Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-02-08
A MOVING STORY.
A NOBLE WOMAN

inc DOStOn AliaS gives the following
graphic of description of truc-heartcd
woman, and paints with living light
her last moments when she found that
a fair name was no longer borne by
the loved one of her youth. And equ-
ally touching is the tale Of the daugh-
tcr's fatal picty.
"You will have seen in the papers
that the Governor has extended free
pardon to James l.. Hawkins, who, as
cashier of the Franklin Bank of this
city, embezzlcd large amount of its
funds some years since. This was a
strong case for the exercises for the
Executive clemcncy and its example
may be plead for evil; and STILL can
not but feel glad that a pardon has
been granted to Hawkins. Your read
crs will remember, that now nearly
three years ago, wrote you full aC-
count Of his affairs with the Franklin
Bank. His defalcations were large,
and run through long series Of years.
They were concealed by many ingen-
ious devices, and were discovered by
accident, during IA temporary absence
of Hawkins from the Bank. On the
discovery Of the defalcation. Haw-
kins Immediately give up all his prop
crty Of every kind, and his wife, a no.
bic woman, without solicitation, and
even against some rcmonstrance on the
part Of her relatives, extended deed
rcnouncing her right of dover in n
very valuable real estate. They were
thus, in her old age, reduced to power
ty, with all the attendant evils of crime
upon the husband. Those of your read
ers who remember the account | wrote
You will rccollecl that as soon rs Mrs.
Hawkins had executed the deed re-
nouncing her dover, she went to her
bed, and in few days pinned away, lit
orally dying of a broken heart.
# Which kills more than are numbered in the
list Of fate
Those who were present at the sick
bed of this good lady, say that the
scene was the most impressive il is pos
siblc TO conceive off. There she lay,
visible fading away before all eyes
the physicians stood COMPOUNDED by the
rapid progress Of the disease, and the
eyes of all bathed in tears, whilst hers
were dry with sorrow. She never
even cast look Of rcproach upon her
poor guilty husband, who stood by, all
unnamed; and when her eyes rested
upon the face Of her daughter-aswcet
girl, then Just bursting into woman
hood, the mother would manifest her
self only in deep drawn sigh. The
eminent physicians, who were called
to her aid, owned their weakness, and
shrunk almost appalled, at the awlu
manifestations death had made Of his
work, upon the but SO recently health
ful and graceful form Of this excellent
woman. They had seen death in al
most every shape. They had seen il
suddenly striking down the young and
beautiful-thcy had seen wasting slow
ly, day by day, the life Of some below
cd daughter, until, at length, after the
ravages of years, the light was extin-
guishcd, as a candle burnt to its socket,
and then shedding forth its rays more
brilliantly than ever, 20 out in beauty
they had seen the strong, tho aged
the weak and the old debut never
had they seen a death like this. The
mind of the dying woman was atpcace
with all the world, beyond whose por
tails she had seemingly, passed before
death had released her soul from tht
body. Health was upon her checks
her pulse full and regular. and hci
voice sweet and melodious. She wa:
woman who had shone in society
she had filled her place at the head o
an opulcnt family, with grace which
had won admiration from all who nc"
her. And there she lay, in form, II
face, in voice unaIterd, save that tho
eye, which was, indeed, in her, thu
glass before the heart, showed thai
death was upon her, and already dricc
mp the fountains of her life.
But | lingcr too long upon this re.
markablc dcath-a death which under
all circumstances, OF its time and place
and cause, proves that truth, indccd.as
The master Of the human heart bias said
"is strange, stranger than fiction
Shortly after the death Of Mrs. liaw.
kins, bill Of Indictment without any