The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-07-30
CAN THIS BE JUSTICE,

OAN 1lo BE JUSTICE!
AS the sun shone down gaily one morn.
ing on the crowded streets of The great
metropolis, drunkard came forth from a
nslle gng shop. where he had passed the
h'gh'' lie stood and pondered. He was
racked by The agonies which mark the ne.
l'ou immediately subsequent to fit of in.
'oAica'ion. Pain and hunger tore him;
uespair' modification, and deep disgust
WIN himself burnt his soul. He felt his
uegredation. With an unwonied bitter.
ness thoughts of many chances neglected
-ot weeks spent in .riot-of the scorn of
'he world, and the superciliousness of
those called respectable, Gu, his heart wild,
snarP grleI. Leaving an inward groan,
ne started off, and down a bye street 10
iions.
Alter while his appetite became acute
ana he wished for food. Wishing merely
was van, for he had not a red cent, In
an an evil moment he yielded TO the temnter.
ne saw In small grocery some bread piI-
ca on barrel top. He entered. and willis
'ne owner was busy at the back shelf. the
raVeDous creature Paflsined loaf. and
made off with it. The keeper of the gro.
cery saw him as he went-.discoyered lie
melt and pursued the criminal. He wos
brought back, policeman called, and the
ueed substanliated by the presence of the
stolen article about the person of the ac.
cused. So the thief was taken off 10 nri.
son. and being arraigned few hours afier-
wards, was summarily convicted, and
sentenced sc TO the customary place just out
VI 'he 1',y' mere TO remain for many days
at hard labor and confinement.
During the same hour wherein ,bosa
curtains glossy SIN, anu aaSs nea
mahogany. The parsonage who sat there
seemed of about middle size, rather short
and stout in figure, and head little bald.--
On table near him lay bat with a broad
brim. BY the opposite side of the table
stood second gentleman, elegantly attired,
and with lofty look that spoke Of pride
within.
And can the transfer be made without
the others knowing it'' said the gentleman
in the chair.
AS easy as speak, answered the other,
they never examine
But they might examine
Il tell you, only pay them handsome
dividend, and they'll rest easy sny length
of time
Then the middle aged gentleman put his
finger under his chin. aud looked down
moment abstractedly.
Have you not determined yet!' asked
the parsonage standing.
Long ago, sir, long ago. But it is
dangerous game, and must be played eau.
tiously.'
We'll, shall we take this step or no!'
The bald man raised up, his twinkling
Two looked at each other moment-there
was an evil latability in that look. Then
the stout gentleman ben. his head gently
two or three times without speaking
The other understood him; he smiled, and
turning, left the apartment.
Who, think you, were they? Two ras.
Gals of rank. The one seated was princi-
pal officer OF a moned nstituIiop-the back
part paror which was the scene of the
incident just described. The second a
dealer in the kind Of article which the
institution had manulaciured--had come
there to have private conference with the
first. The subject of that conference was
scheme for making splendid fortune
jointly. by means of peculiar facilities Eor
cheating possessed by both.
Our narration must skip over inerveh-
ing events, to lhe period when the eonspi-
racy ofthose two wicked men worked its
way out. The bubble burst. The master
hand had arranged things well, and they
triumphed.
Yet was The tempest terrible one -
Widows, left with a narrow competence;
young children; sck people, whose cases
were hopeless, but who might linger on for
many years; sailors away upon the ocean;
mechanics, fishermen, whose earnings
were scant and dearly bought; serving
girls, keepers of small shops. young men
Just commencing business, economical
doctors and clergymen in their noviliate.
all these and hundred more, had either
deposited money in the institution, or were
sufferers by It's bankruptcy in other ways.
1t would be an endless effort, almost to Tell
who was wronged.
| Yet ,he tempest blew over after a time,