Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-08-03

ards the mournrrs several OF the wretch
es' lavorite blasphemios, and gave a
sickening ioretaste OF what was To shock
their feelings.
II Al length the hoad Of the funeral vas
opposite the team, and the mourning lad
trembed At the thought Of the outrage
10 which his feelings were To be subject
ed. lie would have stepped forward,
aud besought the teamster to spare him
hut, if age and station had been power
less, what could child do ? and he
turned his fearful eye upon the offensive
man, and moved onward with his fellow
monrners.
! The noisy driver stepped rapidly for
ward, aud stopped his cattle, without ut
tering "A word Then moving slowly
backwards towards the wagon, he turn
ed himself towards the inneraI train,
shifted his whip to his left hand barred
his head and stood half bowed in respect
iul silence, until the whole procession
had moved past, then slowly covering
himself, he silently goaded his team Inio
motion, and went forward on his bus.
ness
/ The feelings Of the boy, at that mo-
ment, cannot be described but he
made, as an offering TO the names of the
beloved dead, solemn vow that he
would, should circumstances ever war
rant the act, repay that man for his time
| ly remembrance Of the virtues OF the
departed, and grief of the mouIners.
But the boy was not likely to find the
opportunity of repaying that debt which
he never forgot. lie ionnd residence
hundreds of miles from the fixed home
OF the man.
II Thirty years after that event, he who
in bo, hood had registered the vow under
such circumstances, was IN the city Of
Boston on n visit and willing to COM
pare the appliances of the government
Of that city with those OF II southern me.
tropnlis, with which he was connected,
he took his seat one morning in the Po-
lice Court. One person, about fhv
years Of age, had, ~ his own request,
his case po.lp until oil o! his fellow
offenders should be dealt with.
"W hal is your name Z" said the mag
I lslraie.
"Johnson, sir James Johnson is the
name bv which shall 90 to-day"
"You are charged" continued the
magistrate, "wIth very rioious conduct,
resulting in destruction of property to
the amount Of five dnllars VIVA, have
you to say for yourself, james :"
"Nothing-nohing at all hut that
having lived life of wrciched dissipa-
tion, making miserable my relatives,
and especially my immediate family, two
yea's ago set maniully at work, and
reformed my habits and my manners,
and grew into the confidence of II few OF
my Deig ghbors. ] came into the city
yesterday, aud an old rum acquaintance
led M of"
"You will be fined" said the magis
traie, "only two dollars, and stand com
mitted until That and the five dollars in
jury are paid"
Johnson had no seven dolIars--an he
took his handkerchief from his hat at
his side, and wiped the thick perspiration
from his forehead.
The stranger from the South looked |
into the hat, as he leaned over the rail- 1
ing, end saw written, 'llomer---."U
The FIRST was an unusual name, and the |
whole was that of the noisy WAGNER
Leaning forward, he whispered into the
ear Of the prisoner the inquiry whether .
he was from B?
The man started, but seeing only .
stranger, he said che lived there once" /
"Then," said the other, "ihere are
seven dollars 10 pay the mag gisirate."
The man paid the Clerk, aud met his
friend AT the door
"lou were trusted with money when
you came to the city :"
eyes, bat have lost it, end with it
lost all Nine out OF ten sneercd at my \
professions Of reform and the tenth,
who trusted me, and has been deceived, II
will now be my enemy"
"IiOw much Is The deficiency ?"
"lt is-dollars, a sum wholly be.
,ond my means, and as eteciual To de-
troy me, as if were thousands. My l.
wife and my children, too, who had be-
.an to rise in the community by my pro.
rleties-they must fall, and ! am douby
ost. 4"
"There are -dolIars," said the
tranger. "Nour name is not James
ohnson, though there scarcely needs
n apology for conc-aIIng your real
anne"
I" But who are you that thus rescues a
lranger from distress, and permits him .
, continue TO hope for respect :"
"Do you remember the funeral Of
lrs. -, in X, thirty years ago,
hen you paused to let the train of
lourners pass, with unwonted evidences
respect :" "a
81 scarcely remember that, but never
I'd my folly betray me into dsrespcct n
! the presence of n funeral. That was g
ne last spark IN the ashes of my homely h
lrtues. 1t was never quenched and r.
was at the grave Of n friend ibat That p
park kindIed anew the fame ID proprie- J
: IN me, and led To those good resolves
hlch | last .igbt broke" HIT
"lt is that particular act, my friend" !
nd the stranger, (which, after thirty "
ears, ] sm enabled To notice"
A.. r III