The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-04-24
Did you know he meant TO do it"

LNo' re loiu me He WOulu meet me
aud give me some money. But when |
asked HIM for something to support the
children, he was angry, and choked them.
| was frightened, and felt faint. l don't
know what | did. Invoke up and found
myself on the ground alone, and the babes
lying among the bushes
tWhat is bis name, and where does he
liv.? inquired the brother. She gave
him wild look of distress, and said
oh don't ask me, ought not 10 have
done so. l am poor slnner--a poor
sinner. But every body deserted me; the
world was very cold; had nobody 10
love and he was very kind tc me-
But tell me his name.' urged the
brother. She burst ioto strange mad
laugh, picked nervousy at the handler.
chief she held in her hand, add repeated,
ldiolicaiIy, Name? name2 / guess the
babes are alive now! don't know-I
don't know; but guess they are
To The lawyer she would say nothing,
except TO deny that she committed the
murder. Al their exerlions could wiring
from her nothing more distinct than The
story she had briefly tod her brother -
During her trial the expression OF her
counleuance was stupid and vacant. Al
times she would drum on the railing be.
fore her, aud STARE round on the crowd
with q bewiIdered look, as if unconscious
where she was. The derangsd state Of
mind was strongly urged by her lawyer,
but his opponen: replied that ii this NIGH!
be assumed. To The story she had told
ia prison, i! was answered that her not
telling OF the murder al he time made her
an accomplice. After The usual display
OF legal ingenuity on both sides, the jury
brought her in gully Of murder, and the
poor torIorn creature was sentenced 10 be
hung al Chester.
The wretched brother was so stunned
by the blow, that at first he could not COLI
Iect his thoughts. But it soon occurred
10 him that The terrible doom might still
be aveNed, if the case could be brought
suabiy before the Governor. A petition
was according v drawn up, setting forth
the alienation Of mind to which she had
heen sutjtc in coost quence of fits, and
the extreme doubfauess whether she
committed The murder. Her youth, her
beauty, the extreme sorrows of her life,
and the obviously Impaired safe of her
reason, touched many hearts, and the pc.
tiion was rapidly signed. When Will
inn went 10 her cell to bio her adieu he
tried 10 cheer her with The hope of par
don. She listened with lslIess apathy
But when he pressed her hand and with
a mourufu smile sail, Good bye dear
L!zzy, shall come back soon, and
hope with good news she pointed tear>
fully to the Iiue blue beach, and said,
Let what will happen, Willie, take care
of that for my sake He answered with
il choked voice; and as ne turned away,
the tears flowed fds! dowo his manly
cheeks. She listened to the echoes of his
steps, and when she could hear them no
longer, she threw herself on the floor,
laid her head down on the little blue bench,
kissed the letters carved upon ii, and Sob
he'd rs she had not sobbed since she was
first deserted by her false lover. When
The aiIer went in to carry her supper, he
found her asleep thps. Rich masses OF
her glossy brown hair fell over her pale,
but slI lovel face, on which rested Sc
rene smile, as il she were happy in her
dreams. He stood and gazsd upon her,
and his hard hand brushed away tear.
Some motion thai he made disturbed her /!
sIumber. She opened her eyes, from
which there beam,d for moment n RAJ
,ionaI and happy expression, as she said,
Il was cut in tue woods behind the house, /,
holding my little apron 10 catch The nuts
that Willie threw down. Mother smiled |
AT me from blue place between two
clouds, and sad Come 10 me my child"
The next day clergyman came 10 set
her, He spoke ofthe penalty for sin, and
The duty OF being resigned 10 the demands
Of justice. she heard his words as a
mother hears street sounds when she is
watching a dying babe. They conveyed !
to her no import When asked if she re,
pented Of her sins, she said sue had been
a weak. erring creature, and she hoped
that she was peni,ent, but that she never
the murder.
Are you resigned 10 die if the pardon
should not be Obtained? he asked.
on yes she replied; 4 want 10 die
He prayed with her in the spirit of real
human love; and This soolhed her heart
She spoke seldom after her brothers. de-
paru'e, and oGen she did not appear to
hear when she was spoken TO- She sal
IN her lule blue bench. geziog vacan'Iy
'n the floor, like one already out of the
Jody.
ln those days there was briefer inter-
,al between sentence and execution than
It present. The fatal day and hour soon
'rrived, and still no tidings from the
Governor. Men came TO lead her to the {
raIlows. She seemed TO understand