The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-31

newed their strength, and her cheek was once
more mantled with the flush of beauty. but the
| light was gone out forever in the chambers OF
the mind. She walked about meek and pas
! sive as little child, obedient in doing whatever
she was asked or bid, but dreamy and inactive
no longer capable Of love, or 10y, or happiness,
but quiet and inoffensive-no more in danger
Of meriting reproachl
The victim would now kiss and fonde the
hand that smote her, but her loving words were
like sharp arrows to the heart Of him whose
pity came too late to save his child; and now
he would have given world to recall the bitter
past-to speak the blessing she could no
longer understand.
Remorse, like scorpion, stung his spirit
and Preyed upon his life; and long ere age had
set his seal upon his brow, death called him
hence. Again poor Mary was alone.
There were two sons the elder bore the
proud name Of Mortimer, and was the fathers
tavorite On him we're layished gifts-gold
and frankincense," and all that school and col
lege and foreign travel could give of polish
and education; and he repaid it by fawning
syeophancy and hypocritical acquiescence,
which so many In power, well as parents
and guardians, deceive themselves into believ-
ing is honest Difference and love. He gained
bis object-his fathers confidence and his
riches-and was numbered among the dignits-
ries of the Commonwealth.
There was humble provision for the re-
naming son and daughter; for poor Mary.
what would have comfortably supported her
through life, had it been properly invested and
secured; but it was intrusted to him who knew
no law or honor except his own qualification,
and soon the health of the Younger brother was
destroyed and his spirit crushed by brutal vio-
lence and an only sister, the gay and accom-
plished daughter Of wealth and fashion, was a
pauperl
NO longer an ornament to their gay saloons,
tney did not wish her presence; destitute of
pity and human feeling, and influenced by no
sense OF duty, they banished her to the pau.
pers home, took possession of her little patri-
mony, and she was evermore q stranger among
her kindred.
Whether she understood and felt the wrong,
could not be known. She sat all day. patient
at her toll, and the incest articles in the ward.
ROBE OF him who wasted her substance and de-
stroyed her home were wrought by her hands.
NO expression Of unkindness escaped her lips,
ana there was no evidence that she was CON
sclcus of her degradation. Yet, while others
are revealing in the halls of her fathers, she is
crouchlng, shlvering, and almost starving In
lonely garnet. Whilst others are feasting at
the luxurious board, provided from the widows
ana the orphans portion, she is cropping in the
ashes for bone to satisfy craving hunger.
Yet this deceitful son and unnatural brother.
this rotber, thief-this inhuman monster-re.
celVed the highest honors of the State, and is
the repository of its most sacred trusts. He is
c!ynic-a cold and sneering skeptic-a naughty,
lmperlous aristocrat; and yet is numbered
among the worthless Of the early days of our
Republic
Here there was neither natural affection nor
family pride to restrain cruelty and subdue
sefshness; and, through the inhumanity of
her natural protectors, the daughter of a proud
house was brought to this deep humiliation.
There may be few who experience the extent
OF injustice and cruelty which fell to the lot Of
May % iigR but .1bs RS%Rarst Iae ERE m0fsa5.saa;
because those who are guilty of it are kindred,
and have an abundance.
Many would pronounce the daughters dis
obedience the cause of all her sorrow" she
should have married to please her father, in.
stead of obeying the instincts God gave her"
then very likely she would have had shelter and
food all her life; but her heart would still have
hungered, and her life, like that of many, would
have been living crime. She would have had
food and shelter, but better far to have lived
and died like Mary, and have been buried, like
her, in pauper's gravel