Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-06-01
Ans.-'r cam

| Ans.--"l can"
Burr. What is her age I"
Ans. SHE viii be 80 years old on the
20h day Of April"
Bufr--'When did you last sec her -
Aus.--"At her own house, about fort
night since"
Burr.--"When dbl you see her previous
to that meeting p
The plaintiff hesitated--a long pause en-
sued-the question was repeated, aud the
answer at length was,
"On the 18th day Of May, H."
when she was just three weeks old :"
added Burr. Gentlemen" continued he.
turning TO US. 81 have brought this lady here
as an important witness, and such. / think.
she is. The plaintiffs counsel has pleaded
eloquenlly in behalf of the bereaved hus-
hand, who escaped the perils Of the sea and
returned only TO find his home desolnie -
But who will picture TO you the lonely wife
bending over her daily toll, devoiing her
best years TO the drudgery Of sordId poverty,
supported only by the hope of her hus-
bands teturhl Who will paint the SLOW
progress Of heari-sick ming. the wasting an
guish Of hope deferred and finally, the
overwhelming agony which came upon her
when her last hope was extinguished, and
she was compelled to believe herself indeed
widow Who can depict all this without
awakening in your hearts the warmesi SYN.
patty for the deserted wife and the utter
est scofn for the mean. pitifnl wretch, who
could thus trample on tue heart OF her
whom he had sworn to love and cherish
We need not inquire into his motives for
acting SO base apart. Wnetner u was iusr
Of gain or RIGHTEOUSNESS or selfish indiffer-
ence. II matters not he is too vile thing
TO be Judged by such laws as govern men,
Let US ask the witness she who now stands
before Us with the frank, fearless brow Of
true hearted woman-lei US ask which Of
these two has been 10 her father"
Turning 10 the lady, in a tone whose
sweetness was in strange contrast with the
scoruful accent which had Just charactre-
lied IT, he besought her to relate briefly
the recolleclions OF her life. A slight flush
passed over her proud and beautiful face as
she replied
my first recolections are Of small,
III furnished apartment. which my sister
and myself shared with my mother She
used TO carry out every Saturday evening
the work which had occupied her during
the week, and bring back employment for
the following one. Save that wearisome
visit TO her employers aud her regular at
tendance at church, she never left the
house. She oflen spoke Of my father, and
Of his anticipated return, but at length she
ceased to mention him, though observed
she used 10 weep more frequently than ever.
then thought she wept because we were
poor, for it sometimes happened that our
support was only b, OF dry bread and
she was accustomed to see BY the light of
furnishing children, because she could not
purchase candle without depriving us Of
our morning meal. Such was our poverty
when my mother contracted second mar
rage, and the change to US was like a sud-
den entrance into Paradise. We found a
home and father" She paused.
Would you excite my own child against
me ," cried the plaintiff as he impaiienlIy
waved his hand for her TO he silent
The eyes Of the witness flashed FIRE as he
spoke.
''You are not my father" exclaimed she
vehemently. "Wha.. call you my faiher.-
you who basely left your wife TO toll and
your children to beggaryi Never never |
Behold. there is my father" pointing TO the
agitaied defendant, there is the man who
watched over my infancy-who was the
sharer of my childish sports and the guard.
an ofmy inexperienced youth There is the
man who claims my affections aud shares
my home there is my father. For yonder
selfish wretch, know him not. The best
years of his life have been spent in lawIess
freedom from social ties let him seek else
where for the companion of his decreptude,
nor dare insult the ashes Of my mother by
claiming the duties Of kindred from her de-
serted children"
She drew her veil hastily around her as
she spoke, aud moved as il to Withdraw.
'uenllemen. said Burr, 81 have no more
10 say. The words OF the law are express
ed in the book before you the words of
truth you have heard from woman's pure
lips it is for you TO decide according to
the acquisitions Of nature and the DEGREES of
justice"
need moi say that our decision was in
favor Of the defendant. and the plaintiff
went forth followed by the contempt Of ev-
cry honorable person who was present at
the trial.--N Y. Sun.