A ROMANCE OF CANADA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1525, 14 November 1873, Page 16

A ROMANCE OF CANADA.

Just thirty year;-: ago this summer, says the New York Times, a little child three j years old, was playing on the stoop of its I fathei's house in Quebec. The house j was in Richardson-street, and in what \ are known as St. Roche Suburbs. For some reason the child's nurse was out of tho way for a time, and no one kept watch on its movements. When the family came to look for the little one—a great favorite with all—it was gone. Inquiries were made in every direction, but in vain. Night was coming on, but the whole suburb was searching; and through the long [hours of darkness the distracted parents, aided by neighbors and police, hunted through the city. Next day a reward was offered, .and the hunt was kept up more assiduously than before. All was fruitless. Weeks, months, and years rolled away, and tho child was unheard of. At last tho family mourned their treasure as dead. Whatever its fate, there seemed no earthly chance that they would ever hear of it more. And yet. about six weeks ago there came a denouement to this story of real life so odd and unexpected as to deserve record among the much-talked of cases wherein life's actual events transcend those of fiction. One morning last May, a gentleman went from Quebec to Montreal, and being in the latter city, stepped into a shop to buy a hat. This gentleman was a friend of the family who had lost the child, and whose name was Richard. Ho observed, on entering the shop, that the keeper's name was Richmond. This trifling and partial coincidence would have made no impression had he not directly after noticed 'a surprising resemblance between Richmond, the hatter, and the Richard family of Quebec. Going home to his lodgings, he wrote the adventure to his mother, who lives in that town, and, after posting the letter, felt strongly moved to return and question Richmond touching his origin. This was done, and to pome purpo.se, for Richmond declared that he had been reared from infancy by an Indian woman, whom he had been taught to regard as his mother. She had always been kind to him, but never, until lying on her death-bed, confessed the fact that she had stolen him from his parents' door when an infant, had brought him up into ' the forest among her own red brethern, and raised him for her own. His family name she said she had forgotten, but gave that of Richmond as being something like it. After the squaw's death the young 'man went to Quebec and tried to find his people. But the change of name, his own extreme ignorance [and simplicity, and the probable absence at the time of his parents, prevented his success. Afterwards he made his way to Montreal, and got into the trade he was following when discovered. The story was quickly conveyed to the Richard family, and the mother came on to Montreal, where, by certain birthmarks known to herself, she was able to corroborate the identity of her long-lost child.