Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-03-31
The First step i'm Crime.

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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 transgresslon would lead.
Several examples occur to mind just now
A young lawyer, with connexions of the
highest responsibility, and talents 10 secure for
him an elevated rank in his profession, married
lovely woman and entered on life with the
brightest prospects 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 note, and drew sum of money
from the bank. He promised himself that be-
fore 1t 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 money, and became easier the
oftener he employed it, For a season he was
successful, but when was dishonesty the best
policy in the end?
His guilt was discovered He fed from
justice and was hunted through the woods in
winter like beast His young wife woke al
most in madness, to the consciousness that she
was the wife of felon. His retreat was cut
off. He was arrested but escaped again.
He few TO the chamber of his wife. The
embrace was short and full of agony. He
wept; and she wrung her hands, but uttered no
reproach She loved him too much even in his
shame. Ee must fly again. He did fly, and
was again arrested and brought to trial. The
case was a plain one; there was no defence;
there could be none, he was sentenced to the
State Prison for a term of years. His measure
of infamy was full Now and then an old ac-
quaintance 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 procure his pardon and release.
But death was before them and he went from
prison 10 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 raving in delirium and
soon died mad | asked his name and history,
and found hat 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 was detected when
far advanced in guilt. His end | have just
mentioned. He was a child Of luxury, and had
never known rant. And when he lay dying
in that prison hospital cut off from the tender
ness and sympathy that would have sofened a
death bed in the house Of parental love, thought
how truly ''the way of the transgressor is hard"
clerk In store, teller In bank, an agent
in his office, constantly handling the money Of
others, is tempted to apply little to his own
uSe with the promise made to himself that he
will restore it, and speedily. But he finds it
easier TO borrow than to pay, when no one calls
him to an account The more he takes the
more he wants to take. He begins course
of extravaganza, and falls into sins that require
money to secure the indulgence. He specu-
lates, in hopes of paying all back at once; eve
ry plunge increases his embarrassments his
guilt breaks out; he flies from Justice, a lost
sef-ruined man What to him are the arrows
that have pierced the fond hearts of too con-
fiding friends. He planted those arrows, but
can never draw them.
Now there was time when that man was
what the world calls ,irtuous He would have
trembled at the thought of crime; and he did
tremble and turn pale when he committed his
first offence. 1t disturbed his sleep that night,
and when he met his employer the next morn
ing, he thought he was suspected and trembled
again. But that step taken, the next was easy
A Coop ToAsT.-Col Stone of the N. Y
Commercial Advertiser, gave the following toast
Il l.