Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-10-16

lecture rather than truth. w nateVcr might
have been his motives for such conduct, he
was certainly any thing but Indifferent TO his
family concerns when he returned. lie raved
like a mailman when informed Of his wife's
second marriage and subsequent death, VOW
ing vcngence upon his successor, and terri
flying his daughters by the most awful threats,
in case they refused 20 acknowledge his
claims. lie had returned wealthy, and one
of those mean reptiles of the law who arc al
ways to be found crawling about the halls Of
Justice, advised him to bring a suit against the
second husband, assuring him that he could
recover heavy damages. The absurdity of
already released from the jurisdiction OF
earthly laws was so manifest, that it was at
last agreed by all parties to leave the matter
to be adludgcd by five referees.
1t was on a bright and beautiful afternoon
in spring, that we first met to hear this singu-
lar case. The sunlight s.reamed through
the dusty windows of the courtroom, and
shed a halo round the long grey locks and
broad forehead of the defendant, while the
plaintiffs harsh features were thrown in still
broader relief, by the same beam which soft
cncd the placid countcnancc ofhis adversary.
The plaintiff 5 counsel made a most eloquent
appeal for his client, and had we not beer
better informed about the matter, our hearts
would have been melted by his touching de-
scriptlon of the return of the dcsolate hus-
band, and the agony with which he now be-
held his household goods removed to consc-
crate a strangers hearth. The celebrated
Aaron Bnrr was counsel for the dcfendent,
and we anticipated from him a splendid dis
play of oratory. | had never before seen
him, and shall never forget my surprise at
his appearance. Small in person but re-
markably well formed, with an eye as quick,
as brilliant as an eagles, and a brow fur
rowcd by care far more than time, he seemed
a very different creature from tho arch trail
tor and murderer, | had been accustomed to
consider him.. His voice was one of the
finest | ever heard, and the skill with winch
he modulated it, the variety of its tones, and
the melody of its cadcnces, were inimitablc.
But there was one popularity about him,
that reminded me of the deptl, of darkness
that lay beneath that fair surface. You will
smile when | tell you that the only thing
that I discovered was his step. lie glided
rather than walked; his foot had a quiet,
stealthy movement, which Involuntary
makes M think Of trcachery, and in the
course of a long life [ have never met with
Il frank and honorable man to whom such a
step was lnbituaI.
"Contrary to our expectations, however,
Burr made no attempt to confute his oppo-
nent's oratory. He merely opened a book
of statutes, and pointing his thin fingers to
one ofthe pages desired the referees to read
it, while he retired for a moment to bring in
the principal witness. We had scarcely
finished the section which fully decided the
matter in our minds, when Burr rc-entercd
with a tall and elegant female leaning on his
arm. She was attired IN a simple white
dress, with a wreath Of ivy leaves cncircling
her large straw Bonnet, and lace veil COM
pletely conccaling her countenance. Burr
f whispered a few words apparently encour-
aging her to advance, and then gracefully
raising her veil, disclosed to US a face OF
proud surprising beauty. I r~ecollcct as
we'll as if it had happened yesterday, how
simultaneously the murmur Of admiration
burst from the lips Of all present. Turning
to the plaintiff, Burr asked in a cold, quiet
tone, "Do you know this lady"
f Answcr.-"I do"
Burr.-"Wil you swear to that 2"
Answer.-"l will; to the best of my
knowledge and belief, she is my daughter
Burr.-"Can you swear to her identity! 7"
Answcr.-"I cam"
Burr.-"What is her age z"
.Answcr.-"Shc was thirty years ofagc on
the twentieth day of April"
Rurr -U\vhon din vou l,ct coo horn
Answer.-"At her house a fortnight ago.
Burr.-"Whcn did you last see her previ.
Gus to that mccting?"
The plaintiff hesitated-a long pause en-
sucd-,hc question was repeated, and the
answer at length was ON the fourteenth day
: of May. ~
"Whcn she was just three weeks DID," adj
dcd Burr. "Gcntlcmcn," continued he turn
ing to us, 81 have brought this lady here as
an important witness, and such, | think, she
is. The plaintiffs counsel has pleaded elo-
qucntly in behalf of the bcreaved husband,
/ who escaped the pcrils of the sea and returned
only to find his home dcsolatc. But who will
picture to you the lonely wife bending over
her daily toll, d~cvoting her best years to the
drudgery Of sordid poverty, supported only
by the hope of her husbands return! Who
will paint the slow progress ofhcart-sickncss,
the wasting anguish of hope deferred, and
finally, the overwhelming agony which came
upon her when her last hope was extinguishcd
I and she was compelled to believe herself in.
deed a widow! Who can depict this without
awakening in your hearts the warmcst SYM
pathy for the deserted wife, and the b%ittercs,
scorn for the mean pitful wretch, who could
thus tramplc on the heart of her whom he had
sworn to love and cherish! We need not in
! quirc INTO his motive for acting so base a part
Whctheri it was love of gain, RIGHTEOUSNESS,
or selfish indifference, il matters not; he is
too vic a thing to be judged by such laws as
, govern men,. Let us ask the witness-she
who now stands before us with the frank.
t fearless brow ofa ruc-hcarted woman-leI
!, us ask her which of these two has been to hel
T. a father"
, "Turning to the lady, in a tone whose
sweetness was in strange contrast which the
: s~cOrnful accent that had inst charactcriZeC