The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-04-24
A FELLOW FEELING.
HE KNEW now 1T WAS HIMSELF.

HE KNEW now 1T WAS HIMSELF.
Lately young German girl named Anne
liza Donnerschlag, having trustful conf
dence in the laws of her country, as ex-
pounded by Banyon, went before that JUS
tce and began suit for 5000 against Au-
gust Behrens for breach of promise. She
would have sued for more, but 5000 is the
limit of the jurisdiction of justice, and
that is why she stopped at that figure, not
but what she esteemed her love to be worth
much higher sum. A warrant was issued
and the case came up. The complainant
stated that she had known the defendant
in Germany, and had become engaged to
him there. He had emigrated to this coun-
try in order to earn a home, and she had
followed him in the course of year.
Soon after her arrival, finding him in good
circumstances, she pressed him to fulfill
his promise, but he refused to do so. Hence
the suit. The justice asked the young man
if he had any thing to say in his behalf,
and he stated he bad.
Mr.. Hehrens-As this young lady says,
your honor, was engaged to her in Ger
many, where she was living with her father.
came to Chicago and boarded at the house
of her sister and mother, who were living
on North Division street, and lived with
them for nine months. During that nine
months had many opportunities to watch
the ways of this young lady's mother, and
7 ~, 10, Ill
At this point the brow of the justice I'M
bent His manner, which had been par
ticlarly gloomy, began to change, and he
looked with something of friendliness upon
Mr.. BehreDs.
excuse me, said the judge. 81 should
like to ask you few questions. But this
woman says that she intended to live with
you after you were married? Did she in
form you that she was ready to take all the
care of the household off your hands? Did
she ask you to let her save up your money?
Did she say that she could take care of it
great deal better than you could?
EYES," said MIR. Behrens.
SEQ on" said the judge.
Mr. Behrens-When this young lady
came over here from Germany she did ask
me to marry her. and was ready to, and
1 told her 1 was. But she said that her
mother must live with us and keep house
for us. told her 1 had watched the ways
of her mother, and that was not pleased
with them, that loved her deeply, and was
ready to marry her, but did not wish to
marry her mother also, who was a woman
of lordly and unpleasant habits, and insist
ed upon feeding me too much upon cab
bage, vegetable have always had dis
like for. am ready. your honor. to marry
her now, providing that she will leave her
mother out in the cold; but will not marry
the old woman. have made up my mind
to that, no matter what comes.
The Jnstice-Now let me ask you, nv
young friend. which would you rather do
pay down 5000, or marry the young lady
and have her mother with you.
Mr.. Behrens (irmly)-I will pay the 5000.
The Justice-Allow me to shake hands
with you. l envy your firmness. There
was a period in the life of this court Mr..
Behrens, when it was placed in circum-
stances somewhat similar to your own. If
it had had the moral courage which you
possess, it would have saved about twenty
five years of misery and unhappiness.-
The alternative was presented to this court
whether it would marry young lady and
her mother, or whether it would pay 1925 in
gold. This court was poor at the time; it
was earning an unsatisfactory living at the
restaurant business. 1t yielded 1t took
the young woman and the mother-in-law
and kept the 1925. For quarter of GEN.
fury this court regretted it's hasty action.
1t is glad to meet a man who cherishes hap
piness more than he does money. The Or
der of the court is that the defendant stand
discharged, and that the complainant who
has been trying to bring man into slavery
to mother in law, be fined $40 and costs.