Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-02-28
Mistrltang
s=-a35 From Ballou's Pictorial.
RESTORING A HUSBAND.
BY JOHN THoRNBERRY.

One pleasant morning in the fall, was
sitting alone in my Office, coming over
brief 1 had just prepared for case
then pending, when I heard knock on
nay door, and in walked young woman,
with a pleasantly sad expression of
countenance, carefully dressed, who de-
sired to know if I could transact little
legal business for her.
She Immediately seated herself, and
after some hesitation began and went
through with her story.
. 1t seemed that her husband, who was
given to turns of extreme dissipation,
had deserted her of his own choice, and
she had heard nothing from him for a
number of years. At first she was I'm
willing to belive that his absence was
anything more than temporary, as he
had at several times forgotten his obli-
cations to her in this way; but, finding
it became protracted indefinitely, she en-
tertained fears for his safety.
Thoughtless, apparently of his wife's
distress of mind, and caring nothing
whether she ever received tidings of him
, or not, be followed after his own incli-
nations, and led the life of wretched
vagabond Yet he carefully kept his
whereabouts secret from his wife S ears
Perhaps in this one particular he did
have some regard for her feelings. She
gave me her name as Mrs. Mallows.
"Henry," said she, "was once my all
in all; and'-the tears swimming in her
blue eyes-"I love him now as much as
I ever did. pity him SO"
Poor woman! How much was she to
be pitied herself
81 have earned aliving for myself and
my little girl, she continued, sever since
/ was left alone. Besides that, [ have
bought little plain, but necessary fur
niture, and put something into the
savings bank"
"He has been gone several years, you
say?'' I asked her.
ayes, sir. He must have been, in Or
der to give poor woman like myself
any time to lay aside little money
II suppose you wish to secure your
savings, then, against
ayes, sir. He must not have them!
1t will never do! Think of my childr'
l told her what theAlaw was, and re-
GREETED that such Law was tolerated ON
the statute book
She looked at me as if she wished to
tear the leaf out Of the statutes with her
own hand. k,~-a
81 knew how it was," said she, ssand
for that purpose have prepared to take a
step that otherwise never would take
in the world. Imust obtain diuorce."
I studied her countenance WE'LL for it
challenged my scrutiny then. It was
that of brave and noble woman, who
from duty and principle makes a sacri-
flee whose greatness the world can never
measure.
81 wish it could be avoided" said she;
"but how is it possible? Even if he re-
turns and claims what l have saved, be-
fore separation is legally effected, he
can take it all without any power Of
mine to prevent it. Is it not so?''
/ was obliged to confess it was.
"Then, - said she, with sad resolu-
tion, "this step must be taken. It tears
my heart, but | will do my duty to my
child
I therefore took such data from her
lips as enabled me to bring a petition
before the proper court. While | sat
making the memorandum, she threw in
various exclamations of sorrow at the
state of things with her, that excited me
with unusual sympathy. [ know that
lawyers are not apt to be the most senti-
mental Of men, nor to cultivate on their
part the liveliest of sensibilities. But
here was case to challenge, ia many of
its connecting circumstances, the sym
pathy of any living creature I'did not
hesitate, accordingly, to render the poor
lady full measure of my better feelings
in return for her sorrow, and l shall
never hesitate, hope, to do so in any
persons case that may come in my way.
"Poor Henryn' she would say
"Poor Henry! 1 loved him so much!-
/ can't but love him yet! How can I
forget those early days?'
The safest way for me was, while she
talked thus and cried too, to hold my
head down as closely to my paper as
possible. AT some points of her story,
I do not believe I could have looked
her in the face without helping the un-
happy creature along with tears Of my
own.
"When we were married." said she
again. 81 didn't think of days like
these. I wouldn't have believed it if