi) bikes a prominent anil comical character, one of the ushers of the evening came to the grpen room and stated that a lady was at the door requesting to see Mr. Sheldon. Repairing to the door,' what was his delight to meet his expected an(l his little boy. Carried away by; his Joy at their arrival, he did not at first* notice the sod and mournful appearance of Ins Wire, nor est once remark that his pet and favorite child waa not with her. The first greeting over, lie noticed her absence and at once inquired where she was. The answer was one calculated to wring every fibre of his loving, fatherly heart. She had been dead and buried a week, and this was his first intimation that the had been (flefc. Staggering back as from the effects of anpvertfnolming bjow, he heard the bell ring for the Cartain to rise and listened like one in. a dream to the call for his appearance upon tho stage to act *thc part of a happy-go-lucky character so frequently met with In the streets of New yorlf city. Stunned by hi# heavy affitp-

tion, his heart filled with a sorrow which only a bereaved parent can feel, and, leaving his weeping wife and child, he hastened before the foot-lights, and commenced his part. Did any of the large audience assembled know of the fearful struggle in that father’s heart that night ? What mockery of woe was here presented, and how stranger than fiction are sometimes the realities of life. How he managed to perform his part that evening he dm not know. : He succeeded in finishing his performance, when lio learned the saa Earticulars of.liis bereavement, and bow o received the mournful tidings in such an unexpected manner. His wire was on the eve of departing to join her husband, when the little girl was taken sifdfhmly and alarmingly ill, and died in a few days. Remote from a line of telegraph, and not knowing exactly where to direct to her husband, the short - Illness and sudden death of the child all took place within so few days, that the sorrowing mother and wife hastened to carry the sad tidings to the husband and father in person, with the above result.—St. Paul Pioneer.