Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-23

becomes US to make vigorous eHorl 10 re-
claim them, and 10 restore them TO the paths Of
virtue and duty; for il we abandon them to their
fate. we drive them to despair, and lead them
to participate in all the extravagancles OF infa.
my and crime
IF this simple and unvarnished tale, should
ever reach the eye Of the father OF Adelaide, let
him hasten to the abiding place OF his wretched
offspring, clasp her to his bosom, restore her
to his family, Moorish and protect her, till her
faults shall have been forgotten, and like him of
old, say to her, daughter, thy transsressons are
forgiven thee; 1--we, be happy, and sin no more.
And should the destroyer Of her Happiness,
the seducer OF her innocence, chance 10 hear OF
the sufferines Of her whom nc led as'ray, and
read the history Of her bardships and wayfar.
ings, let him too repent, anc redeem Inc Tor
feited reputation Of her he loved, and on whom
he has hurled load of insupportable calamity.
But should he, like her unnatural parent, turn a
deaf ear to her applications, and despise her
sorrows, she may be consoled with the assur-
ance, that there is just and merciful God, who
will abundantly pardon, and who will forgive
all who come TO him with contrite hearts, and
implore forgiveness at the fountain Of his mer.
cies. Thou, IN desolale and abjecf, il is hoped
that all will not forsake her, and that she will
vet live to be blessed and happy; that her cup
Of bitterness is already filled; aud, that he, who
for the momen,, blasted her prospects, viii re-
turn, and enable her 10 disprove the dcclara
tions Of Goldsmith, who has said
When lovely woman stoops to folly,
And finds too late that men betray;
What charm can soohe her melancholy
What art wash her guilt away
The only art her guilt to cover,
To hide her shame from every eye,
To give repentance to her lover,
And wiring his bosom is-to die.
PeWe deem it unnecessary to remark, that
the tale Of the Unnatural Father" is tale Of
trAh, and that in telling it, we have not given
it any false shades, tints, Or colorlngs. The
parties concerned, are probably the only ones
by whom it will be recognized as true, and as
we are not disposed TO give up names, or TO
make bad matter worse, we shall decline an
swering any in,errogatories that may be put to
US on the subject. For the qualification Of all,
we will add, that the parties do not reside in
our immediate vicinity. Our object, in writing
the tale, is to awaken an Unnatural Father toa
sense Of duty, and to induce him to follow the
dictates of humanity, justice aud religion. If
in this we shall succeed, We shall be rejoiced-
and shall be gralified With the reflection, that
we have done deed which will ever be ap.
2lauded by the good and the generous.
We have not sought 10 harrow up, unneces.
sarIy the feelings of any one; our first object
has been to do the injured some service. The
subject matter Of The tale, comes within the
immediate province of the press, and should
we hear of another of similar nature, we shall
unhesita,ingly lay it before the public. The
father Of the hapless victim ofthe seducer, has,
by his treatment towards bis daughter, adopted
measures well calculated to PROSTATE her with
the abandoned; and il he does not rclent, and
preserve her from ruin, when it is in his power
to do so, he will deserve the united condemna.
ton and execration Of the world. We shall
neither finch from the performance Of our du-
ty, or shrink at the frowns Of the unnatural de-
stroyer Of the reputation of his own offspring.