The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-07-17
X TRUE STORY.


"When she was Just three weeks old"
added Burr. 'Nentlencn, " continucd he,
turnipg ops, ~ haze brought This lady
think. SHE is The piaintiff-s counsci has
pleaded cioquently IN behalf OF the be
reaved husband, who escaped the pcrils of
the sea and returned only TO find home des-
Olate. But who will picture 10 you The
lonely wife, bending over her daily toll,
devoting her best yems 10 the drudgcry of
sordid poverty. supported only by the hope
of her husbands return2 Who will pic
ture the slow process Of heart sickening
| the anguish of hope deferred, and finally
the overwhelming agony which came upon
| her when her last hope was eXtingushcd
aud she was compelled TO believe herself
indeed widowY Who can depict all this
without awakening IN your hearts the
warmest sympathy for the deserted wife,
and the Interest scOrn for the mean, piiihl
wretch who could thus trampie on the
heart of herw whom he sworc TO love and
cherish We need not inquire into his mo-
tives for acting so buse a part Whether
u was love Ot gain or licentiousncss or
selfish indifference, II matters not hc g.
too vile thing 10 be judged by such laws
as govern men. Let us ask the Wines
she who now stands before MS with the
frank, fearless brow of true hearted wo-
man--let us ask which Of these two has
been to her father"
| Turning To the lady, In a tone whose
sweetness was strange contrast with the
scornful accents which just characterized
his words, he besOught her 10 relate briefly
the recollections of her early life A slight
| flush passed over her proud and beautiful
face as she replied:
| my first rccollectiOns are n small. ILL
furnished apartment, which my sister and
myself shared with my mother She used
to carry out every Saturday evening the
work which had occupied her during the
week, and bring back employment for the
following one. Saving this wearisOnle visit
TO her employers and her regular attend
ance Mt church, she never left the house.
She often spoke of my father, and of the
anticipated return, but mt length she
ceased to mention him, though | observed
she used To weep more frequently than
ever. then thought she wcpt because we
were poor, for II sometimes happened that
our support was only bit of dry bread;
and she was accustomed To see by the light
OF the chips which she kindlcd 10 warm her
famishing children, because she could not
purchase candle without dcpriying us of
our morning meal Such was our poverty,
when my mother contracted a second mar
riage, and the change 10 us was like a sud
den entrance 10 ParaBlgc We found "A
home and u tathor7 She paused.
Would you excite my own child against
me" cried the plaintiff, as he impatieutly
waved his hand for her to be silent
The eyes ofthc witness flashed fire as
she spoke. ra.lh 5. tI id l# fUI W.h
"NOu are not my fathcr,n exclaimed she
vchemently. "What, call you my father
you who 50 basely left your wife to toll
and your children TO beggary! Neverl
never! Behold there my father" pointing
TO the agitated defendant; there Is tue
man who watched over my infancy-wh0
WAS the sliarer of my childish sports and
the guardian of my inexperienced youth.
There is the man who claims.my tfiection
and shares my home; there is my taiher.
AS for yondcr selfish wretch, know him
not The best years of his life have been
spent In lawless freedom from social ties;
let him seek elsewhere for the companions
of his decrcpitudc, nordnre insult the ashes
of my mother by claiming the dutics Of
kindred from her deserted children. |I
She drew her veil hastily around her rs
she spoke, and moved rs IL 10 withdraw.
"Gentlemet," said Burr, II have no more
TO sny. The words OF The law are expressed
Ia the book before you tiio words OF truth
you beard from woman's pare lips; il ID for
you to decide according to the rcquisition
Of nature and the decrecs of justlce.
need not say that our decision was In
favor OF the. defendant, and the pltntff
went forth followed by the contempt of
OF every honorable person who was present
at the trial. "