New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-07-25
Mary NicHugh.

CHILD.
The following extract which we have been al
lowed TO take from the records OF the Prison a 800
citation kept by Isaac T Hopper, at the office OF
excellent institution, No 10 Pine street, may be
interesting 10 the readers OF the Evening Mirror
We trust that this affecting may at least operate
as a caution to employers how they injure the
character, and blight the prospects Of poor young
creatures engaged ia their service.
Mary Ntzhugh, belonged to a respectable Irish
family IN Upper Canada There being several sis
tiers al home, and her services not needed, she
deemed il best 10 relieve her parents Of part of
their burthen, by effort 10 earn her own living
For that purpose she 10 the nited States, and
entered into the service OF Mrs. -- She dis
charged the duties of her station in satisfactory
manner and secured the confidence and ailectOnate
good will OF the family
At the death OF Mrs. - she engaged with anO-
Their family in the same neighborhOOd. This Mrs
-- promised her dollar a week for her services
but after she had been there three weeks she told
her that she should give but sixty two cents MARY
then requested the wages that due to her that
she might 20 into the service Of another family near
BY who had offered her dollar and a quarter
week Mrs - declared that she should not leave
till she bad procured another servant that she
would not pay her a cent till another servant came.
and that she would pay her only sixtytwo cents
week from the beginning 10 the end OF her stay
This oppressive and altogether uDiustiiiablc con
duct excited Marys resentment. Partly in anger.
and partly from the idea that her employers in
tended TO wrong her she hid silver can and some
spoons in the wood house. There is every reason
To believe that she had intention OF stealing them.
and she was not aware that such step subjected
her TO the danger of a criminal prosecution. Mrs.
was extremely exasperalcd and it is to be
hoped more under the influence Of thOughilcss an
ger than of deliberate cruelty, she caused the poor
girl to be arrested The silver found where
She confessed she had hid IT, she was tried, convict
ed and sentenced TO Sing Sing for two years.
A sense of the disgrace which her imprudence
had brought on herself and family and especially
the anguish it would infct on her mothers heart.
completely broke the spirit OF the poor sufferer.
Her sensitive nature could not bear up under the
terrible struggle and she sunk into lisiess des
pair. She took extremely little nourshinent, and
obtained scarcely any sleep. Ii soon become eyi
dent that reason giving way under the influence
OF perpetual grief, and that she was in danger OF
melancholy lunacy the remainder Of her life Her
father venerable old soldier, who had been famed
in the British army, al the battle OF SaragOssa came
from Canada with an earnest petition IN her behalf
backed with letters and certificates from magistrates
and other people of influence and high respectable
IT, ,esiifying TO the good character and conduct OF
Mary and her family. The cruel circumstances OF
the case being officially laid before the Governor, in
connection with these certificates he granted par
don, and communicated the welcome intelligence to
the afflicted father in a letter which did Inn great
honor While | write this my heart calculates
May Heaven bless him.
A letter from Eliza w. Farnham. the excellent
matron of Sing Sing prison. enquired OF me whether
the Prison Association could provide for this unior
tuna,e creature till such time a. her father could
come for her replied that a suitable place had bet
be procured in tie neighborhood of the prison,
and the Association would pay her board till she
could be restored TO her home As she was laboring
under arrangement of mind, and required some gen
tic restraint it was difficult 10 procure suitable
place and she conveyed 10 the County House
Another letter from f. w. Farnham informed me OF
this and expressed great anxiety on her account
For four days she had tasted no food nor obtained
single hsur of sleep The letter concluded By say
ing This, in addition to her previous exhaustion
must, If continued. soon produce death. She is ex
ceedingly miserable, and my heart is sore at the
thought OF leaving sensitive and shrinking spirit
all unshieded as she is
Unwilling she should remain in the County
House an hour longer than was necessary. started
for Tarytown the very day received the letter ]
had seen the poor child of misfortune at Sing Sing,
some months before, and my sympathy had been
greatly excited in her behalf She recoected me
a, once. and made objection to returning with
me to Newly ork. She was in such a delicate state
of health, mind and body that could not bear TO
place her with strangers, who would feel no sym
patty for her and though il was inconvencni 10
receive her into my family, thought II best under
the circumstances 10 do so We found her simple
hearted unoifending, and grateful easily guided
though somewhat troublesome, from the wanderings
of her mind and the highly excitabe state of her
nervous system. She expressed an earnest wish 10
see Bishop Hughes. | went for him. and | was
pleased with the prompt and hearty checriulncss
with which he came 10 speak 10 her words oil en-
couragcment and consolation. She soon began 10
take nourshmcnt and during the four weeks that
she remained under my roof she continued 10 i'm
prove in health, though her mind still remained
feeble and wandering The female branch Of the
Prison Association having provided Home for the
women convcis released from Sing Sing II was
thought best that Mary should go there. few
days after she had left my root her mother came for
her. She appeared 10 be respectable, worthy
hard working woman. | conveyed her to her daush
ter and il truly affecting 10 witness their meet
ing. They threw themselves into each others
arms wept, looked at each other and wcpt again
On the eighth Of this month they departed together
for their home in Canada, and il is hoped that time
will gradually restore poor Mary TO health ane
reason.
| have purposcly avoided mentioning the name OF
the woman whose oppressive and harsh treatment
occasioned the wreck OF this poor, well meaning
girl and such great distress to innocent family
Nav the consequences of her proceedings teach her
a lesson for the future Not for the wealth OF the
Indies, would do such an injury TO fellow being
For The Tribune.
spirit Gms and Camphene Lamps.
noticed statement in several city papers few days