Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1875 — A Mother Finds Her Boy After a Thirteen Years’ Search. [ARTICLE]

A Mother Finds Her Boy After a Thirteen Years’ Search.

Yesterday a woman met her son whom she had not seen for nearly his whole life. The circumstances are as follows: Seventeen years ago a New York merchant named Smith died, leaving a wife and four children. His business affairs were found to be much involved, and it appeared as if his debts would largely exceed his assets. A few weeks after his death a fifth child was born and Mrs. Smith, thinking that she would hardly be able to maintain so large a family, consented to give the posthumous boy to the brother of her husband, a lawyer by profession. When the estate was settled she received her dower, which she had not known she was entitled to above all debts, and found herself well to do. She then desired to take back her youngest, but could not. The brother left the city, and after moving a number of times settled down in Grand Rapids. The boy grew up and passed for the real son of his adopted father. A short time ago he went to Kansas, but did not stay long, and on his return went to work in a plan ing mill.

In the meantime his mother had married and was searching for him with all her best endeavors. Again becoming a widow she was united in due time to Mr. B. P. Fairchild, a prominent New York merchant, very wealthy, and he took up the search with energy, sparing no expense in following the boy. The other children had died except one, and the mother’s heart yearned to again meet and embrace her Willy. Slowly and patiently the search was conducted until finally the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild, came to Grand Rapids, having heard of Mr . Smith’s residence there. On arriving there a few days since they found that Mr. Smith and wife had gone East, and that Willy had left the mill and gone to work near River Junction, in this county. Mr. James Hammill and Sheriff Brown were telegraphed to. They drove out on Sunday and heard of a boy who answered the description, being named Willy Smith, and having just quit work in a mill at Grand Rapids. They left word for him to come to Jackson, but the boy, thinking he might be about to be arrested, would not come, but his father did and met Mr. Fairchild yesterday. A few moments’ conversation proved that this wa£ not the boy, and it seemed as if the dew was- again lost. ' Fortunately, Mr. Smith had heard of another Willy* Smith in Rives, and his description roused the spark of hope in the breast of the despondent mother. They drove out to the farm mentioned and found the object of their search at work in a harvest field. Though the boy had not seen his mother since he was four years old, he at once recognized her. Their meeting was affecting and too sacred to be touched on. The now happy party started yesterday for New York. Mr. Smith, appreciating the feelingsrof the mother, lias consented to the return of the boy to her guardianship. —Jnekton (Mich.) Patriot. A good deed never goes unrewarded. A young lady in this city, who recently abandoned the use of chewing gum, has been mentioned in a fashion journal as a “ beautiful creature with blonde hair and scarlet imagination.” —Washington Chronicle.