Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-06-14

soNened the placid countenance of his adyer.
sary.
The plaintiffs lawyer made most e!o.
quent appeal for his client, and had we not
been informed about the matter, our hearts
would have been melted by his touching de.
sscription OF the return of the desola,e hus.
oand, and the agony with which he now be-
heid his household goods removed to conse-
crate strangers hearth. The celebrated
Aaron Burr was counsel for the defendant,
ana we anticipated from him splendid dis.
play of oratory.
Burr made no attempt to confute his oppon.
enrs oratory. He merely opened book OF
statutes, and pointing with his thin finger to
one OF the pages, desired the referees to read
H. while he retired for moment 10 bring in
the principal toitneSs We had scarcely
finished the section which fully decided the
matter In our minds, when Burr re.entered
with tall and elegant female leaning on his
arm. She was alfred in simple white
dress, with a wreath OF ivy leaves encircling
her large straw bonnet, aud lace veil com
pletely concea!ing her countenance. Burr
whispered few words, apparently encoura-
glng her to advance, and then gracefully
raising her veil, disclosed 10 us face OF
proud, surprising beauty. recollect as well
asifit happened yesterday, how simultaneous
ly the murmur OF admiration burst from the
lips ofsll present. Turning TO the plaintiff,
Burr asked in a cold, auie, tone
do you know this lady2'
Answer. II do"
Burr. will you swear to that ?"
Ans IL will 10 the best OF my knowl.
edge and belief she is my daughter"
Burr. "Can you swear 10 her identity p
Ans 81 can"
Burr. "What is her age2"
Ans "She was 80 years Of age on the
10Th day of April"
Burr. "When did YOU see her last p
Ans AT her own house about fort
night since"
Burr. when did you last see her prev-
Gus TO that meeting ?"
The plaintiff heslated-a long pause en-.
sued-the question was repeated, and the
answer at length was
ION the l4th day Of May, IL
when she was just three weeks old"
added Burr "Genllemcn," continued he,
turning to US, II have brought this lady here
as an important witness, and such l think,
she is The plaintiffs counsel has pleaded
eloquently in behalf Of the bereaved husband,
who escaped the perils Of the sea and return
ed only to find his home desolate. But
who will picture to you the lovely wife ben
ding over her daily toll, devoting her best
years 10 the drudgery of sordid poverty, sup
ported only by the hope of her husbands re-
turn? Who will paint the slow progress of
haart-sickening,t the wasting anguish OF hope
deferred, and finally the overwhelming ago
ny which came upon her when her last hope
was extinguished & she was compelled TO
believe herself indeed a widow2 Who can
depict all this without awakening in your
hearts the warmest sympathy for the deser-
mean, pitifu wretch, who could thus trample
on the heart of her whom he had sworn to
love and cherish2 We need not inquire IN
to his motives for acting so base a part
Whether it was love of gain, or licentlous-
ness, or selfish Indifference, it matters not ;
he is too vile thing to be judged by such
laws as govern men. Let us ask the wit
ness-she who now stands before US with
the frank, fearless brow ola true hearted wo-
man-lei us ask her which ofthese two has
been to her father"
Turning 10 the lady. in tone whose
sweetness was in strange contrast with the
scornful accent that had just characterized
his words, he besought her to relate briefly
the recollections of her early life. A slight
flush passed over her proud and beautiful
face as she replied.
"My first recoleclions are OF small, i'll.
furnished apartment, which my sister and
myself shared with nv mother She used
to carry out every Saturday evening the
work which had occupied her during the
week, and bring back, employment. for the
following one, Saving that wearisome visit
to her employers, and he: regular attend
ance at church. she never left the house
She spoke often of my father, and OF his an
ticipated return, but at length she ceased to
mention him. though observed she used to
weep more frequently than ever. l then
thought she wepl because we were so poor,
for il sometimes happened that our only sup
port was bit of dry bread and she was
accustomed to see by the light OF the chips
which she kindled to warm her famishmg
children, because she could not purchase
candle without depriving us of our morning
meal Such was our poverty when my mo-
Their contracted a second marriage. and the
change to us was like sudden entrance in
to Paradise. We found home and IA
ther."-She paused.
t" Would you excite my own child against
me 2" cried the plaintiff, as he impatiently
waved his hand for her to be silent,
The eyes of the witness flashed me as
she spoke, " You are not my father" ex-
claimed she yehemently. The law may