Vermont Phœnix

From the Missouri Argus.

A FOUNDLING.

On Monday last, a female of respectable appearance, 18 or 20 years of age, having an infant in her arms, entered the store of Mr. Lyons, on Market street, (who is now absent on a visit to the coast) and purchased articles to the amount of $18 for which she made payment. When about to withdraw, she remarked that having to go a short distance she would, with Mr. L.'s permission leave the child for a few minutes, when she would return. The sleeping child was accordingly laid on a pallet that was procured for it—which, with the articles purchased, and a bundle, she left in charge of Mr. Lyons. Minutes, hours, passed, night approached, and the child remained uncalled for. It had been abandoned to strangers, and Mr. L. was charged with the guardianship. On examining the bundle, it was found to contain various articles of infant clothing, and on examining the person of the infant a note was discovered, which read as follows:

'Dear Madam—I leave my child with you, you being the person of my first choice to raise my infant. It is not intended that you have this trouble without reward; but it is out of my power to do much for you at this time. I leave this place by the first boat. Take good care of my infant, as circumstances forbid that I should; and if it lives, you will see that from time to time you will receive payment for your trouble. If you remove from this place, advertise in the Argus where you move to and what you have done with the infant, as there is an estate of three or four thousand dollars it is now an heir to, and unless we know where it is, that cannot be done.

'Its Unfortunate Mother.'

The foundling is about two months old.—Should this notice meet the eyes of the unnatural parents, they may learn that Mr. Lyons has performed the obligations imposed upon him, in an honorable and humane manner, and that he will, in whatever concerns the protection of the abandoned offspring, fully discharge the claims of helpless innocence.