Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-25

actly with the one stolen from Mrs. How
ard, but the very initials of her %uncle's
name, Richard Elmington were engraved
on the inside.
The prosecution opened the case. The
attorney was an old, experienced lawyer,
and arbitrary withal. Miss Howard's
dressing maid, a brazen faced girl of some
i've and twenty years, swore positively,
that she had seen the prisoner take some
small article from the table where the
ring had been laid bnt a few moments
before, and hide it about her person and
also that she appeared to be in a hurry
to get away from the house.
Mr.. Hardsoul testified to the defendant
to having called at his shop to obtain
trust for bread. He had noticed at the
time the curious ring upon her finger,
which he could identify with the one now
exhibited in court.
The case was about to be given to the
Jury, for Lefty had no money to employ
a counsel. when there was a hurried move,
ment near the door of the court house.
and a stately. determined form strobe
into the arena.
Counsellor Harrington z was whis-
pered through the crowd.
The new m after saluting the Judge
upon the bench, approached the pale pris
oner.
The nature of the case excuses any lib.
critics am about to take" he said, adj
dressing Lofty. ALLOW me to INQUIRE
II you have any one to speak in your be
half?"
Alas sir," returned Lefty, half raising
her hopeless eyes to his face. who would
plead for the poor and fatherless ?"
God and justice 7 returned Counsel
lor Harrington, emphatically land
as their humble instrument, will sift thi.
affair to the bottom. Please state to me
briefly. your life from your birth up tc
the present. time"
Lefty obeyod, relating the most import
ant circumstances IN a few words.
Did Miss Howard pay you for your
work p inquired Mr.. Harrington.
Lefty hesitated, but at length replied
mo sir, it was not convenient
"H'm! said the counsellor Every
many things are not convenient with the
rich. Your fathers Christian name, il
you please p
Robert-Robert Everett" said LEFTY
Very well,n said the counsellor
Take courage, Miss Everett" Their
addressing the court be said, May il
please your lordship, and gentlemen o.
the jury, | stand before you in behalf O
one whom / believe innocent of the crime
with which the mistaken justice of indi
yiduals would brand her. A few mo
ments, gentlemen, and | will sum briefly
the facts OF the case (; A young, tender
girl is left an orphan In the blank
darkness Of midnight death s~tifens th,
form of a beloved father, and stills the
warm pulsations Of his heart for ever
Care and devotion, not even love, coulC
save him, and the cold gray of morning
looked IN upon a corpse Even a mert
angulshing scene saw that same morning
light--a d~esolate orphan An exami
nation of the affairs of that dead HUSBAND
and father tells a fearful story. Unluck,
speculatlons have swept away, with on,
fell swoop, his once princeiy fortune
and from the bosom of splendor to th,
feet Of abject poverty his helpless family
have fallen. Such a change, even te
those who could look around and counr
not one Missing from their household cir
Gle, would be a bitter change but tc
that poor widow and stricken orphan
with the damp, cold blight of death hang
ing over all, it was indeed terrible =
Plain sewing. and occasionally tediou.
embroidery-those last resources of re
duced gentlewomen-are resorted to-
Aching brain, weary fingers and breaking
hearth A fashionable lady, one rich il
this worlds goods, engages this friend
less girl to ornament q robe which is Il
fall around her peerless form on her birth
night. 1t must be magnificent, it mus
be wrought with exceeding great skill
Would a clumsily- embroidered fabric be
a fitting drapery for athe fairest of fash
ions bellies ? a meagre pittanee, a triae
to the rich-life, hope, everything to this
poor, suffering child Of poyerty-is offer
ed in recompense. Weary days, with
cold, and want, and hunger ever present
} and the work is finished. Cheered by
hope, it is taken home. The young belle
cannot pay the laborer-it is not conye
nientl The poor wan seamstress entreats
and with the pale face of a starving moth.
er before her eyes She even pleads but
she talks to stone She goes ous from
the presence Of the rich with all her load
Of care and grief She applies to a be.
ing bearing the resemblance o. man, fol-
one loaf Of bread, promising to pay in a
few DAYS. It is refused The last hone
is fed She thinks Of the ring upon her
finger, but she banishes the temptation.
L is the last gift Of her departed father
Iii contains that which keeps his blessed
memory green in her heart, and she can.
not part with it even to conciliate death
She goes to her cold, bare home. and her
wretched mother, empty-handedl They
kneel to implore the assistance Of thai
God who they think has forsaken them
their deyotions are disturbed by the so.
called officers Of justice. And why I
Simply because from the young belle,the