, 1840-10-31

VI hcI pOSlltOn, however, neT III OF dDStTaC-
ton forsook her, and she became keenly SEN
sitIve; her c~ountenance relaxing from its x
preston Of contemplative suffering, and as.
sumIng a mingled air Of eagerness, dlstrust.
and solicitation.
ID you know what you are confined for,
Ellenr enquired the court.
Il do sir, | do exclaimed the prisoner.
clasping her hands together, and looking as
nothing but deep misery and want can look.
q do sir, do. 1t is for stealing a little brass
candlestick; and, Oh God. | wish | had
stolen and got off with ii, for | fear that my
dear little Dicky is dead. and that my poor
Ellen and Mary are crying themselves to
death over him.
Court-You acknowledge then, that you
attempted to steal the candlestick.
Prisoner-I do sir-kill me-hang me, do
what you like with be-but Oh. for God sake,
send some one to look after my children
Court-Where are your children?
Prisoner-Qooking wildly aroud her)-Ah
that's it, that's it-If fear they are dead and
gone, dead and gone, for ever for they had
nothing to wear, nothing to eat-no bed to
lie on-and no one to look after them-and
their poor mother in prison. Oh! God, | wish
! had killed myself and them before it came
to this-for then, at all event, | would have
been with them to have comforted them
when they were a dying.
Court-Poor woman, | pity you. and will
have you comforted.
Prisoner-You cannot comfort me unless
you bring me my children. The biggest is
only six years old, and they have eaten MOTH
ing since Monday. o 90, go quick, for |
know my babies are dead or dying, as hu-
man nature cannot stand SO much as they
were called upon to suffer.
Court ask you where we can find them.
Prisoner-O, sir, | don't know how to tell
you, but ] could find it out myself, for its
somewhere close at hand. They are in
a long dark hall; under a stairs, where we
have lived for a fortnight. For the sake Of
the Fathers of Mercies, your worship, per-
NIT me to 90 and find them, and, dead or
alive, I'll return and let you do what you
please with me.
Here the poor creature threw herself on
her knees to implore his worship for liberty
to 60 look for her children, and an officer
had been desired to attend her for that pur-
pose, when the door opened and a Waterman
entered with an infant in his arms and two
half naked trembling little girls, the one about
TOUR and the other six years old holding on
by his coat. Instantly the prisoner sprung
TO her feet and rushed towards the watch
man, shrieking. Is Dick alive, o God, is
Dick alive?" and on finding that he was
alive, she laughed Historically. clasped the
infant wildly TO her bosom, and danced about
the office; and then throwing herself upon
the floor exhausted, she took her other two
half famished infants in her lap, when they all
commenced laughing and weeping together.
Meanwhile the Waterman had told his
worship that the oldest girl had called his
to the children, and that he found
them huddled together under a stairs, evil
IDENTIFY in Il state of starvation, and with
nothing to cover them other than the RACES
they had on.
Court-Now, Mrs. Barcley, since you
have got your children, will you answer me
a few questions, and I'll have you and them
properly taken care OF.
Prisoner will, sir, I'll do any thing
now, but o! whatever you do with US, don't
part us again.
Court-Never fear. How long have you
been in this city?
Prisoner--About two months, sir.
Court-How have you supported your
in that time?
Prisoner--I hardly know, sir, but we eat
very little tried to get work. but no one
employ me because they said look
ID so shabby. | then went to beg, but
some people told me they would have me
AIKEN up; and others thatl was drunk;
hough God knows, at the time ! was almost
Wild with starvation, and with hearing nv
nfants crying for food. And so, sir, was
on by sheer necessity until | did the
hing that brought me here.
Court-What brought you to New York
when you had no friends here?
Prisoner-Icame here TO seek my husband,
ir, who deserted me six months ago for an
,iher woman: but when | found him he on
beat me; and when | told him that me
md nv children were starving, he said he
wished we were dead-and God knows so
lid |.
Poor Ellen then stated, that for seven
ears her husband and her had lived very
comfortably together in Albany, where they
lad kept a little store, but that a servant
irl whom she had hired TO take care Of the