Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-09

N Il N - " II w Os
A Few weeks since there might have
been found in our city respectable and
happy, though poor family, consisting oil
a father and six children. The wife and
mother died about two years since, leaving
the discharge Of the household duties to her
eldest child, daughter about IL years old
These duties she has discharged with sngu-
lar ability for one of her age. Her little
brother and sisters learned to look up to
her as TO mother, and her father soon
found that his loss had been in measure
repaired and each morning and evening,
as he and his little ones surrounded the
family altar, he Euied not TO bless heaven
for the gift Of so valuable child.
Thus things continued until about week
since. A family had some months previous
ly moved into the neighborhood, and be-
tween the two an intimacy was gradually
formed. Information having at length reach
ed the ears of the wdower that his new
neighbors were the liarborers ofthose "whose
feet take hold on hell" he commanded his
daughter to cease her intercourse with them.
few mornings since, the daughter not
making her appearance as early as usual.
her room was visited, but found untenanted.
The truth at once flushed across the mind
OF the father--his daughter had been deceived
from the paths of virtue! With heavy heart
he communicated the intelligence to a friend
and besought his advice and assistance
The strange family were called upon, and
acquainted with the object Of their visit
Their chief mistress was entreated with
tears to give what information she possess
sed of the girl, and to deliver her up if she
was in the house. To these entreaties she
appeared perfectly callous. Herself fallen
from the high estate of female chastity, she
seemed to glory in having plotted the de-
struction of another of her SEX She did
not deny that the elopement of the girl was
known to her indeed, she boldly declared
that before night she would be 200 miles
from the city, that she had been provided
with ample means, and that, had it been
necessary, she would have given her $50
from her own purse.
This is all the information the father was
able to gain Of his daughter, nor has he,
we believe, learned anything additional since
then. Satisfied that farther entreaty of the
woman would be in vain he purposed to
call the law to his aid but found after re-
peated inquiries, that there was no enactment
suited to his case. Though he had reason
to believe that his daughter was still at the
house of the woman who had led her astray,
Notwithstanding the story Of her being 200
miles from here, the law was quite useless
TO him until his suspicious should be con-
firmed. Nor could the woman he arrested
for enticing the girl away for purposes of
prostitution, she being little over IA years
of age, and IL being the age specified by the
statute.
We saw the father as he turned away in
disappointment from the court ofjustice, and
have seldom seen such complete picture of
despair as he presented. With his head up
on his heaving bosom, and his face suflused
with tears, he wendell his way to his discon-
ISOLATE hearth, to communicate to his little
children that she who for years had served
them as mother, was lOst--lost for time
if not for eternty-and to mourn in secret
for the bliehted flower thus early and rude
ly plucked from its parent stem.