The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-09-18
Vol. II. No. 9. Whole No. 500.

the birth of the child, thu family on return
ing home, found an image in front of the
house dressed from the clothes that hung in
the yard. In June last the family were a.
gain alarmed by some occurrence, and there
was found written on the door in chalk SIT
is me, are you frightened~ The young
MOTHER who possesses uncommon beauty,
was apparently happy in the birth of her
child, which was two months old on the day
ofthe sad catastrophe. On that day she
was left at home with her child, and had
dressed it in its best apparel, and laid it down
TO sleep near the door,when it was seen by II
neighbor. Soon after, while the people were
in church, they were alarmed with intelli-
gence that the child was lost, and in about an
hour afterwards it was found in the water,
about half mile from the wharf, opposite
the house ofMr Hinckley, the tide flow
ing in n strong current in that direction.
An investigation was had, the country
secured, an inquest was held but 10 trace of
the supposed murderer was found, and the
peaceful village was thrown into terror and
horror at the mystery of such crime in
such community. On Monday, when the
funeral was to take place, the plan was sug-
gested by some, and in the general conster-
nation acceded to, for making all i'll the
village attest to their own innocence, in the
presence of the dead child. No oath in form
lied to administer an oath, except upon an
inquest ofthe coroner, but solemn asserva-
tons were made, aud perhaps some few
might have expected an nterpostion ofprov-
dence to expose the murderer. 1t was
wrong but perhaps not ineXcusable, under
the extraordinary state ofeXci.ement and u
harm, and the acguiescence of some OF the
relatives, that the mother was required 10
pass through this ordeal. No satisfactory
result followed, and after long delay the
child was buried nj eight o'clock on Monday
evening.
On the following day, or the next, words
fell from the mother to her own sick mother,
which led to the belief that she had caused
the child's death. Ofthis there can now be
no doubt; nor can there be any doubt that so
far from being guilty of the murder of the
child she loved and nursed so tenderly, she is
herselfthe victim of a mysterious monoma-
MIA, that again tempted her to take her own
life, but led to the loss of that of her child
In the same confession she would declare
that she did not do it, and could not have
done it, and that she was tempted and could
not help ii.
From the incoherency other own relation,
it would seem that she was tempted to take
her own life on Saturday, but made no at
tempt: that on Sunday, when left alone, she
went with the child to the wharf, which was
an open space before the house and very
near it, and sat down on the wharf, medita-
ting on throwing herselfin. But the thought
came to her that no self murderer could en-
ter lnto heaven. In this condition the child
got out of her arms, either fell or was thrown
for it is impossible to determine which,
but most likely the former--and was swept
by the rapid current out of her reach. The
actual terror at which she appeared at the
next neighbours and gave the alarm of the
loss of the child, indicated both distraction
and insanity, and favors the supposition, as
do many other acts, that even in her insane
purpose of self destruction the fall of the
child into the water was accidental, and not
her own act In no event, however, is there
any crime, but deep ati1iction, from which
we trust this unfortunate young woman VIII
be relieved and restored III herself and to her
afflicted husband and family.
We derive those facts from friend who
saw this unhappy person on Friday night, Mt
the United States Hotel, on her way to the
Worcester Asylum, accompanied by her lIus-
band (who adberes TO her with the true fifth
of early love- and Mr. James N. Lowell, the
officer entrusted with her until committed to
the custody of the kindly influences of the
ofthe Asylum. 1t is such
case as would call forth all tho philosophy
of DIR. Woodward, the late superintendent,
md we doubt notiwill be equally interesting
TO his accomplished successor. With these
facts let veil be drawn over the deep afS
Fiction of the worthy families who feel this
wound in their deepest heart, and the blight
ed prospect ofthe lovely young being whoy
by a mysterious agency, not of her own will,
is thus made the instrument of her own wo;
and instead of INDUCING an unkind doubt of
ncharitabeness, let lis all pray as He has
L 4