Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-08-13

becomes villain in day. Congenial as
sin may be to natural heart and inclined
as the wicked may be in the pursui! of
vice, there is first step in the path of
every crime. At that point in the career
Of guilt, the man would have shuddered at
the thought of deeds which afterwards he
performs without remorse. He never
dreamed Of the extremity TO which one
transgression would lead.
Several examples occur to mind just
now.
A young lawyer with connections ofthe
highest responsibility, and talents to secure
him an elevated rank in his profession,
married lovely womaE. and entered on
life with the brightest prospect of success
and happiness. The increasing expenses
of family demanded an increasing income,
and as business did not advance as rapidly
as he desired, in an evil hour he placed
the names of some of his best friends to a
note, and drew a sum of money from the
bank. He promised himself that before it
was due, he should be ready to meet it,
and his crime would never be known.
The note was renewed by forgery. 1t
was an easy mode of raising m oney and
become easier the ofiener he employed it.
For season he was successful, but when
was dishonesty the bes. policy in the end !
His guilt was discovered. He fled from
justice and was hunted through the woods
i'll winter, like beast. His young wife
woke almost in madness, to the conscious
ness that she was the wife of feIon.-
His retreat was at length cut off. He was
arrested, but escaped again.
He flew to the chamber of his wife,
The embrace was short and full of agony.
He wept; and she rung her hands. but ut
tered no reproach. She loved him too
much, even in his shame.-He must fly
again. He did fly and was again arrested
and brought to trial. The case was plain
one there was no defence; there could
be none he was sentenced to the State
Prison for term of years. His measure
of infamy was full. Now and then an old
acquaintance looked in upon his cell, where
he pursued his solitary toll, but he never
looked up. They said he was pining
away, and they made an effort to procure
his release. But death was before him and
he went from prison to judgment.
went into the hospital Of the Prison
at Sing Sing. some years ago and there lay,
in the last struggles of life, man of fine
! form and noble countenance. He was ra-
| wing in delirium, and soon died mad. l
asked his name and history, and found that
he was young lawyer from the city of
| New York, who had begun his course of
crime by stealing paltry articles of clothing
from his associates soon he laid his hands
on money; and by and by he vas detected
when far advanced in guilt. His end l
have just mentioned. He was Il child of
luxury, and had never known rant. And
when he lay dying in the prison hospital,
cut off from the tenderness and sympathy
that would have softened death bed in
the house Of parental love, thought how
truly the way of the transgressor is hard.
| clerk in store, a teller in bank. an
agent in his office, constantly handling the
money of others, is tempted to apply a lit
tie to his own use, with the promise made
to himself that he will restore it and spec
Oily. But he finds it easier to borrow than
to pay, when no one calls him to an ac>
count. The more he takes the more he
wants to take. He begins course of ex-
travagance, and falls into sins that require
! money to secure the indulgence. He spec
ulates, in hopes of paying all back at once;
every plunge increases his embarrass-
ments his guilt breaks out !; he flies from
| ns,;co a. Lost GOLF rs;nod ,,,o,. Wbot -
him, are the arrows that have pierced the
fond hearts of too confiding friends. He
| planted those arrows, but can never draw
them.
Now there was a time when that man
was what the world call virtuous. He