Year: 1866

here as an important witness and such,
think she is. The plaintiff s counsel has
pleaded eloquently in behalf Of the be-
reaved 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 her daily
tod, devoting her best years to the drudg-
cry of sordid poverty, supported only by
the hope Of her husbands return Who
will picture the slow process of heart-sick-
ening, the wasting anguish of hope defer
red, and finally the overwhelming agony
which came upon her when her last hope
was extinguished, and she was compelled
to believe herself widow. Who can de-
pict all this without awakening in your
hearts the warInest sympathy for the de-
serted wife. and the interest scorn for the
mean, vile wretch, who could thus tram
pie nthe heart of her whom he swore to
love and cherish We need not enquire
into his motive for acting so base part
Whether it was love of gain or licentious-
ness, or selfish indifference, it matters not;
he is too vile thing to be judged by such
laws as govern men. Let us ask the wit
ness-she who now stands before us with
the frank, fearless brow Of true hearted
woman-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 accent which just characterised
his words, he besought her to relate brief
ly the recollections of her early life. A
slight flush passed over her proud and
beautiful face as she replied:


"My first recollections are of small Ill
furnh he'd apartment which my sister and
myself ,'hared 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 her wearisome
visit to her employers and her regular at
tendance 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. | then thought she wept 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 de-
priving US of our morning meal Such
was our poverty when my mother contrae-
ted second marriage, and the change to
us was like sudden entrance to Paradise.
We found home and father" She paued.


"Would you excite my own child against
me-" cried the plaintiff as he impatientIy
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
snd your children to beggary! Nerer!-
Behold there my father" pointing to the
agitated defendant, 'there is the man who
watched over my infancy-who was the
sharer of my childish sports and the guar
dian of my inexperienced youth. There
is the man who claims my affection and
shares my home; there is my father. For
yonder 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
decrepitude, nor dare to insult the ashes
of my mother by claiming the duties of
kindred from her deserted children"


She drew her veil hastily around her as
she spoke, and moved as if to withdraw.


gentleman" said Burr, 81 have no
more to say. The words of the law are
expressed in the book before you; the
words of truth you have heard from wo-
mans pure lips; it is for you to decide ac-
cording to the requisition of nature and
tina DEGREES of justice" r


l need not say that our decision was in
favor of the defendant, and the plaintiff
went forth followed by the contempt of
every honorable person who was present
a. the trial