Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-10-14
miscellaneous.
..DEAL GENTLY WITH THE ERRING. /"
THE MOTHER AND SONS.
AN INCIDENT IN REAL LIFE.

"Think gently of the erring
Ye know not of the power
With which the dark temptation came,
In some unguarded hour.
Ye may know not how earnestly
They struggled, or how well,
Until the hour Of da rkness came,
And sadly thus they fell. +"
Itaffords us no little pleasure to notice cases
in which the erring have been won by kind
ness and benevolence, from the paths of i'm
propriety and sin. Such examples are not on
" cheering in the particular cases, but they
are well calculated to stimulate and encourage
philanthropy-to induce others to make like
efforts for the rescue and reform Of the mis-
guided. thus TO assist in the restoration
Of the unfortunate and the wretched, who
otherwise would be utterly abandoned and
hopelessly lost. How few of US when pas
sing Judgment even upon the vicious, turn
for moment to the contemplation of their
early lives, the evils and temptations by which
they were surrounded, or ask what in all prob
ability would have been our own conduct and
fate under like circumstances How few
make the necessary allowances for bad exam
pie, ignorance and poverty We hear that
an individual has been arrested for theft, for
fraud, for misdemeanor, or some similar vio.
ation of law, and our prejudices are at once
excited, and the feeling of mercy is scarcely
experienced for moment. And yet the mis-.
cradle offender may be TO certain extent, the
victim of circumstances-an evil-doer, not
from natural inclination to vice, but through
associations, Incorporate parents, vicious guar
dams and guides. At all events, when the
offence is found to be first one, and when
youth and hope are still on the side Of the err
ring, chance, an opportunity, should be al
forded, kind words should be uttered, encour.
agement for better things should be mingled
with gentle admonilion, and thus in many ca
ses highly gratifying heart-cheering results
would ensue. We may give an illustration
from real life.
Not many years ago, an aged female, mis-
cradle clad, presented herself at the house of a
professional gentleman, one Of the most dis
tinguished of our citizens. She had with her
basket of pipes, thread, and other trihes OF
the kind. She asked for the gentleman Of the
house, and on being told that he was absent,
inquired tor the lady. The latter, on making
her appearance, was touched BY the miserable
aspect Of the poor woman. and promptly pur-
chased few of the articles in her basket
The stranger then begged attention for mo-
ment, TO tale of sorrow. She said she had
not tasted food since the morning OF the pre-
ceding day; and worse, she had helpless
son, at home, who had been without susie
nance Of any kind still longer. But she had
come, not so much to ask for bread, as to i'm
plore mercy. She had another, an erring, but
beloved son, in prison, and she desired the
husband of the lady to exert himself TO pro-
cure his discharge She was told that the
gentleman would be at home at a particular
hour, when. if so disposed, she might call
and feel certain of seeing him. She bowed
her thanks, promised 10 return, and did SO ac-
cording at the time designated.
"Well, my good woman" said the gentle
man, 81 have heard Of your former visit
What do you want me to do for you %
"Oh! sir, ] came to supplicate mercy for
my son, who is in prison."
"What is his name 2"
He shook his head, and said that the young
man was in for very grave charge, and nam
ed the offence.
"Oh, sir, he is not the one. You have
COMPOUNDED him with another--anolher son"
and her voice trembled with the admission
"What-have you two so sadly circumstan-
ced 2"
She burst into tears, and exclaimed, ri have
alas, have"
And which do you wish discharged"
at is hard thing for mother to select be
tween two children. But, sir, Charles is far
less guilty than his brother He has of late
years been my only stay, and not mine alone,
bu; that OF his wretched and invalid brother,
whom the ravages ofdisease have rendered little
better than an IDIOT. Charles has sustained us
both, and firmly believe that his strong de.
sire to procure sustenance for an aged mother
and feeble brother, induced him TO commit
the theft for which he is now in prison."
"You SEEM" remarked the gentleman. :"
mot always to have been in the situation Of
life in which you are now placed"
The Mother. al once was prosperous
once was happy. But for many years have
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