The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-03-15

BY OWEN JONES.

huillS tile "dlueriilgS OI my Garner QaY!
III Europe, visited the ancient city of Here
ford, place remarkable for its picturesque
beauty, its orderloviDg and intelligent peo
pie, and It's numerous charitable Institution.
established and endowed by the benevolent
centuries ago. 1t is adorned by many an
cient and sacred edificcs. 1t can also hoas,
Of being the birthplace of the famous actor
David Garrck. With what feelings of curl.
os;ty gazed upon the house in which the
great English Roscus first appeared upon
the stage Of life. There is strange imag.
mary halo which Fancy weaves around even
lnanlmate objects, when connected with gen.
luS.
had Just finished general survey of the
fine old cathedral of those magnificent
stupendous structures which stand as monu-
men,s OF the architectural skill of past ages,
when Was Informed that the assize term
had Just commenced in the County Court, so
| concluded to vary NV recreation by passing
an i.our there. 10 a student Of human na-
ture, ii criminal court affords mrch matter
for reiieclion-he can there mark the varied
shades Of character. entered the court and
took my place among the spectators. The
prellninaries incidental to the opening of the
court were passed through, and the first pr;s-
oner or the calendar was called to appear at
the bar. The crer called in s;entorian tone
-'Silence in the court" when poor, wretch
ed looking woman appeared, moving toward
the rail, which her trembling hands grasped
tor support. After moment or two sh,
raised hereves imploringly towards the Judge
Baron Wil!iams-and in tremulous voice
exclaimed
Oh. my lord. be merciful to me, for the
sake OF my poor children
Never had beheld more pitiiu picture
Of misery. poverty and despair than that poor
woman prescnted, as she stood there scantil,
,ItIirtd in WORKOUT widows habiliments.-
Sorrow had p!owed on her brow deep lines
OF care, and
sharp misery had worn her to the bone
There she stood, arraisned before one of the
highest itnctlunarIts OF the crown charged
with the terrible crime t?) of taking a lt;,
milk to satisfy the cravings of her staryi ing
children
h. lfIsoner, ii appeared, was poor wild
o" with five small children depending on he.
for bread, aidc.. only b, small pi,tance a
lo"td 10y the parish About 10 O'Clock on a
certain night she was met by the principal
witness against her-a farm servant she
Eeld IN her band small pail containing
N.}Ih, and was cl0sSing a stIle IN close proX-
unity to a field, wherein were a number OF
t4..n cows belonging to the master OF the
servant referred to, who. concluding that she
had been te!onlou.!v milking those COWS. al
rested her. anu IN spite Of all her entre.t.r>
AID prayers hurried her into the pre.enc. o.
The indignant farmer. who was deaf TO all he.
cries tor mercy. In his opinion the maesi,
OF the law should be- yindicated She wa>
soon usherrd before 'oapon-lined' Justice 0.
the peace, to whom She made confession in
IL" following words
i may as wei tell the truth | did milk q
drop Of milk for NY children. Forgive me
and oh. fox Coos sake, let me 90 home t.
lny poor hungry lit,le ones
But the farmer was iuexorablc and the poor
creature was ,uth.cssly dragged to the village
lookup. and on the following morning was
conveyed to tie county jail, distance OF
twenty ml!es,w here she had lain incmceaated
for lour long, Greayy months. The children
authorities, and the poor mother had 10,
been permitted to see one of them during the
period OF her confinement.
Her trial commenced, and Notwithstanding
her confession before the Justice, she pleaded
Not guilty. The first witness was the stoI-
id, Sleek looking servant, who gave his c,i-
dohct with as much emphasis and air of I'M!
purtunce as il aiding in the conviction OF
some terrible Geslcrado
Ihen followed the corpulent, ruddy farm
er, WHO had never felt the pangs of hunger,
and probably believed it to be fable, and
the word mere abstract term, 'signitying
nothing.'
Next appeared the justice. with his self
important gravity he testified to the prison.
er's confessions. The case seemed to be clear
iy made out against the poor woman, who
stood trembling with fear and dread of fur
ther imprisonment.
'llave YOU any counsel engaged ? asked
the Judge, III gentle tone.
NO, ny lord size replied, sobbing, 4 am
poor and frieNGless.'
At that mo nent, noble looking man-
Sergeant Godson-blcss him-rose up.
My lord said he, i will undertake the
prisoner Ce!tnce
confess was at loss to conceive how he
could succeed i'll defending case SO clearly
proven, coupled with ;he confession. But the
shre"d saSac!iy oi tie talented lawyer ena-
bltd hlm to penetrate deeper.
Let til. illst witness be called he said with
calm dignity.
lie soon appeared on the stand
Now tell me, ON your OATH said the coun-
sci, were there not other milk cows. the pro-
perty OF other farmers. in fields adjoining
that belonging to your master >
There were. SIR
Can you swear that the piisone: MIXED
your maste' 5 cows ?
i think She Gid.'
Can YOU swear she did :?
i cannot, because didn't see her do it..
That Will Dc, sad the lawy er, Wi ith smile
Then turning to the jury, he delivered one 0:
the finest impromptu, forensic efforts hav.
ever heard. What eIoquence What pa
ihos 1io" he dliated on the sutierings OF
the pilsoner-her long. gloomy incarceration
--her separation from her chi!dl en-the an
suioh she must have ielt-the temptations in
poverty and the need of charity. His pathos
touched the hearts Of all present-even the
Judge was moved to tears. Then followed a
scathing dell,. citation of the heartless farm.
or, VINO quaieu and blanched beneath the
burning words.
i could not exclaimed the orator, repress
my lnd!gna,ion-and | believe that every
Christian man in the court feels indignant a,
one Of the most heartess cases of inhumani
ty which has ever come under my notice, anL
thank God for this opportunity of pleading
in behalf of this poor widow, and vindicatina
the credit of humanity and the honor of m,