dier's wife. The time at length arrived for her to depart, and
with her two children, a few articles of clothing, and a small sum of
money, she was placed within our lines, far from any human habitation,
and left to find a shelter as best she could.

"To this city she bent her footsteps, and here she anticipated finding
an asylum for herself and children. Gentlemen, we all well know that,
unfortunately for our cause and country, the evils Speculation and
Extortion, had spread their leprous wings and covered our land with
destitution. To a man of this city, who, before the world's eye,
appeared the Christian and the man of benevolence, but who in his
dealings with his fellow-men, was as vile an extortioner as the most
heartless; to this man she went and hired a room in which to find a
shelter. Finding she was a refugee and fearing an evil day, he bound
her down by law to suffer ejectment the moment she could no longer pay
the rent. Ignorant of the weapon she placed in his hands, she signed
the deed, and after paying a portion of the rent in advance, left him
and assumed possession. Mark well, gentlemen, what I have said. In his
action we find no Christianity--no benevolence; nothing but the spirit
of the extortioner is here manifested. There is no feeling of sorrow
shown at her unfortunate position, no disposition evinced to shield
the helpless mother and her babes. No! we find his actions narrowed
down to the sordidness of the miser, the avariciousness of the
extortioner. A feeling of surprise at such conduct may flit across
your bosoms, gentlemen, and you may perchance doubt that I can show a
man of this city, so bereft of charity, so utterly oblivious to all
the better feelings of humanity, but I shall before long call his
name, and give such evidence of the truth of my assertions, as will be
beyond contradiction or doubt.

"To another man the soldier's wife went for the purpose of purchasing
a few articles of furniture. Of him I have little to say at present.
It is true that without caring who and what she was, his merchandize
was sold to her at the _speculator's_ price. But he had the right to
charge whatever he pleased, and therefore I have nothing to say
against him for that.

"Weeks passed on, and the soldier's wife found herself without the
means of purchasing food for her children. The hour had at last
arrived when she was utterly destitute. In the meantime her husband
lay in a foreign prison, ignorant of th