The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-06-06
Vol. 8. No. AZ. Whole No. l6S. d.

your return drew near, ana lcnfcU 10 lnCcl
you. Twas even tempted TO set your house
on fire 10 conceal my crime. But thark God
was kept from this horrid deed. Each hour
became more and more wretched, | thought
ofhying-I thought of suicide At length
this evening, when ! heard that you had come
in the cars, was driven nearly insane with
the fears ofbcing exposed. When your ser
want came for me, was In my room strug-
Cling between desire To cast myself upon
your clcmency and temptation 10 RIM aside
suspicious by suggesting TO you that the Sec
rotary had been robbed. l even wckedly
thought ofplacing the key inFindley's pocket
and fastening suspicion on him and have him
searched. came here sir. resolved TO do
this; though when saw how kindly You met
c,and remembering your natural goodness
ofhcart, Twas constrained to confess all 10
you. But tho dread ofacknowlcdging TO you
my guilt, caused me 10 resort TO miserable
falsehoods. Sir, have mercy on mel | nnt
sincerely penitcnt, and ifyou will spare mo
from public exposure, for my fathers and
mothers sake, | am ready 10 bear iinypunisli-
mentyop see fit 10 inilict upon me- ''i 'a ..H
Thus ending this Illuminating confession,
the young man again threw hmsefattIie feet
of his employer, and bnrying his burning
face in his hands, awaited his decision. MIR
Hawley remained few minutes gazing down
upon him in looks in which there was moro
griefthan anger. lie had discovered with
pain that the young man in whom he had
placed so much confidence, aud whom he
was about to elevate TO high degree of re-
sponsibility, was unworthy. "H '.
This is Il great crime, Proctor, which you
are guilty OF. twill send you TO the States
Prison ...' .' .'a.. .If'
4 know it, sir-I deserve it--but for my
mothers sake!' '.''
'Ifyou did not think other wlrn you com
nitted this crime, why do you wish or expect
me to regard her faclingsp
True sir true. | have been too guilty To
deserve any clcmcncy from your hands. B,t,
if l am set to prison let my father and molh-
er answer themselves. Lei them bear equal
" with me,the guilt and dcgradation'he said
with warmth, and in accents of bitter re-
proach. -''.''.f i."'.
why do you speak thus your parcnis?--
Have you lost all fiIial respect and love? de-
manded MIR Ilawlcy with surprise and dis
pleasure. #7i
NO, no, but my parents arc 10 blame for
all This guilt have incurred They taught
me 10 play cards when child, and by the
enticing witchcry of the play, ! have beenlc,l
step by slept in gambling, until all has re-
suited in my ruin. Doyou not see that my
parents are to blamc?'
Il do answered MIR Hawlcy, and he ro1
membercd what his son had little while he
fore told him. q am surprised that parents
should place cards in their childrCn's hands.
They had better fed you on poison bread,
You see, now sir, why have reflected up
on them. From that time bec,Ime fond of
my little cards, and was taught by father and
mother the more advantageous points Of tho
game: and as showed great aptitude they
were proud my skill and readiness. As |
grew up became a whist player. Other
games naturally learned, and gay company
after came this city, opened the way to
gaining. The result is, that am now ar>
raigncd before you of robbing you of five
hundred dollars to pay debts to gamblers, lest
! should be exposed to the world. There
fore, sir. did say let my purents bear equal,
ly with me the guilt and degradation $50
Il am sorry for you, Proctor; I pity yol,
though blame you,and do not eXculpate You
from the full weight ofyour guilt. Yourpar-
ents were guilty, and it is in you, they should
see the fruits oi'their folly and sin-I 'shnll
let the law take its course. II you had not
TO f;ilsehootl, but openly and candid-
" come to me without waitiug to be sent for,
and acknowledged your guilt, with tho miti-
eating circumstances you have Just stated !
should have had confidence in your rclorina-
ton. The gambler is farther from rciornIm-
ton even than the drunkard, for what he does
he does III the light of sobreiy and reason-
| do not arrest You because of the loss of the
money. That am willing 20 lose for the
early knowledge have discovered of yohrdc-
Ignorant of what ] now know,l
might have lost thousands had taken you IN
partnership. shall lock you in this room
while go for an officer ''' i'"s-'n a4E
The young man made no answer. o. He
stood silent and gloomy, as if overwhelmed
with horror. The closing doorTaroused him,
Then am to be sent to prison. The eri,
sis has arrived, and 4 anna fclo'. BE it sol.
Here are pen and paper.' He sat downto
write. '''' '"'t-h l'-. ss-''e''
TO MY FATHER AND MorlER-} write 10
you under arrest for enibezzling from Mr.
Hawley five hundred doarsr For WHAT
you will ask. answer, to pay gambling
debts. Yes, am galnbleri haze beena
gambler for three yenrs. Yon fret taugln(
me by yoir example love cards. You frs
bought a miniature pack for mysclfand broth.
er that we might not annoy you Whilst you
was at whist. Yon taught me the Snna.--
You praised my skill. | leaned other gi,mes
as ] grew older, aud thought TO excel in these
also. j came TO the city II skifllil home
taught card player. soon learned to play
here for money; the result is | have. stolem
money from my employer, and 4 prison aud
degradation arc before me. What renders
this still more aggrayating, is the knowledge
of the fact, that Mr. lIawIey was about TO take
me into the firm. Nowall my hopes IN lii1
are dashed to the earth, You charge will.
my fall. / have resolved not 10 live b witaoss
my own infamy. God forgive yau,it is more
than can do! $3.50. as. - ~,
Your degraded son,
#. PRocTbR"
That night the eulbczzler was eonveyedto
prison. The next morning when Gie keeper