Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-10-21

him lock his boxes, take of his shoes, put
on his slippers, kneel down and say his
prayers, and heard him go into the next
room and get into bed. Now he was dead,
only since yesterday! Might not die too !
Nay, must die some time or other; and
again the words C Murder will out :" Fang
in my ear. I could not 60 home; i could
not stand still. did not know where to
turn; however, must go home, or my
father would beat me. My father mur-
derefl determined he should be my
father no longer ;---but, how to avoid it 2
And then my mother, my dear mother!
Ard SO home I went, -,
AT the door | met Robert; he was watch
ing for me, and appeared very inquisitive
to know 8" where had been whyl did
moi. come home sooner?" I could hardly
shake him off; but my mother called me,
and was breaking away from bis hold
when felt heavy hand on my shoulder
and looking up saw sthe face of the chief
constable of the town: face knew WE'LL
| tottered and fell. What next took place
| knew not. No questions were asked me.
A posse Of constables entered the house
my mother shrieked; all was confusion.
They went upstairs, and, in about half-an
hour, saw my father brought down stairs
upon his bed, and carried out. He looked
ghastly pale, but said nothing. When he
was gone own felt relieved, for feared,
and never could love him all my love was
for my mother, and when they made me
walk away with them cried bitterly for
her. Twas locked up by myself in the Jail.
I slept little that night my misery was ex-
cessive. My fool was good /; | saw no one
but the keeper, and he was very kind. ]
determined, however. from that moment,
never to be concerned in robbery again, not
even for my father-I believe hated him
then. 3 5lft
At last was taken before the magistrates.
7 had been too well tutored to disclose any
thing, indeed had been in my bed by half.
past twelve, and not even my mother knew
had been ont,-no one ever came into my
bedroom, and had crept into the old mans
house, after dark, whilst he was al supper.
was. however, remanded. In the afternoon
of that day the chaplain of the Jail came to
me. He was mild, kind, pleasant, bui grave
man; he said nothing to me of The late mur-
der, but talked TO me Of God and his all-see-
lng eye,-left me Bible, and marked down
certain places for me 10 read. In the solitude
of that cell did read every word seemed
to enter my SOUL The promises of God to
the good vexel and alarmed me, for was not
good. Yet would read them again and again; !;
and when found the promise that, off the
wicked man would turn away from his wick.
edness, he conld save his soul alive"
seemed as if could not take my eye off the
passage 1T was a treasure TO me. / never
shall forget my emotion as read the l30lh
Psalm. Could he included in this? | de-
termined toask the chaplain, and in the mean
time, boy asG was, kneeled down and asked
God. How long | know not; but was Sob
bing as if my heart would break. when felt
a soft hand tonch me. looked up: the
owner of the Bible stood over me; his eyes
were filed with tears. turned and clasped
his knees, and asked him if God would ever
pardon me; he gently disengaged me, and
sat down upon the side of my bed. We had
much talk together, but he never alluded to
the canse of my being there He spoke of a
Redeemer, of Jesus Christ, and then said, 81
found you praying; let me pray with you,'
and he knelt down. So did and he prayed
so mildly, so earnestly, so heavenly, every
word wentto my heart. Twas calmed The
effect was like magic; no longer feared the
gallows SO much as the anger Of God. When
he went away could have worshipped him
Bad thoughts, however, returned as. my ex.
ciiement passed away would not betray
|, indeed, confess! No: I would be a man; =
and then fell asleep. q Ht
| l. it to be wondered that in the state o.
my feelings should have dreamed | did
dream, and the impression OF it sti remains
wildly upon my mind every thought is now
clear before me thought that my faihe
and myself had been hanged that we were
dead and lay in the churchyard. Cold, very
cold. il was and thought that my fathe
could not sometimes, indeed, his fingers al
most reached me, and | shuddered-oh; i
was if a serpent touched me! On the othe
side was my good clergyman, and he too pu
out his hand towards me; and longed a
much for his touch as | abhorred that of m!
father. Presently there came dreadful Fl
gure and shook its hand at the chaplain, anS
told my father to seize me | can never de
scribe what that figure was like it haunlet
me for years: see it now, but no effort couls
ever make was sufficient to describe it. A
it spoke, my father again reached out hi
hand felt he must ge, hold of me, an'
by a violent effort rolled towards the othe
side. The voice Of the clergyman said, q
you come 10 me you must come wholly, en-
tirely,-win yorl" looked at the figure,
felt the cold icy fingers of my fatherias the
began to touch and creep up my side TO gras
me, and cried out, dyes, yes; wholly an
entirely will, will, indeed" and l q
woke. .ns9d n lat H ~
My hair was on end a cold sweat ra
down my face and limbs for many minute
could still but fancy was dead, aud ths