Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-09-06
INNOCENCE BETRAYED.

we Ind IN the Augusta (Georgia) Herald
OF the 18th ult. The young Of both sexes
are requested to read it assentively.
DIRD--A few DAYS since, in a state of
distraction, Miss Nary dim Mooney, aged
81 years--the circumstances attending the
death OF this unfortunate female are pub
iiehed, as warning to the unreheCting of
her own sex, and as an awful aud solemn
admonition, to the inconsidera.e of the o.
Their.
This young lady was the daughter OF
Mrs. ). Mooney, who lives few miles
from this place, honest, and respscted.--
The old lady had seen better davs---but of
late years she has depended upon her n-
dustry tor subsistence, and b, her prudent
management her little family has been kept
from want. Mary Ann was her oldest
daughter and favorite child
She 1osth her piaow'd mother, feeble, old,
And poor, HO'd in cabin near this beau.
tious tozcn.v
The mother had endeavoured to instil in-
TO her children the principles of moral rec-
tltude and to excite them to purity of con.
duct. The wants OF the family rendered
| frequent intercourse with the town indis-
pensable, aud Mary Ann was often sent to
procure necessary comforts, with the avals
of the family industry. In this employ
ment she became acquainted with a young
man, whose polite attentions made way TO
her unsupported heart, and soon secured
her undivided and unal,crablc affections.
Her innocent and unreserved encomiums
| upon his person, induced the mother to at
tend her daughter in the disposal OF the
next roll Of homespua she had TO 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 favourite
was vcnturing upon the brink Of fatal pre-
cipice, from which she ought Instantly to
snatch her--as soon therefore as the cloth
was disposed ofshr told her daughter ofner
dangerous situation and forbid her ever a-
gain visiting the store. The poor girl un-
suspecting the generosity and goodness OK
one who appeared TO her all perfection,
thought her mothers fears unfounded aud
her prohibition unreasonable. but consi.
drrng il duty to be, as she had ever been,
obedient, she cndeavoured to conform her.
self to maternal directions.--Aftera while
however. Mary Ann was missing from
home, and her mother with tender solicit
tude and anxious forebodings, for many
days sought her sorrowing. At length she
was found at house not far from town, and
under the protection of the person she had
been instructed to avoid-DIstresscd and
almost distracted, the mother spent her days
in ceaseless signs and unavailing tears--her
child---her darling child she said was lost
forever--sobs and tears supplied the place
of words, and in the excess 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 suppos-
cd she had permanently secured, and who
she said had promised to make her his wife,
became indifferent towards her, and by a.
voiding her society called forth all the ten
der sensibilities of her soul, and Tiled her
mind with inc xpressible agony-Shc fought
her friend in town, but was. unable 20 OBJ
tain AN interview with him !; and without
innocence to prop her fortitude, her men-
tai powers were overcome by her disap-
pointment and she became wild and frantic.
Some female acquaintances OF the family
kiadly undertook TO return her to her mo-
Their, and having placed her in carriage,
they went before, to announce to the old
lady the object of their visit-When in-
formed oft, her colour forsook her cheeks,
she trembled and bursting into tears, asked
how she could receive child whose char
acter was destroyed: but while they were
IN conversation, the poor unfortunate MAJ
~ Ann was brought TO the door--a1d