Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-07-13
BRAND ON, WEDNEsDA Az, July / 5, 11.s4a.= 1T

i followed by the other. Smith put his hand
on the head Of the child and said, aDon'l
be afraid-stay quiet in the house nobody
shall hurt you.n Thus ended the visit Of
the thieves thus God preserved the prop
erty of those. who put their trust in him.
What story had the child to tell when the
family came home! How hearty was the
thanksgiving that went up that evening from
1.-THE family altar! . q
A year or two after this, poor Tom Smith
was arrested for the commission of some
crime, was tried, and sentenced to beaexe-
cuied. Daniel Gordon heard of this, and
that he was confined in Jail in the seaport
town, TO await for the dreadful day when be
was TO be hung up like dog between heaY-
en and earth. Gordon could not keep away
from him; he felt drawn to him for the
protection Of his daughter, and went down
to see him. When he entered the dungeon,
Smith was seated. bis face was pale, his
hair tangled and matted together,--for why
should he care for his looks there was no
lother expression in his countenance, than
that of irritation from being intruded upon,
when be wanted to hear nothing, see moth
ling more Of his brother man he Gid not
rise, nor even look up, nor return the saiu-
talion Of Go-don, who continued to stand
before him. Al last, as if wearied hey ond
Eendeavor, he asked, What do you want Of
me2 Can't you.let me alone even kerep'
81 come" said Gordon, /" to see you, be-
cause my daughter told me all you did for
her when you -"
i As iftouched TO the heart, Smiths whole
4 appearance changed; an expression Of deep
interest came over his features; he was al
together another man. The sullen indiffer-
ence passed away in an instant. "Are you
the father of that little girl2 Oh what
dear little child she Is! Is she well and
happy 2 How 1 love 10 think Of her . That's
one pleasant thing have to think of. For
once Twas treated like other men. Gould
| kiss her once, think should feel hap
pier" In this hurried manner he poured
out an Intensity Of feeling, little supposed
TO lie in the bosom Of condemned felon.
Gordon remained with Smith, whispered
| 10 him of peace beyond the grave for the
Ipenitent, smoo,hed in some degree his pass
age through the dark valley, and did not
return to his family until Christian love.
could do no more for an erring brother, on.
whom scarcely before had The eye Of. love
rested; whose hand had been against all
men, because their hands had been against
him. -. sss. -
/ have told the story more at length, and
interviewer some unimportant circumstances
but il is before you substantially as II was
lrelated to me. The main incidents are true;
though, doubtless, as the story has been
handed down from generationtto generation,
ii has been eolored by the Imagination. The
silver tankard as an heir loom has descend
ed in the family the property Of the daugh-
ter named Mehitable, and is now in the
possession of the lady of clergyman in
Massachusetts.
What crowd Of thoughts do these Incl
dents cause torush in upon the mind! How
sure is the overcoming OF evil with good.
How truly did Jesus Christ know what is
iG the heart Of man. How true to the best
Feelings Of human nature are even the out
4 casts Of society. How much of our virtue
! do we owe to our position among men,
How inconsistent with Christian love is il
TO put to death our brother, aohose crimes
arise mainly from the rices and a0rong
I. structure of society. How incessant should
be our exertions 10 disseminate the truth,
Il that the world may be reformed, and the
law Of love be substituted for the law Of
4 force. The reader will not however need
/ our help TO make the right use of the guard.
/ ing Of the silver tankard, !" b. the kindness
and innocence Of a child.ee.s 81 $. =. Q.