The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-11-06
MISCELLANEOUS SRLEc7I0NS.

rIhe tSiio,ung fruy interesting narraaue find IN
fhe AUGUSTA ( Geo Herald The young ef both
requested to read af1psipeyJ
DfED--A few days since, in a state Of distraction,
Miss MARY-ANN MoosEy, aged II years--Thc
attending the death Of this unfortunate
female published as awarnag 20 the unreaecting
OF her own sex. and as awful and solemn admo-
milton to the inconsideratc OF the other
This young lady was the daughter OF Mrs 5. Moo
ncy, who lives few miles from this place, honest
aud respccted.--The old lady has better days
but Of late years she has depended upon her indus
try for subsistence, and by her prudent management
her little family has been kept from want. Mary
Ann was her olde 81 daughter and favourte child
4" She Nth her rpidow'd mother, feebSe. old,
4" lind poor ip'd in cabin near this deantcous foIcn
The mother had endeavoured to instil into her
children the principles Of moral rectude and to ex-
cite them to purity Of conduct. The wants OF the
family rendered frequent intercourse with the town
Indispensable and Mary.Apn was often sent, to pro-
cure necessary comforts, with the avas OF the fam
lily industry. In this employment sho became ac-
luainted with a young man whose polite attentions
made way her nnsuspeciing heart and soon secur-
cd her undivided and unaterablc affections. Her
innocent and unrescryed encomiums upon this per-
son, induced the mother to attend the daughter in
the disposal of the next roll Of homespi she had 80
part with--the old lady, more experienced than her
daughter, thought she discovered something in the
manner of her customer that she could not approve
of, and that her favorite yenturing upon the
brink of fatal prccipice, from which she ought IN
stantly to snatch herAs soon therefore as the cloth
was disposed Of she told her daughter OF her dan
gerous situation and fol- bid her again visiting
'hc store. The poor girl unsuspectng the generosi-
~ and goodness OF who appeared TO her all per-
fecton, thought her mothers fears unfoundcd and
her prohibition unreasonable. But considering it a
duty 10 be- she ever had been, obedient, she en-
dcayoured TO conform herself to maternal directions.
After while, however, Mary-Ann missing from
home, and her mother, with tender soicitudc and
anxious foreboding. for many days sought her sor-
rowing. AT length she was found in a house not tar
from town. and under the protection Of the person she
had been instructed TO avoid. Distressed and almost
distracted, her mother spent her days in cease!ess
sighs and unayailing tears--her child-hcr darling
child, she said lost, lost, forever-sobs and
supplied the place of words, and in the
OF her anguish the old lady seemed as If her hearts
blood would stream from her eyes.
Some short time after, the person whose affection
and friendship Mary Ann supposed she had perma-
nently secured, and who she said had promised to
xrakc her his wife, became Indifferent towards her,
snd by avoiding ber society called forth all the ten
der emotions OF her soul, and filled her mind with
'incxpressiblc agony.-She sought her rRlEND in
town, but unable to obtain an interview with
him and without innocence to prop her fottitudc,
her mental powers were overcome by her disappont-
men; and she became wild and fran,ick--some fc-
male acquaintances Of the family kindly undertook
60 return her to her mothers and having placed her
in carriage, they went before, TO announce to the
old lady tho object Of their visit. When Informed
OF it, the colour forsook her cheeks, she trcmbled
and burst into tears, asked how she could receive
child whose character destroyed but while they
were in conversation, the poor unfortunate Mary
Ann was brought to the door--and when her mother
beheld her cmaciated form, her pald visage, ana
her wildly staring eye, she forgot her resentment,
and clasping her in arms cried out, my child, my
child my lost and ruined chiid--thc scene which
followed language could not describe the tears of
thc benevolent females who had thus again united
the family testified that they felt what they could not
express on the occasion. But Mary-Ann, poor girl,
was wholly unconscious of tho feelings she had excl
fed and nj times would ask the cause OF the sorrow
she seemed to witness, and then declared that she
was happy, very happy indeed. She was then told
that she must now stay and comfort her mother
but she replied no. cannot stay here, l must 90
TO my friend, my dearest friend. cannot stay with
any one else; she would then cry, and rave, and
rum, and exhibit most deporable spectacle Of mis-
erabc insanity aud hantick wretohedness. 1t was
length found necessary to con6ne her, her &C.
lirium in few days encrcased to perfect madness
Every ray of extngushed. she would tear off
her Clothes bite and mangle her flesh, and present
such dreadful spectacle OF horrid distraction as has
seldom been equallcd, perhaps never exceeded.
In this condition she continued for some time, oc-
casionally calling for her friend, her beloved kus
band and then again would rave and tear her shoul-
ders with her teeth At length death, friend TO
the filendleS, to her relief, and her suicrngs
and her life closed togcther-And may The .7nyei Of
Pity consecratc her memory.
This plain and upadorned narrative of facts may
suggest some useful reflections to the young of both
sexes for whose sake il is published-To one it shows
what all experience confirms, that no dependence
should be placed in any professions regard which
arc accompanied with invitations to depart from du-
ty-and 10 he other IL presents some Of the consc.
cuences which may follow from an unfecling tri-
u,uph over Innocence. And for the consideration of
both It may be added that at the drcAd tribunal Of
Impartial justice, and before Judge who is no res.
pcctor Of persons, the injured and the injurer, the
and happy will those be who are prepared ior the
eventual interview.