Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-04-05

PASSAGE FROM ACTUAL LIFE.

w. Gilmore SiiOfnS has an Interesting dTtiCic
headed above. in the last number of the L mon
Magazine. which is rather too Prolix for a news
paper TO copy. The substance is as follows
A widow residing in one OF the northern coun-
ties of South Carolina, had two children who
were mutes-a boy and a girl They were both
nearly grown ut the period TO which we ehtreat
the attention Of the reader. Thong h mutes, un-
educated and simple, they Were not deficient, II
would seem, in a certain degree, of natural in
telligence-but lacking wholly those external
aids by which society would have trained it into
activity, they soon proved themselves wild and
unmanageable, far paternai control was
concerned. They were harmless, however, Of
fering no offence to those with whom they came
in con,act-and, though, moody and passionate
at periods, were very far from exhibiting such
dispositions as would have rendered them danger
Gus, or even troublesome to the neighorhooi.-
They were thus tolerated, though without win
ming sympathies-and though unmolested in
their sssucw,rae iv-ecurses, were yet very
far from possessing the favor, even the pity,
of those around them
Both were wild and wandering in their habits.
but the sister (who is represented 10 have pos
-essed quite gentle and pleasing character,)
was peculiarly SO. She literally was Il Wild nymph
Of the woods. wande ring away, day ana night
at all hours and seasons-designng no harm
feeling no fear-and completely ia disregard
of restraint and pursuit, that it became necess-
airy to erect for her rude log dwelling in the
tlickest Of the forest, where she was known TO
range, in order THAI she might when she pleased
find shelter at night from the Indictment wealth
How often or how infrequently She employ
ed refuge, in obedience to her instincts, could
only be conjectured. That she did it was
satisfac torily known. Thither she retired when
the storm threate ned, or the cold-and from
thence she emerged when the weather mode ra-
ted, not regarding the absence Of the sunshine
but going forth at dawn, at dusk or in starlight,
as if she communed with other than ordinary
inhabitants Of this earth.
With wild ere atures she lived in degree OF
social intercourse and kindly communion, such
as it was utterly impossible that being con-
stituted should ever have found in human society
unless, Pc rlaps, wi,-r it was morally SUPPORT
or, that love and pity would have been pres
cut to reconcile to cares and anxieties, such as
her err attic habits would forever have kept in X
ere Use. Tho hunters found her absolutely herd
ing with the deer which they pursued. They
were seen, as she sat. or wandered bene ath the
old trees, browsing, without apprehension, around
her footsteps. The doe led :her young fawn TO
the very spot where she most loved to linger-
! appearing to place it in the keeping Of ono who
represe nted humanity only in its most friendly
and afIec Tomato spects. The wild turkey fed
along the track, unembarrcsscd at her coming;
and the partridge and the dove, acknowledging
in her IL nature not unlike their own, felt in her
presence no necessity to use their wings. We
exaggerate nothing in these statements. Such
were the reservations made on oath by the wit
nesses, none of whom were Of Il class to invent
sucl, seeming extravagances. This testimony
! is greatly countenanced by the leading event in
our history. 1t was in these alodes-pursuing
this wild, strange life-in this communion with
the inferior species of nature-in the haunts OF
the fox, the lid cat, and the deer-that the poor
girl was finally found murdered. She, whom
the reptile and the beast hal spared, fell victim
to the carelessness or the brutality of her own
species. \ load Of bucksl,ot had penetrated her
innocent bosom. and when she was discovered
life was utterly extinct. The question naturay
was, by whose hands had she perishcd' Who
| could have been guilty Of "a crime SO dreadful
SO wanton, entirely without motive-so horr
bly, cruel, in the case Of creature socomme nde d
by every feeling of sympathy and pity to the in
diligence aud the protection of humanity
Suspicion, strange to say, after some wander
ing, settled upon the youth, her brother. There
were ce rtain facts and circumstances which seem
ed to give countenance TO the horrible conjecture
that it was by his hands the fatal shot were sent
I II appears that, for some days before her death
to warm disagreement, between the two. In
their own imperfect, but passionate manner, they
had guarreied on the very morning Of the day
which tho deed done. She had gone
forth, and, without any known reconc iiiation be-
! tween them, he had be e 10 sc ize his gun
only little while after, to load it, and follow in
her footsteps. These and other particulars which,
appea AIRED in evidence, rendered his conduct ex-
ceedingIy suspicious.
/ He was accordingly arrested. confined, and f.
nally brought up for trial But here difficulty
Occurred-how he to be made to unde rstaud
the charge against him, aud especially CARDS
the evil inteutr As no one else could commu :
nicate with him, his mother requested TO ell
G-avor to convey his mind the full force Of the
charge-that he accused OF killing his ~iste
done at the instigaton of a bad heart. The
last 10 be particularly insisted upon The re-
suit We give entirely in MIR. Simms' language.
TWAS only after considerable time and diff
Guilty. that the mother appeared to conceive the
entire scope of the ideas which the Judge labored
to convey. Protesting al last that she did SO. she
prepared to transmit them to her son through
their usual media Of intelligence. II was a Gu
rious study TO the court to witness the progress
of the scene and the gradual draw ing, upon tile
inert and unexP-rt intellect of the youth, Of the
strange, unaccustomed idea. From the FIRST
there had been sign Of ind ference on his part
He exhibited large degree Of curiosity and
anxiety. II would have been idle to plead idioc :,
the abse of sufficient INTEL sence to render
him a socially accountable being His arrest
his confinement. and the novel scene in which
ta {s.,Vv,.