Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-09


lonely wife, bending over her daily toll, de-
voting her best years to the drudgery of,
sordld property, supported only by the
nope OF her husbauds's retnzn2 Who will
pant tbe slow progress ofheart sickness. the
wasting anguish OF hope deferred and finally.
the overwhelming agony (which came uoop
her when her last hope was extinuuisbed. and
she was compelled to believe herself ;ndeed
a widow Who can depict all this xithoue
awakening in your hearts the warmcst sym-
Pathy for the deserted wife, and the bitter
est scorn for the mean, pitiful wretch who
could thus tramPle on the heart of her
whom ne had sworn to love and cherishg
We need not inquire into his motives for
acting so base part. Whether it was love
OF gain, or licentiousncss, or selfish indiffcr-
eucc, n matters not; he is too vile thing
to be Judged by the laws hat govern men.
Let US ask the witness-she who stands
before Us with the frank, fearless brow of a
true-hearted woman-let us ask her which
OF these two has been to her fstherr
Turning to the lady, in a tone whose
sweetness was a strange contrast with the
scornful accent that had Just characterized
bis words, he besought her to relate brief
ly the recollections of her early life. A
slight flush passed over her proud and
beautiful face, as she repied Ny first
recolfectlons are Of small, ill-furnisbed
apartment, which my sister and myself
shared with mother, in wh;ch VIC lahored
daily. She used to carry out evory Satur-
day evening, the work which occupied her
during the week, and bring back employ
mcnt for the following one. Saving that
wearisome visit to her employer, and her
regular attendance at church, she never
left the house. She often spoke of our
father, and also of bis anticipated return.
but at length she ceased to mention him,
though | observed she used TO weep more
frequently than ever. i then ttought she
Wept because we were 50 poor, for it some-
times happened that our only supper was
a bit of dry bread, and she was accustomed
to see by the light of the chiDs which she
kindicd to warm her farashel children,
because she could NOT afford to purchase
candle without depriviBg US of our morn
ing meal. Such was orr poverty when my
mother contracted secoHi marriage, and
the change to us was ike sudden en-
q
and father She paused.
Would you excite my own child against
me " cried tire plaintiff, as he impatieutly
waved his hand for her to be silent.
The eyes of the witness flashed fire as
she spoke. You are not my father ex-
claimed she vehemently.
claim yoS oS HitfsrfS HHifs -A Sanh nhsstt sstt6 div
father 2 you, who basely left your wife to
toll, and your children to beggaryG New
sr! neyerl Behold, there is my father
pointing to the agitated defendant thero
IS the man who watched over my infancy
-whowas the sbarer Of ny childish sports,
and the guardian of my inexperienced
youth. There is he who Claims my affec-
tions and shares my home there is nay
father. For yonder selfish wretch, know
him not The best years Of his life have
been spent in lawiess freedom from social
tics; let him seek elsewhere for the COM
panion of his decrepitudc, nor dare insult
the ashes of my mother By claiming the
duties of kindred to her dcselted childrenp
She drew her veil hastily around her a.
she spoke, and giving her haad to Burr
moved, as if to Withdraw. a
Gentlemen, said Burr, L have no more
to say. The words of the law arc express
ed in the book before you; the voice OF
truth you have Just heard from woman's
Pnrc bps; It is for you TO decide according
to the acquisitions of nature and the de-
crees of Justice
! need scarcely add that our decision
was such as to oserwheim the plaintiff with
| well-merited shame