Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-03-27

noon IN the spring when we met to hear this
singular case. The sunlight streamed
through the dusty windows of the court
room and shed halo around the long gray
locks and forehead of the defendant while
the plaintiff S harsh features were thrown
into still bolder relief by the same beam
which seemd to soften the placid counte-
nance of his adversary.
| The plaintiff lawyer made most elo-
aaent appeal for his client, and had we not
been informed about the matter our hearts
would have been melted by this touching
description of the return of the desolate
| husband, and the great agony with which
| he beheld his household gods removed to
eonsecrate stranger hearth. The cele-
brated Aaron Burr was the counsel tor the
defendant, and we anticipated from him a
splendid display of oratory.
| Contrary to our expectations, however, he
made no attempt to contute his opponent s
| eloquent oratory He merely opened book
| of statutes, and pointing with his thin fin
| gers to one of the pages, desired the refer
ees to read it while he retired moment for
| the principal witness
We had scarcely finished the section which
| fully decided the matter in our minds, when
Burr re-entered with tall and elegant fe-
male leaning on his arm. She was attired
| In simple white dress, with wreath of
| ivy leaves encircling her large straw bonnet,
and lace veil completely concealing her
countenance. B lrr whispered few words,
apparently encouraging her to advance and
then gracefully raised her veil, disclosing to
US face of proud, surprising beauty. [
recollect as well as if it happened yesterday,
| how simultaneous the murmur of admira.
| tlon burst from the lips of all present.
Turning to the plaintiff, Mr.. Burr asked in
a cold quiet tone: DO you know this lady?'
Il do"
''Will you swear to that %
Il will, to the best of my knowledge and
| belief; she is my daughter.
Can you swear to the identity?"
Il can"
''W hat is her age?''
of April.
when did you last see her p
"At her own house, about fortnight
When did you see her previous to that
meeting?
The plaintiff hesitated-a long pause en-
sued-the question was repeated, and the
answer at length was: when she was just
three weeks old.
when she was just three weeks old, )"
added Burr. Gentlemen. continued he,
turning to rs, Il have brought this lady
here as an important witness, and such |
think she is. The plaintiff counsel has
plead eloquently in behalf of the bereaved
husband, who escaped the perils of the sea
and returned only to find home desolate.
But who will picture to you the lonely wife,
bending over the daily toll, devoting her
best years to the drudgery of sordid poverty.
supported only by the hope of her husband 5
retarp? Who will picture the slow process
of heart sckenlng, the wasting anguish of
hopes deferred, and finally the overwhelm-
ing agony which came upon her when her
last hope was extingushed and she was COM
PEELED to believe herself widow? Who
can depict all this without awakening in
your hearts the warmest sympaty for the
deserted wife, and the uttermost scern for the
mean, vile wretch, who could thus trample
on the heart of her whom he swore to love
and cherish? We need not inquire into his
motive for acting so base part. Whether
it was love of gain, or licentiousness, or sell
fish indifference, it matters not; he is too
vile thing to be judged by such laws as
govern men, Let us ask the witness-she
who stands before US with the frank, fearless
brow of true hearted woman-let us ask
whichs.of these two has been to her father.
Turning to the lady In a tone whose sweet
ness was strange contrast with the scorn-
full accent which characterized his words, he
besought her to relate briefly the recollec-
tions of her early life, \ proud flush pas
sed over her beautiful face as she replied;
My first recollections are of a small i'll
furnished apartment, which my sister and
myself shared with my mother. She used
to carry out every Saturday the work which
had occupied her during the week, and bring
| back employment for the following one.
Saving her wearlsome visits to her employ
ers and her regular attendance at church.
! She never left the house. She often spoke
of my father, and of his anticipated return,
but at length she ceased to mention him,
though observed she used to weep more
frequently than ever, L then thought she
/ went because we were poor, for it sometimes
| happened that our support was only bit OF
! dry bread !: and she was accustomed to see
/ by the light of chips which she kindled to
/ warm her famishing children, because she
! could not purchase candle without depriv-
! ing US of our morning meal. Such was our
poverty when my mother contracted her sec
ond marriage, and the change TO Us was like
a sudden entrance to Paradise. We found
home and a father" She paused.
Would you excite my own child against
me ?" cried the plaintiff, as he impatiently
waved his hand for her to be silent.
The eyes of the witness flashed fire as she
spoke:
'.You are not my father exclaimed she,
vehemently. "What call you my father :
YOU who so basely left your wife to toll for
your children when reduced to beggary !
Never! Behold there is my father, pointing
to the calm defendant; ''thereis the man who
watched over my infancy, who wasthe sharel
of my childish sports, and the guardian of my