Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-04-05

. ''Gentlecn,' ~ continued he, turning 10 US,
" have brought this lady here as an inn
portant witness, and such. 1 think, she 10.
The plaintiffs counsel has pleaded elo-
quently in behalf of the bereaved husband,
who escaped the perils of the sea, and re-
turned only to find his home desolate. But
who will picture to you the lonely wife,
bending over her daily toll, devotiug her
best years to the drudgcry Of sordid pover
ty, supported only by the hope of her hus
bands return Who will picture the slow
process of heart sickening, the anguish G
hope deferred, and finally the overwhclm-
ing agony which came upon her when her
last hope was extingushed, and she was
compelled to believe herself indeed wi
dow ? Who can depict all this without
awakening in your hearts the warmest
sympathy for the deserted wife. and the ut
most sCorn for the mean pitiul 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 a part. Whether it was love of
gain, or licentiousness, or selfish inditier-
ence, it matters not /; he is too vile a thing
to be judged by such laws as govern men.
Let us ask the wtness-she now stands be-
fore us with the frank, fearless brow of
true-hearted womau-let us ask which of
these has been To her a father 7" .t
Turning to the lady, in a tone whose
sweetness was a strange contrast with the
scorntul accent that just characterized his
words, BE beSUught hel TO relate briefly the
recoilections of her carly life. A slight
flush passed over her proud and beautiful
face as she replied .-+.... .. .. ..,...s
MY first recollections are ef q small. ILL
furnished apartment, which my sister and
myself shared with my mother. She used
t, carry out every Saturday evening thework
which had occupied her during the week,
and bring back employment for the follow
ing one. Saving this wearsome visit to
her employers, and her regular attendance
at Church, she never left the house. She
often spoke of my father, and of his anti
cipated return, but at length she ceased to
mention him, though 1 observed she used
to weep more frequently than ever. | then
Thought she wept because we were poor,
tor it sometimes happened that our sup.
port was only bit of dry bread : and she
was accustomed to sew by the light of the
chips which she iindled to warm her fam.
ishinS children, because she could not pur-
chase Il candle without depriving us of our
morning meal. Such was our poverty
when our mother contracted second mar
riage, aud the change to us was like sud-
den entrance to Paradise. We found
home and father" She paused.
Would you turn my own child against
me Z" cried the plaintiff, as he impatient
ly 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 vchemently. What call YOU nv IA
ther-you, who so basely left your wife to
toll, and your childreu to beggary? New
er! Never Behold there my father y,
pointing to the agitated defendant. There
is the man who watched over my infancy
who was the sharcr of my childish
sports, and the guardian of my inexperi-
enced youth. There is the man who
claims my affection and shares nv home !;
there is my .tatter. AS for yonder recre-
ant wretch, L know him not. The best
years OF his life have been spent in lawless
freedom from social ties let him seek else
where for companions suitable to his deere
pitude, nor dare insult the ashes of my
mother by claiming the duties of kindred
from her deserted Children.
She drew her veil closely around her as
she finished speaking, and moved as if
about 10 withdraw.
"Gentemen,n said Burr. 81 have no
more 10 say. The words of the law are
expressed in the book before YOU; the
words of truth you have heard from wu-
mans pure lips; it is for you to decide ac.
cordlng To the acquisitions of nature and
the DEGREES of iustire.n
need not say that our decision was in
! favor OF the defendant, and the plaintiff
went forth followed by the contempt of ev-
cry honorable person who was present at
the trial.