Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-09-10

story. the Judge turned to the woman
and asked her It she had anything to say
in denial Of the truth Of the charge.
'Nothlng, nothing. your Honor" re-
piled the poor woman, laying her face
on her boys head, and straining him to
her bosom, while her body swayed to
and fro in the agony Of shame and grief.
81 am guilty, guilty! But 1t was not tor
messlfI | took it. All, sir! I'm poor
Hone woman. and work hard when | can
get work. But for the last ten days l
have had nothing to do, and my money
was all gone; and since yesterday morn,
| ing we hadn't a inorsel to eat. am
used to it meself; but | couldn't hear
little Dennis cry for bread and not give
it to him!'
The Judge was evidently touched by
the woman's distress, and turning to the
complainant, asked him if, under the
circumstances, he should persist in the
prosecution. els" said he, you will
withdraw your complaint, it will be per-
forming an act of mercy, which l should
be very glad to second" Vain appeals!
Though the eye Of every man in court
was fixed upon the prosecutor With looks
that pleaded for bis victim, no emotion
stirred the repose Of his hard aud selfish
features. He kept no account with
merey. The right Of property had been
violated, In his eye the most sacred OF
human rights, and be claimed the pen-
atty of the law. "This is a cruel case. "
said the Judge sand feel extreEy 10th
to punish this poor woman for an act SO
venial. crime though it be in the eye OF
the law. But although this plaintiff
might have pursued different course,
without doing injury to the cause o.
Justice, or impairing in the ieas'
degree whatever title he may have t.
1.-The love and respect Of his fellow men
still my duty in the case is imperative
the law allows me no discretion. woult
il were otherwise. Put her down TO
one month in the House Of Correction
Mr.. Clerk"
| ooh. Dennis, Dennisr' exclaimed lh'
poor woman in paroxysm of grief, al
she strained her boy still closer to hel
bosom, and bathed him with her tears
"what'II you do now. my poor child.
when you've no mother to look after
you and keep you out Of harms way"
'Dont grieve yourself about that, Mrs.
Maginniss, said one Of her own coun-
try. women, who had hitherto stood in the
background. but now came forward, and
took the prisoner by the hand: ''Don',
grieve for the likes Of that, Ma'am; iii
take care Of your boy; and while Pve a
petaty in the pot. he shall have his mouth
full" "God bless you'll" exclaimed the
mother, wringing the woman's hand,
''may the Holy Virgin smile on you!"
''Coine, step along, Ma'am," said the
officer, as he put the mittimus in his
pockct-"don't stand growing here; the
cart is waiting for you." The woman
slowly and mechanically obeyed, follow.
ed by little Dennis. with one hand clasp.
ed in that Of his new friend. and the
other pulling at the skirts Of his moth
el's dress. Arrived at the outer door,
the little fellow was resigned "with many
tears" to the care of his kind protector;
the mother went slowly and dropping
down the steps without again lifting her
head or looking back upon her half
weeping, half-wondering boy; and in a
moment more she was seated in the COW
cred hearss-like wagon that was to carry
her across the "bridge Of sighs" to the
felon's home"