New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-08-22
THE IDIOTS EVIDENCE.

H . d (. q ! "
Whoever has happened to visit the pleasantly
situated village of Blue Anchor, Brdgwater
Bay, Somersetshire, England, can hardly have
failed to notice on its extremity portentous
sort of cottage or1ae in the Chinese pagoda style,
with a round, pepper box looking structure at
the gate entrance, dignifed by the name of
g Porter's Lodge This edifce was built by
Mr.. Wainwright, Of Bethnal Green, London,
who, having, in the course of half q century of
saving, industry and single blessedness, scraped
together handsome competency, suddenly de-
termined upon exchanging his business and his
bachelorhood for the retirement of Blue Anchor,
near which he was born, and marriage with
good-looking widow of less than half his own
age, but amply lowered with five small children.
Welded bliss did not seem to agree with Mr..
Wainwright, for after the achievement, La
burnum Villa left him nothing ON earth to do
but sip its sweets continually, he, after moping
through about six months of restless life, sank
with entire resignation, the minister said to his
final rest, leaving Mrs Wainwright, by will
made in the first week of the honeymoon, abso-
lutte mistress of some twelve hundred pounds in
the funds, in addition to Laburnum Villa and
its appurtenances, of every thing, in short, of
which he had died seized or possessed. We of
Blue Anchor had but brief opportunity Of mott
cling how the widow of her second husband bore
her sorrow, one little month only having passed
away before she took her departure for London; /;
| and painted board, stuck in the front flower
garden, announced that Laburnum Villa and
grounds were to be sold further particulars
obtainable of Mr.. Holford, Blue Anchor-pend-
| ing which ultimate disposal of the property,
| neatly framed card in the lodge window
gave notice that furnished apartments, with
| attendance, might be obtained by application
| within.
Mr.. Holford was my father, who, having had
l e1s tr.t IA MI
| Wainwright, had undertaken to keep an eye
| upon the property, as well as over Joel Barton,
| the gate-keeper, and Mistress Fanny Denyir, or
| Bennett-there being, in some persons opinion,
considerable doubt upon this pont-the youth
full keeper left in charge of the interior Of
Laburnum Villa. Joel Barton was parish
| boy, having been born, bred, educated, that is,
taught to read without much spelling, and to
write intelligibly to persons skilled in caligra-
phical difficulties, in the Work house. He had
but one relative, decrepid, almost bedridden
mother; and, in other respects, was emphahcal-
| ly the child of calamity In person, he was
greatly deformed, and his large, coarse featured
head, squat, as it were, upon his broad shoul-
ders, and protruding back and breast, would
have presented an altogether repulsiye aspect
but for the fine dark eyes which have otter
seen kindle into lustrous expression of sad elo
quence, when words of kindness or sympathy
lect, too, was unsound unsettled, | sometimes
thought, might be the truer description; and hy
the boy-rabble of Blue Anchor he was alway
addressed and spoken of as 's Foolish, or Mac
joey The taunts and torments to which h
| was exposed on account of his mental intirmity
ceased atabout his fifteenth year; his remarkabl
strength of arm, ponderosity of list, and fierc
courage at that age, efectually protected hin
from overt annoyance. Nevertheless, he did no
| fn ha nf II bo1f 5np
gerous person, whom, spite of some good quail
ties, such as honesty, fidelity, truthfulness, j
was prudent to, as much as possible, avoid an
there could be no doubt that the persecution t
which he had been so many years exposed, ha
quickened and exasperated whatever Of siniste
predisposition was latent in his imperfectly de
veloped Uranium. With the exception of hi
mother and Fanny Bennett, was about the onl
. person for whom he ever manifested confdenc
IS or respect, from my having been able to rende
him some trihing services. Fanny's inhuenc
over him was of different character, and in
comprehensive, believe, to himself often COZ
fusedly wondering, as | was sure he did, why
was that her bright face and gentle voice mao
| his pulse beat, and the dark chambers of h
. brain tighten with troubled, half fearful jo,
And the child beauty herself could at that tin
have little dreamed that the words and looks
y compassionate kindness which she bestowed upc
: an effect upon her own destiny, that her lif
experience would furnish q striking illustrate
of the wisdom Of the injunction set forth in ht
v dame-school copy book: "Scorn not the a
ficted nor the outcast, for they are also God
children
This Fanny Bennett was another of our vi
lage notorieties--I had almost written calam
es-forasmuch, that at the period of which
- am now speaking, it would have been hard
~ y decide which of the two, the house or ga
keeper at Laburnum Villa, had been most ur
fortunate in the lottery of life. Of very hun
BILE parentage-her father was d journeyma
~ market -gardener-Fanny Bennett was one
: those rare flowers scattered here and there ov
: the bleak wastes of the world, whose fresh, ru
s. tic, beauty possesses so mighty, if but momel
tary charm, for men palled with the train'
Ia graces--the cultivated attractions OF the ILL
i and roses which adorn the gorgeous parterr
- of high society A good girl, tooguileles
70 atfeetionate and dutiful; and, spite of the il
iation of vanity which the constant breath
50 even village admiration could hardly fail
generate in her young brain, might have Ike
: her feet and the even tenor of her peaceful wa
Us had it not unfortunately CHANGED that a fas
. ionable lady of Bath, whom it is unneeessa
= to name, struck by her appearance and natui
. elegance of manner, offered to take her il
no her service as companion" educate. and G
- tirely provide for her. The temptation was
resistible, and Fanny, who had just turned b
re sixteenth year, left Blue Anchor in the gre
lady's carriage. The promise of the lady pi
cts roness was so far fulfilled that she was taug
IT. 80 much of superficial accomplishment as mig