Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-06-01

Burr "When DID you last sec her previous
to that meetingT'
The plaintiff hes,ated-a long pause ensued
the question repeated, and the answer at
length was.
son the fourteenth day Of May, II"
''When she was just three weeks old, added
Burr. "Gentlemen," continued ne, turning to us,
Il have brought this lady here important
witness, and such, think, she is. The plaintiffs
counsel has plead eloquen,ly in behalf Of the be-
reaved husband, who escaped the peris of the sea
and returned only to find his homo desolate.-
But who will picture toyou the lonely wife bend
ing over her daily toll, devoting her best years TIC
the drndgery of sord,d poverty, supported only by
the hope of her husbands return? Who VIII
paint the sow progress of heart-sickness, the
wasting anguish of hope deferred, and, finally,
the overwhelming agony which came upon her
when her last hope was extinguished and she was
compelIed IA boIievo herself indeed n widow? Who
can depict all this without awakening in your
hearts the warmest sympathy for the deserted
wife, and the bitterest scorn for the mean, pitfu
wretch who could thus trample the heart Of
her whom he had sworn to love and cherlsh9-
We need not inquire into his motives for acting
so base ii part. Whether it was love Of gain, IL
centiousncss, selfish indifference 1T matters not
he is too vile thing to be judged by such laws
as govern men, Let ask the witness-she
who now stands before with the frank, fearless
brow Of truc-hearted woman-let ask her
which Of these two has been 10 her father.''
Turning to the lady, in tone whose sweetness
was in strange contrast with the scornful accent
that had Just characterized his words, he besought
her relate briefly the recollections Of her early
life. slight flush passed over her proud and
beautiful face, as she replied.
! "My first recollcctions are Of a small ill-fur-
nished apartment. which my sister and myself
shared with my mother. She used to carry out
every Saturday evening the work which had &C.
cuped her during the week, and bring back en-
ployment for the following one. Saving that
wearisome visit to her employers, and her regu-
lar attendance to church, she never left the house
She often spoke of our father, and Of his antici-
pated return, but at length she ceased to mention
him, though observed she used to weep more
frequently than ever. ! then thought she wept
because we were poor, for sometimes it hap
. pened that our only supper bit OF dry bread
. and she was accustomed to by the light OF
the chips which she kinded to warm her famish
lag children, because she could not purchase a
. candle without depriving Of our morning meal
, Such was our poverty when my mother contract
Fl cd a second marriage, and the change to was
hike sudden entrance into Paradise. We found
"a bone and Il father" She paused.
I "Woud you excite my own child against me p
cried the plaintiff as he i'npatien,ly waved hi
hand for her to be silent.
! The ey~e OF the witness flashed fire as n.
spoke. ''You are not my father" exclaimed sh,
vchemcnuy. "Thc law may deem You such bu
l disclaim you utterly. What! call you nv faith
er!-you, who basely left your wife to toll, ant
your children to beggary? Never! never! Behol,
there my father" pointing to the agitaied defend
ant, ''there is the man who watched over my in
fancy-who was the sharer Of my childish sports
and tho guardian of my inexperienced YOUTH
There is he who claims my affection, and share
my home; there is my father. For yonder selfis
: wretch, know him not. The best years of hi
life have been spent to lawess freedom from SC
cal ties; let him seek elsewhere for the compan
ion of his decrepitude, dare insult ashes G
my mother by claiming the duties of kindred fror
, her deserted childreur'
She drew her veil hastily -around her as sh
spoke, and giving her hand to Burr moved if
withdraw.
! "Gentlemen," said Burr, 81 have more
say. The words Of the law are expressed in tn
, book before you; the words of truth you hav
just heard from woman's pure lips; it is for you
decide according to the acquisitions of nature an
the DEGREES of justice.'
, l need scarcely add that our decision was sue
as to overwhelm the plaintiff with well-merite
,, shame.