The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-08-27

pnrloiDcd Il, If you wanted II?
"There are wants Of the SOUL" replied
the youth, "as well as Of the body; mine
were the former"
"Come, GOMEZ quoih bis worship, :" this
is trifling with the respect due to mine Of
fee. ! insist upon knowing your name,
that the clerk may enter ii in the deposi-
ton. What is your name, sirrah -
George Wilson. Have you aught more
with me 2"
"Ohi" exclaimed his worship, in tone
of irony, "what! you have name have
you when you are put 10 it? dare be
sworDyou have on alias too. George Will
son. niios what"
II have answered you," replied the pris
onef calmly, but proudly. "What further
questions 20
"None," said bis worship. "Take him
to PRISON.
The constables were about to remove
him, when he put them aside with a delib
crate air, and addressed his worship
"Having answered all your questions,
now hear me. have been brought before
you as an offender against the laws. You
are appointed to maintain and enforce those
laws. NV offence is small, and hope. jns
t,fiable in the sight of Heaven :" and he
raised his eyes,streaming with tears. "God
knows from what motives have acted -
they wero solemn ones" His voice falter-
ed a little, but soon recovered its wonted
frmncss. : 1t was your duty he con;nn-
ed, to take the dispositions ofmy accuser,
and TO act upon them according TO law
But who gave you power, who gave you
right, 10 insult me with needless questions,
To oppress me with mean insinuations, to
wound me with your puny wii9 The con-
scionsness of that protection which your
station throws around you should have
made you merciful. | inccnsed you by no
insolence Of manner. by no turbulence Of
conduct. | bore your tauuts with mlldness
Surely il would become you 10 distinguish
between the hardened sinner and the low
y one-between the perpetrator in greet
misdeeds, and the offender in triiIog ones.
What is the amount of my crime |
attempted 10 despoii this man oI a lopf of
bread. had no money; Ind no friends;
had no home but ! had-God Of lleav
en- hear and forgive me, had father an
aged, helpless, blind, and dying father,call.
ing aloud for food, and no raven ofthe des
crt to bring il him. Poor old man would
have plucked the morsel from hungry
bear to have given thee, rather than have
longer heard thy feeble wailings for want !;
rather than still have beheld thy sightless
eye.balls rolling in their sockets, and turn
cd towards Heaven to inplore its plying
help
What had 10 fear from man? From
man, who is my brother! From man, whose
heart should feel for misery! Three long
days and three mise rable nights has my
IN tpI hat hac ho Mi
ed, inch h.meal, away; in that time has he
drank nothing but the water of the stag
nant pool in that time has he cursed his
groaned beneath the bony grasp Of death
Stretched on the bare earth, with no shel
ter from tho inclement skies but what the
embowering trees could give him, no pill
low for his head bu: the green turf, no
covering for his wasting body but his tat
tered clothes, there he lies, dark, dark, and
famished.
Il have shared his hunger; have shar.
cd his watching have sat by him, and
longcd TO hear his last sigh Every mo
ment expected it, and would not leave
him. His cries for food cyaded, believing
a death at hand. shuddered at the though,
of lengthening a wretched life few sad
hours! ! sat in gloomy desperation, hoping
TO SEQ him expire! Aye! look on horror.
! pantcd--i thirsted to behold that wasted
form stretched in the arms of death for
what is life TO the blind the aged, the nee.
dy, and the ailing? Who that IS thus bow
ed down with the infrmitics OF nature, and
oppressed by the tyranny Of man, would
arrest the silent strides of death? DO you
abhor the savage of the deserr who leaves
his aged parent to perish he is more mer
clful than we who shut ont the grave, even
when we are shut ont from the world and
the worlds delights
Fixed was my gloomy purpose and !
ant, in horrid silence, by my father, heav-
ing in the ihroes Of death. With the green
mantle of the standing pool weued his
lips as often as he called for drink: when
he moened for food | was silent as the
molc (; he knew not that was near him..
Ncart rending was my task, and dreadful
~ ! fulfilled IL. When the darkness of
night eneompassed the creation, when all
was stiffness and solemn gloom, then have
sat impaticn,ly listening to my father as
he gasped for iic The fever's fiery fang
had unstrung his joints, and he could not
move. Still MS he called for drinkI was at
hand but, when he bade me feed him, |.
answered not Vain hope. Each morn.
ing's dawn showed him TO me still living
bu' still dying!
The length Of my trial subduod my res
olu,ion; tho energy which despair and mis-.
cry had lent me VAS weakened the iron
purpose Of my heart gave way, and when
saw my father lingering in the rsngs Of
death, yet struggling to live; when view.
his cmacin'ed farm still triumphing over
hunger and the fever's rage; when be.
held-him gnawing the very earth OIL which