Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-07-02

appeal for his client, and had we not been
better informed about the matter, our hearts
would have been melted by his touching
description of the return Of the desolate
husband, and the agony with which he now
beheld his household goods removed to
consccrate a strangers hearth. The
celebrated Aaron Burr was counsel for
the defendant and we anticipated from him
splendid display of oratory. / had new.
er before seen him, and shall certainly
never forget my surprise at his appear
ance. Small in person but remarkably
well formed, with an eye as qui and as
brilliant as an eagles, and brow furrow.
ed by care far more than time, he seemed
a very different being from the arch traitor
and murderer | had been accustomed to
consider him. His voice was one Of the
finest | ever heard, and the skill with
which he modulated it, the variety of his
tones, and the melody Of its cadences, were
nimitabe. But there was one pccuIiaritv
about him, that reminded me Of the depths
of darkness which lay beneath that far
surface. You viii smile waen tell YOU.
that the only thing disliked was his step.
He glided rather than walked, his foot had
that quiet, stealthy movement, which in
voluntary makes one think of treachery
and IN the course of long life have
never met with an honorable man to whom
such step was habitual.
"Conirary TO our expectations, however,
Burr made no attempt to confute his op-
Ponent's oratory. He merely opened a
book of statutes; and pointing with his
thin fingers TO one of the pages, desired
the referees to read il, while he retired for
a moment 10 bring in the principal acitness
We had scarcely finished the section which
fully decided the matter in our minds when
Burr re-entered with tall and elegant fe.
male leaning on his arm. She was attireG
in a simple white dress, with wreath of
ivy leaves encircling her large straw bon.
net, and lace veil completely conccaling
her countenance. Burr whispered few
words apparently encouraging her to ad.
vance, and then gracefully raising her veil,
disclosed to US face of proud surprising
beauty. | recollcct as well as if it had
happened yesterday, how simultaneously
the murmur of admiration burst from the
lips of all present. Turning to the plain.
tiff, Burr, asked in cold quiet tone, 6 Do
you know this lady ~
AnS1cer. Il do"
Burr. ',Will you swear to that 20
ArSwer. 81 will; to the best of my
knowledge and belief she is my daugh-
ter"
Burr. "can you swear to her identi-
typ
Ans,oor. 81 can"
Burr. "What is her age ~
AnStcer. "She was thirty years of age
on the twentieth day of April"
Burr. "When did you last see her ="
Ansrer. "At her own house fortnight
SINCE"
Burr. "When did you last see her pre-
vious to that mceting!"
The plaintiff hesitated-a long pause
ensued-the question was repeated, and
the answer at length was, ION tue four.
teenth day of May IT,"
"When she was Just three weeks old, -
added Burr. "Gentlenlen," continued he,
turning to us, i" | have brought this lady
here as an important witncss, and such
think she is. The plaintiff s counsel has
pleaded eloquently IN behalf of the be-
reavcd husband who escaped the Perls OF
the sea and returned only to find his home
desolate. But who will picture to you the
lonely wife bending over her daily toll,
devoting her best years to the drudgery Of
sordid poverty, supported only by the hope
of her husbands return WHO will paint
the slow progress Of heart sickness, the
wasting anguish of hope deferred, and f.
nally, the overwhelming agony which came
upon her when her last hope was extin-
guished, and she was compelled to believe
herself indeed 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,
pitiful wretch, who could thus trample on
the heart of her whom he had sworn to
love and cherish! We need not inquire in
to his motives for acting so base part.
Whether it was love Of gain, or licentious.
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 of true hearted
woman--let us ask her which of these two
has been to 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 to relate briefly
the recollections of her early life. A
slight flush passed over her proud and
beautiful face, as she replied.
"My first recollections are of small,
ilI-furnished apartment, which my sister
and myself shared with my 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 employer, and regular atten-
dance at church she never left the house.
She often spoke of our father and of his
anticipated return, but at length she ceased
to mention him, though observed she
used to weep moro frequently than ever.
then tho't she wept because we were so
poor, for it some times hapl ened that our
only supper was bit of dry bread and she
was accustomed to see by the light of the
chips which she kindIed to warm her fam.
ishing children because she could not Pur,
chase candle without deprivlngus of om
morning meal. Such was our poverty
when my mother contracted second mar