Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-12-05

Years rolled on. The lawyer rose III
wealth and consideration; honors were heap
ed prolusely on him; he became a member of
Congress, a Senator, a Judge. His sump-
tuous carriage rolled through the streets dali
ly, to bear him to and from Court. An invi-
tation to his dinners were received in triumph,
they were SO select. In every respect Judge
Harcourt was a man to be envied.
But was he happy? He might have been.
He had no one to lore. lie felt that people
courted him only from interested motives.-
o, how he longed to know what had become
of his discarded boy, confessing to himself,
now that years had removed the veil from
his eyes, how horribly he had used the cul-
prit.
Perhaps, if | had borne with him a little
longer, he might have reformed,' he said,
with a sigh. 'He always had a good heart,
and his poor mother used to say he was so
obedient. But he got led away
At this instant a servant cautiously opened
his library door.
lit is almost ten o'clock, your honor he
said, 'and the carriage is at the door,
'Ay, ay,' said the Judge rising, as the SER
want disappeared. Il had forgot myself
And that desperate fellow, Roberts, is to be
tried to-day, for the mail robbery
Many an obsequious JOY greeted the judge,
dS 1T OlilCGiS vi llG COult llduO way " mn
through the crowd, for the trial was one of
unusual interest, and had collected large num-
bers. He smiled afably on all, and taking
his seat, ordered the business to proceed
The prisoner was brought in, a large, bold,
fne-looking man, but the Judge, occupied
with a case he heard the day before, and in
which he was writing out an opinion, gave
little notice to the criminal, or indeed to any
ofthe proceedings, until the usual iormalities
had been gone through, and the serious part
Of the evidence began to be heard. Then
the Judge, for the first time, directed a keen
glance to the prisoner. 'Surely | have seen
that face before he said. But he could not
remember where; and he turned to scrutinize
the iury-box.
The case was a clear one. The testimony
when completed, formed a mass of evidence
that was irresistible. Two men swore posi-
lively to the person of the accused as that of
one of the robbers; and the jury Immediate
ly gave a verdict of guilty, after a bitterly Sc
we're charge against the prisoner from the
bench. The punishment was death.
On hearing the verdict, the prisoner rose
firmly and drew himself to his full height.
But, before sentence was pronounced, he ask
ed leave to say a few words. He did it in so
earnest a tone, that the Judge Immediately
granted it, wondering that a man who was so
courageous should stop to beg for his life.
Il acknowledge my crime said the pris-
oner, nor do | seek to palliate it-nor either
do ! ask for mercy. | can face death; | have
faced it a dozen times. But | wish to say a
word on the cause that brought me to this
place.
Every neck was strained forward to catch
the words Of the speaker; even the Judge
leaned over the bench, controlled by an inter
est for which he could not account.
Il was born of respectable, nay, distin-
guished parents said the man, and one at
least was an angel. But she died early, and
my father, immersed in ambitious schemes,
quite forgot me, SO that | was left to form my
own associations, which, therefore, naturally
were not all of the most uneXceptionable kind.
BY and by, my irregularities began to attract
my father's,% notice. He reproved me too harsh
ly. Recollect | was spoiled by indulgence. |
soon committed another youthful folly. NV
punishment this time, was more severe and
quite as lll-advlsed as before. | was a crea-
ture of impulse, pliable either for good or pad
and my only surviving parent fell into the
error OF attempting to drive me when he
should have persuaded me with Kindness
The fact is, neither of us understood each
other. Well, matters went on thus for two
years and more; | was eXtravagant, rebellious,
dlssipated; my parent was hard and unfor-
giving.
AT length continued the speaker, turn
ing full on the Judge until their eyes met,
at length one evening, my parent sent for
me into the study. l had been guilty of
some youthful folly, and having threatened
me about a fortnight before with disinheri-
lance if again vexed him, he now told me
that henceforth | was to be no son of his, but
an outcast and beggar. He said too, he
thanked God, my mother had not lived to
see that day. That touched me. Had he
then spoken ~kindly-had he given me a
chance, | might have reformed, but he irrita-
ted me with hard words, checked my rising
Promptings of good by condemning Inc un-
heard and sent me forth alone into the world.
From that hour continued the prisoner, speak
ing rapidly and with great emotion, Il was
desperate. | went out from his door a home
less, penniless boy. My former associates
would have shrunk from me, even if | had
not been too proud to seek them. All decent
society was shut against me. Isoon became
almost starved for want ofmoney. But what
needs it to tell the shifts | was driven to! |
slept III miserable hovels-l consorted with
the lowest-l gambled, | cheated, and yet |
could scarcely get my bread. You, who sit
in luxurious homes, know not the means to
which the miserable outcast must resort for
a livelihood! But enough. From one step
| passed to another, til l am here. From the
moment | was cast out ofmy fathers house, my
fate was inevitable, leading me by constantly
descending steps, until | became the felon /
now am. And l stand here to-day, ready to
endure the tmost penalty of your laws, care
less of the future, as have been reckless Of
the past
He ceased; and now released from the tor