Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-11-28


read the details of the following unfortunate case
"A female about twenty -two years OF age, care
worn and emaciated. who gave her name as
applied before one OF the mag's,
trates for relief and advice, to prevent her actua
starvation in the Streets situation 10 wn'ch
she had been reduced by the unfeellng and oru-
tai conduct Of her own father. exercised towards
her from Infancy almost to the present time; Ia
Their now in Afffuence, while his innocent and IN
iureJ daughter is turned, destitute aud shelter
less. upon the mercy Of Il pitiless world. compel
led to solicit the means Of subsistence from Inc
cold hand of charity. For the truth OF her asser-
tons she appealed 10 person wl'u Was perfectly
conversant with her sad history; who stated that,
white vet in her infancy. Mary had The misfortune
to lose her mother-a misfortune she would new.
er have known, but that her father soon procured
her step.mother, who possessed neither '''e n",
tural ties Of a parent towards her, nor tne moran
requisites OF a friend. Thus her morn oil iie COM
o,enced under the most untavorable auspices.
She was the only chiii, and being naturally OF
willing and peacable disposition, when She reached
an aye al which manual labor could be imposed
upon her, she was subjected to the must gazing
and t|cbasing seryitude; and while her Younger
sisters received their friends in the parlor,
and we're stunning piano, and jabberins French
or, brush in hand, was scrubbing the pavement
in front os her fathers house AtleDgth her step
brother, grow ing indignant at the unSenn:"us
treatment she received from his parents. resolved,
If possible, TO better her condition. lie stated
TO his father that the hupbiioe question had often
been asked him by the neighbours. - whether Ma
nv was daughter IN the house, or hired scu'ii.
on;'' and insisted that she should be released
from such affect humiliation. Ey persevering IN
this good feeling, the brother succeeded III nell
Grating her situation for short time. I'LL, on one
occasion, her fathers wife ordered her, in very
imperative manner, to leave her sewing and per-
form sou,e men,al office, VIXEN she mildly reinon-
stratcd, and reminded her that she had been pro-
missed exemption from such duties. Tie mother
became convulsed with passinn at this objection,
and laid violent hands upon Mary, who retreated
from the house, follow ell BY the e,rased woman,
when. finding it impossible TO escape, she turned
or her pursuer, aud, nerved by her numerous
wrongs, soon gave her cause to repent that she
had made the onset.
Fooled thus of satisfaction, and coming OH con-
siderablv worstcd, she Instantly LAID an eXagge'
rated and partial complaint before her husband
who made immediate preparation tor horse l0hlp
mig his daughter! His son here intertercd, SOL
EMMY declaring, that il his father struck Mary
with a horse. whip, he would raise the cry Ot muir.
der till he alarmed the whole nelghborhood; and
they well knew he would put his threat into exc
cuion: SO it had the desired effect, procuring her
forgiveness for the time.
Thus she attained her eighteenth year; and Oh
the very morning that completed it ste had n"
hon,e.- Considering it impossible to alter her
situation for the worse by matrimony, she accept
ed the addresses Of young man who had not been
the most proverbia for sobris,y, yet in whose hab
its she hoped change for the better would take
place. Alas! vain hope. He soon embraced his
former habits with two-fold ardor; and IN a few
short wears every article Of household comfort
followed each other to the pawnbroker's. till her
last dress had disappeared; when, broken-hearted,
she was compelled to throw herslf upon public
charity, to prulong her miserable existence.
These facts were 80 amply sustained by the
most respectable testimony, that an order was at
once obtained for her to receive assistance from
the proper authorities without any unnecessary
delay.
New YonK, Nov. "a.