The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-03-21


Perhaps we can manage that she
never shall know it, replied he; and al
Turing her by this hope, he gradually OBJ
tanned from her the whole story OF her
acquaintance with the nobeman. He
babe her be comforied, and take nourIsh-
ment; for he would see that the silk was
paid for, and the prosecution Withdrawn.
He went Immediately to her employer,
and told him the story. "This is her
first offence" said he; "the girl is young,
and the only child of poor widow
Give her chance to retrieve this one
false step, and she may be restored to so.
cely, useful and honored woman |
will see that thou art paid for the slk."-
The man readily agreed 10 withdraw the
prosecution, and said he would have dealt
otherwise by the girl, had he known all
the circumstances. "Thou shouldst have
inquired into the merits OF the case, my
friend" replied Isaac. BY this kind of
thoughtlessness. manga young creature Is
driven into the downward path, who
might easily have been saved"
The good old man then went to the no.
tel and enquired for Henry Stuart. The
servant said his lordship had not yet ris-
en-. "Tell him my business is of impor-
tance," said Friend Hopper. The ser
want soon, returned and conducted him, 10
the chamber. The nobleman appeared
surprised that plain old Quaker should
thus intrude upon his luxurious privacy;
but when he heard his errand, he blushed
deeply, and frankly admitted the truth of
the girls statement. His benevolent Wis
itor took the opportunity to "bear testi-
monv," as the Friends say, against the
sin and selfshness Of proflgacy, He did
it in such kind and fatherly manner,
that the young mans heart was touched.
He excused himself, by saying that he
would not have tempered with the girl, if
he had known her to be virtuous. 81
have done many wrong things" said he,
" but, thank God, no betrayal of conf
ding innocence rests on my conscience.-
| have always esteemed it the basest act
of which man is capable" The impris.
onmenl of the poor girl, and the forlorn
situation iu which she had been found,
distressed him greatly. And when Isaac
represented that the silk had been stolen
for his sake, that the girl had thereby lost
profitable employment and was obliged
to return to her distant home, to avoid the
danger of exposure, he took out a fifty
dollar note and offered i. to pay her ex-
penses. Nay" said Isaac, "thou art a
very rich man, see in thy hand large
roll of such notes. She is the daughter
Of poor widow, and thou hast been the
means of doing her grea: injury. Give
me another"
Lord Henry handed him another fifty
dollar note, and smiled as he said, You
understand your business well. But you
have acted nobIy, and reverence you for
it. If you ever visit England, come to
see me. will give you a cordial wei.
come, and treat you like nobleman.
Farewell, friend,' replied Isaac
Though much to blame in this affair,
thou too hast behaved noby. Mayesl
thou be blessed in domestic life, and triAe
no more with the feelings of poor girls |
not even with those whom others have be-
trayed ana deserted"
Luckily,the girl had sufficient presence
Of mind 10 assume false name when ar
rested by which means her true name
was kept out of the newspapers. Il did
this" said she, "for my poor mothers
sake" With the money given by Lord
Henry, the silk was paid for,aud she went
home 10 her mother, we'll provided with !
Her name and place of resi-.
dence remain to this day secret in the
breast of her benefactor.
Several years after the incidents have
related, a lady called at Friend Hopper's
house and asked TO see him. When he
entered the room, he found handsomely
dressed young matron, with blooming
10Y of five or six years old. She said,
. Friend Hopper, do you know me o.
He replied that he did not She fixed her
earful eyes earnestly upon him, and said,
You once helped me- when in grea, dis.
ress." But the good missionary of hu.
nanity had helped too many in distress,
o be able to recolect her, without more
precise information. With a tremulous
voice, she bnde her son go into the next
Dom, for few minutes (; then dropping
IN her knees, she hid her face in his lap,
md sobbed out, I'll am the girl that stole
he silk. Oh where should | now be if
t had not been for you p
When her emotion was somewhat
;almed, she told him that she had mar.
led highly respectable man, a Senator
If his native State. Having call to Wis.
t the city, she had again and again pass
ID Friend Hopper's house, looking visit
ully at the windows TO catch a sight of
lim; but when she attempted to enter,
her courage failed.
"But go away tomorrow" said she,
and could not leave the city, without
once more seeing and thanking him who
an we'd ma from ruin ~ Che raoo lInd har |