Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-29

an acquittal if possible; and know that no
efforts will be spared by the prosecution to con-
vict my client, who is, firmly believe, as inno-
cent OF the charge as we are--when can you see
met
Now this moment The guineas were nest
ling comfortably in my waistcoat pocket, and
the novel excitement caused me to forget the
dignity ought TO have preserved.
Thank you i; then if YOU will glance your
eye over the case of this ef, you will at once
be in possession of the names of the parties and
the offence charged. When you have done so,
will explain the psisoner's previous history,
which tits material You should know
1t was prosecution for arson--the prisoner
an apprentice girl, \ ID her masters premises
those which were dest Eyed
'Well,' said, Mr.. PS when l had done
reading, NJ pst listen to a long story
Eighteen yea tlarge basket, containing
an infant apparently about SIX months aId, was
left at the door Of b surgeon in this town. The
child was handsomely dressed, and a letter con-
tanning bank bill for twenty pounds, and sta
ting that the infants name was Miriam Lyndon,
was found beside her.
The surgeon was bachelor, an eccentric and
strange man, although very humane and char
table one, and in spite of all the scandal end
jests of the world, he kept the little stranger.
But be had housekeeper, Alice Sharpe. Ycs,'
he continued, seeing me turn again to my brief,
that is the woman whose house has been burn
ed, and she was so greatly enraged at the pros
pect of any one sharing the influence she had
obtained over her master, that, after vainly try
ing to alter his determination, she revenged her
disappointment upon the poor child by the most
cruel treatment. Ten years rolled on in this
way; the old surgeon gave up practice and So
ciety, sccluding himselfin his house and garden
There were no servants beside Alice Sharpe and
poor little Miriam, who was still unreasonably
hated by the former, with a boy who worked oc-
casionally in the garden. BY the exercise of
constant watchfulness and cunning, Alice
Sharpe managed to keep her master and his lit
tie protege almost entirely apart, and she con-
tinued 80 to fill the child's mind with apprehen-
sons and fears of her protector, that when, by
any chance they did meet, her terror was SO
great as to mortify and disappont the kind old
man. Still he loved the child dearly, and used
to watch her pretty figure running about with
great deli hit. Sometimes too, when Alice was
absent for q few hours at meeting or market, he
would try to conciiatc and attract the little
creature, and thus, after time, she learned to
love, and forget to fear him. But all this was
concealed from the housekeeper. Why, it has
always been mystery to me however, it was
so, and Alice Sharpe lived in ignorance of the
mutual attachment until her master was taken
i'll. Then, for the first time, the secret was be-
trayed by the uncontrolled grief of Miriam, and
the querulous anxiety of the invalid to have the
child perpetually in his sight. To this, after a
time, Alice was obliged to consent, and little
mattrass was brought into the sick room for her,
while the manner and treatment of the willy art
ful woman changed from its usual harshness te
caressing and oppressive kindness that was al
most offensive. But Miriam was too thankful
to be allowed to remain with her protector to be
fastdious, and she nursed him night and day
until his death.
HE had no medical advice, Alice always rid.
iculed the idea of danger but she prescribed fol
him herself, mixed up his medicines out of hii
own old stock of drugs, and administered them
Miriam observed that after taking them he was
invariably worse, and that he often objected tt
do so but the houskceper always prevailed, ant
by dint of scolding and coaxing usually carried
her point. Ten days befoie his death, Alice in
troduced into his room cousin of hers, law
yer's clerk, whom she told Miriam that her mas
ter had sent for; and will was then made anC
signed. After this the woman became careless
and left the dying man almost wholly to tn,
charge Of little Miriam, who was alone with hin
when he died.
The last act of his life was to give the chill,
a packet, which, after his death, he babe he
take to the clergyman it would explain VIII
she was, he said And Miriam positively assert
that his last words were Bless you, my owl
child, my darling neice =
The packet, however, was lost; whether tn
child in her exceeding misery mislaid it, or
was taken from her as she slept, there is no mean
of discovering Alice Sharp always assertc
that the whole tale was pure invention, an
that Miriam had never received any such article
she, however, remained positive, and 50 do 7.
All was now changed. A will was produC
ed, executed two days before the decease of tn
testator, bequeathing all his property to Alc
Sharpe, and not one word was said about Mir
lam. People talked loudly, but the heircss heed
cd nothing ; she took possession of the property
married her cousin, George Sharp, 1.-THE man VIII
made the willy, sent Miriam to the workhous,
and opened a milliners establishment.
Wheels rool within wheels Mr.. Sharpe wa
now large rate-payer, and once or twice an {
Verseer and when his wife applied to the paris
ofhcers, Offering to take Miriam Lyndon as an n,
prentice without premium, those functionarif
louna 1t convenient to forget her previous crue
" to the child, extolled her liberalty to II
skies' and without consulting the poor cir
h bound her instantly.
The life she had led in the house was lor,
bic. No African slave ever worked harder
g was more cruelty treated but she never renipe,
she had learned endurance from her infancy, al
}, the practice was familiar. At last, howcv,
II she had another and greater trial to bear i
beauty attracted the evil eye of her wretch
g master, and her misery was complete. The n,
d secution she underwent from him, and the ie
% ousy of his wife, made existence a burden to h,