The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-05-31

1rintino occasionally from The silver thnhafu =
when they had done, Sndtll Ftnt,en up su uusmM
and snid --"Come, lot GO NNFIn' pA,''''"G III
~ III r,bber "vith empty hands, when ms ~,
'ar IL hore 4" lie seizod the tnnknrd, 'fut lhu'
doyn. shouted Smith "l'l shoot the hrsl .nan
,vbo takes single thing from this house roo'
Ilitty at once awakened 10 sense OF me ci"'po
Ter ofher guests with terror n her ace and yel
win child like frankness, she ran to Smllh, TOOK
hold Of hs hand aud looked into his lace ns II she
felt sure he would take care OF her
Tho old thief looking On his yonng companion,
and finding that ho was ready TO give up the J"p,&
sooina that Smith wns rosoiuto, pul down me ian'
knrd, growing like a dog which had bone taken
from him ,-"Fool catch me IN such comPhny
aoain +" and with such expressions leit me mouse,
followed by the other. SmilHpntdnS his hand on
Tho head Of tho child, said ,--"D0nt DO airala -
stay quiet in tho house, nobody sha'' hurt you
Thus ended the visit ofthe thieves; mus "o" r.?
served the property of those who had put their
trust in him. What had the child TO tell wneh tle
inmiIy came home! How hearty was tho THANKS
giving that went up that evening from Inc iam"y
altari N Ha9it fyA .
rested for the commission of some crime, was trieo
and condemned to be executed. Dhniei 1oruoh
heard Of this and that he was confined IN JAN IN
the seaport town TO wait for the dread Gay w"on
he was 10 be hung up as dog between heaven ana
earth Gordon could not keep away from nm
he felt himself drawn towards the protector Of ms
dau.hter and went down 10 SEQ him. When ne
entered the dungeon, Smith was seateo' ms Idpe
was pale, and his hair tangled together-ior why
shout he care for his looks' There was no otner
expression in his countenance thantha, o, rr''nuon
from being Intruded on, when he wanted 10 near
notbing and SEQ nothing more of his orothei han,
IL lid moi even look W or return the saluafion OF
Gordon who continued To stand before nm ~
last as il weared beyond endurance, ne ASKED
uWhat do you want ofme? Cant you lei mo
alone even here' al. .f g.
Il come, said Gordon, Ia sec you, ooe""So NY
dausbter told me all you DID fhi her when you -
As If touched to the heart, Smiths whole appear
ance changed, expression OF deep interest came
over his features las faltogetber anothor man. lhe
suIen indifference passed away in moment
Are YOU the father of thai little girl what
dear child she is! Is sbc we'll and happy HOW
love to think OF her That's one pieasnnl thinS
10 think Of. For once | was treated iike other
men, Could kiss her once, think should feel
happier In this hurried manner he poured out an
intensity of feeling not supposed to lie IN Inc heat
of n condemned felon ..t,
Gordon remained with Smith, whispered TO him
of peace beyond the grave for the pcniten smooth
ed in degree his passage through the dark val
lev, aud did not return to his family untl chrsuah
love could do no more for an erTlnS brother, on
whom scarcely before had the eye ofiove rested'
whose hand had been against every man because
their hands had been against him
l have told the stony more at length, ana in'e!
woven some unimporiant circumstances, but II Is
before you substantially as it was relnted To me-
The main incidents are true thou gin doubtless, as
this story had been handed down fom generation
generation, it has been colored by tho magma
ticn The silver tankard as an heir loom has de-
scendsd in the family--the property OF the daugh
ter named Mohitabe, and is now in possession OF
tho lady of clergyman in Massachusetts.
What crowd Of thoughts do these incidents
cause 10 rush upon the mind How is the
overcoming evil with good. How truly did Jesus
know what was in the heart Of man. How tue to
the best feelings Of human nature are even The out
casts of society How much of virtue do we owe
10 our position among men. How inconsistent to
christian love is it to put to death our brother,
whose crimes arise mainly from the vices and
wrong structure of society How inconsistent
should be our exertIons to disseminate the truth,
that tho world may be reformed and the law of
love be substituted for the law Of death. The rea-
der will not, however, need our help TO make the
right use Of the guarding Of the "silver tankard by
,hn kindness and innocence OF child.