The daily Minnesota pioneer., 1855-08-30

decided the matter in our minds, when Burr re en-
tered with tall and elegant female leaning on ms
arm. She was attired in simple white dress, win
a wreath of ivy leaves encircling her large straw
bonnet, and a lace veil completely cOncealing her
countenance. Burr whispered a lew words, appa-
rently encouraging her to advance, and then grace
fully raising her veil, disclosed to US lace OF proud,
surprising beauty. l recollect as well as ii 1t had
happened yesterday, how simultaneously the murmur
of admiration burst from the lips Of all present Tur-
ming to the plaintiff, Burr asked, in 4 cold, quiet
tone
DO you know this lady'
Il do
will YOU swear to that!
i will; to the best Of my knowledge and belief,
she is my daughter
Can you swear TO her IDENTIFY
Il can.'
what is her age!'
She was thirty years OF age o" the 2O.h day OF
April
when did you see her last?
AT her own house fortnight since.
when did you last see her previous to that meet
ing!'
The plaintiff hesitated-a long pause ensued-the
question repeated, and the al length was:
'On the l4th day of May, lS-.'
when she was Just three weeks DID, added Burr.
Gentlemen continued he, turning TO US, have
brought this lady here important witness, and
such, think, she is. The plaintiff s counsel has
who escaped the peris Of the sea, and returned only
to find his home desolate But who will picture to
you the lonely wife bending over her daily TOLL devo
ting her best years the drudgery of sordd poverty
only by the hope Of her husbands return?
Who will paint the slow progress of heart-sckness,
the wasting anguish of hope deferred, and finally,
the overwhelming agony which came upon her when
her last hope was extingushed, and she was compel
led to believe herself indeed widow? Who can de-
pict all this without awakening in your hearts the
warmest sympathy for the deserted wife, and the bit.
terest scorn for the mean, pitul wretch, who could
thus trampe on the heart Of her whom he had sworn
to love and cherish! We need not inquire into his
motives for acting so base part Whether it was
love of gain, Righteousness, sel-indference, 1t
matters not; he is vile thing to be judged by
such laws as govern MEN. Let us ask the witness
she who now stands before with the frank, fear
less brow Of true-hearted woman-let us ask her
which Of these two has been to her father.
Turning to the lady in tone whose sweetness was
in strange contrast with the scornl accent that had
jus, characterized his words, he bcsought her to
late briefly the recollections of her early life. A
slight flush passed her proud and beautiful lace,
as she replied
NV first recollectons are Of small, i-furnished
apartment, which my sister and myself shared with
my mother. She used every Saturday evening to
carry out the work which had occupied her during
the week, and bring back employment for the follow
ing enc. Excepting that wearsOme visit to her en-
ployer, and her regular attendance ut church, she
left the house. She often spoke OF our father,
and of his anticipated return, but length she ceas-
ed to mention him, though l observed she used to
weep more frequently than ever. then thought she
wcpt because were SO poor, Or 1t sOmelmes nap"
pened that only supper was a bit OF dry bread,
and she was accustomed to see by the light OF the
chips which she kndied to her famishing chill
rcn, because she could not afford to purchase can
die without depriving us Of our morning meal. Such
was our poverty when my mother contracted Sec
ond marriage, and the change to lis was like sud-
den entrance into Paradise. We found home and
a father
She paused.
'Would you excite my own child against me!'
cried the plaintiff, as he mpatienty waved his hand
or her to be silent.
The eyes Of the witness flashed fire as he spoke.
You are not my father exclaimed she, vehement
y. ''rhe law may deem you such, but l dscaim
you utterly. What! call you my father! YOU, who
oasely lett your wife toll, and your children to beg
,ary! Never! never Behold there my father,
,ontng to the agtated defendant; there is the man
Who watched over my nfancy-who was the sharer
# my childish sports, and the guardian of my mex
,erienced youth. There is he who claims my affec-
ions, and shares my home; there is MY FATHER!
7or yonder selfish wretch, know him not. The
,est years Of his life have been spent in lawess free
lom from social ties let him seek elsewhere for the
companion Of his decreptude, nor dare insult the
ashes of my mother by claiming the duties OF kindred
rom her deserted children
She drew her veil hastily around her as she spoke,
md giving her hand to Burr, moved rs if to with
Draw.
sGentlemen,' said Burr, l have no more to say.
The words of the law are expressed in the book be-
YOU the voice of truth you have just heard from
yoman's pure lips; 1t is for you to decide according
the acquisitions of nature the DEGREES OF justice
need merely add that our decision was such as
o overwhelm the plaintiff with wel-merited shame