American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-09-08
From the Philadelphia Tnquirerl
'sDEAL GENTLY WITH TIE ERRING :"
THE MOTHER AND SONS.

AN INCIDENT IN REAL LIFE.
"Think gently the errine!
We know not of the power
With which the dark temptation came,
In some unguaTded hour.
We may know not how earnestly
They struggled, or how well,
Until the hour of darkness came,
And sadly thus they fell"
1t affords US no little pleasure to notice cases
which the errlng have been won by kindness
I'd benevoence, from the paths Of imprcprie-
and sin. Such examples are not only cheer
zg in the particular cases, but they are well
Elculated to stimulate and encourage phian-
ropy,-to induce others TO make like efforts
II the rescue and reform of the misguided,-
Id thus to assist in the reformation of the I'M
riunate and the wretched, who otherwise
pud be utterly abandoned and hopelessly
st. How few Of US, when passing judgment
yen upon the vicious, turn for a moment to
lie contemplation of their early lives, the evils
bid temptations by which they were surround
or ask what in all probability would have
Zen our own conduct and fate under like cir
instances? How few make the necessary al
pwances fol bad example, ignorance and pow
rty. We hear that an individual has been
rested for theft, for fraud, for misde-
leanor, or some similar violation of law, and
FUR preiudices are at once excited, and the
Beng of mercy is scarcely experienced for a
noment. And yet the miserable offender may
e, to a certain extent, the victim of circum-
tances-an evil-doer, not from natural incli-
alton to vice, but through bad associations,
Incorporate parents, vicious guardians and
fuides. At all events, when the offence is
|bnnd to be the first one, and when youth and
! ope are still on the side of the erring, a
Nance, an opportunity, should be afforded,
Find words should be uttered, encouragement
or better things should be mingled with geatle
EDMONTON, and thus in many cases highly gra-
Notwithstanding results would ensue.--
We may give an illustration from real life:
Not many years ago, an aged female, miser-
ably clad, presented herself at the house of a
professional gentleman, one OF the most distin-
pushed of our citizens. She had with her a
basket of tapes, thread, and other trihes of the
KIND. She asked for the gentleman of the
house, and on being told that he was absent,
inquired for the lady. The latter, on making
Der appearance, was touched by the miserable
Inspect of the poor woman; and promptly pur-
chased few of the articles in her basket The
Etranger then begged attention for a moment,
o a tale Of sorrow. She id she had not tast-
bd food since the morning of the preceding day;
and worse, she had helpless son at nome,
who had been without sustenance of any kind
|stl longer. But she had come, not so much
TO ask for bread, as to implore mercy. She had
another, an errng, but beloved son in prison
land she desired the husband of the lady to ex-
|ert himselfto procure his discharge. She was
told that the gentleman would be at home at 6
part cuar hour, when, if so disposed, she nigh
|call and feel certain of seeing him. She bow
led her thanks, promised to return, and did sc
at the time designated.
SWELL, my good woman, said the gentleman
III have heard of your former visit. What dc
you want me to do for you?'
Ca! Sir, came to supplicate mercy tor my
son, who is in prison.
What is his manner"
D.
He shook his head, and said that the young
man was in for very grave charge, and nam
ed the off nee.
ooh, sir, be is not the one. You have con
founded him with another-anotlier son'-ant
her voice trembled with the admission.
sWhat-have you two so sadly circumstanc
ed?'
She burst into tears, and exclaimed, 4 hav
--alas! have
sAnd which do you wish dscharged?'
1T is a hard thing for mother TO select be
tween two children. But Charles, sir, is far les
guilty than his brother He has of late year
been my only stay; and not mine alone, bu