Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-03-01

the money in one note.
When this last customer had left, George
proceeded to close the store; then taking
lamp, started for his sleeping room in the
second story. But, suddenly he hesitatcd
paused turned back-opened the mon
ey-drawer-took forth that note and then,
with palpitating heart and noiseless step,
passed up stairs to his room. When there,
he hurrledly locked the door, went to his
table, and, sezing n pen, wrote this brief
note, with trembling hand
" Dear Julia:-I send twenty dollars, but
don't tell any one that you obtained the
money from me. | hope to be able to spend
next Sunday at home Let me know Just
as soon as you hear from father. Heaven
bless you all. GEoRGE."
When George kneIt by his bedside that
night, the only prayer he could utter was
"Oh God forgive me if have sinned
Oh God forgive me if have snnedW
The next morning he arose from sleep
less COUCH to stroll down to the post-ofiice,
and mail letter for l., then walked
homewerd in deep thought In about half
an hour he went hurrying back--he had
" concluded not to send that letter" The
mail had Just gone out. A day or two af-
ter this, the young clerk was standing at
his desk, reakng the following letter from
home -
dearest and best brother You cannot
know how happy you made us all, yesterday
afternoon. How good and kind you are /!
With the twenty dollars you sent, we were
able to pay every penny Of the claim of that
old Shylock, Jones. Oh could cry for
/ joy!
At our evening prayers, mother thanked
] God for the gift of such son and brother,
and prayed Him to bless You ever, and we
all said Amen even little Fanny.
If misfortunes never come single nei-
Their do good fortunes; for to-day we have
received that long-delayed remittance from
father-flty dollars | would return the
twenty you procured for us but mother
thinks, as you are coming so soon, you may
as well take it yourself
Nelie bids me tell you that she has hem
med those handkerchiefs for you, and run
the heels of the socks. Dory says, tell
brother George to come early on Saturday
evening, so as to draw me upon my new
sled Fanny sends 'oUe and touSand kit.
TIES Thousand kisses.) do hope you will
bring everything home that needs any mend
ing, and wilP'-here strong grasp wa,
laid on the shoulder of George, and a stern
voice exclaimed, " You are my prisoner n
1t was the sheriff!
George bowed his head one moment or
the desk before him, covering his burning
face with his hands. lie then rose up, took
his hat, and saying, in firm Tone, am
ready" accompanied the sheriff to the office
OF the magistrate, Mf. Allen A-v-T1 was, il
unfortunately happened personal enemy
of his father, and a mere creature of Har
ton.
George was accused by his employer o
stealing money and various articles from hi:
store. The witnesses were-the postmas
ter who testified that George lad mailed ;
money letter day or two before and the
farmer, who took charge of the package fol
Mrs. Mason. Mr.. Harton also produced
as proof, his clerks own private memoir
andum-book in which were set down botl
the money and the groceries sent home
To the charge of taking them unlawiulIy
George pleaded guilty, but declined to jus
, tfy himself by an exposure of the state o
want to which his fathers family had beef
f reduced. lie however stated, repeated
and solemnly, that he had intended soon tt
, make restitution from his wages.
Mr.. Harton proceeded to state that, 70
some months past, he had suspected hi
young clerk that he had missed money a
different times, and in considerable sums
| and that no one on the premises, beside
George, could have taken it.
| "What say you to this charge, youn
man ?" said the magistrate, roughly.
81 took but the ten dollar note; Co
knows that was all :" replied George
t While the examination was going on
Caroline Harton was returning from school
4 and, seeing a crowd collected at the cour
house, inquired of young ladthe cause c
= the unusual excitement.
A Why" he replied, didn't you kno,
| they have taken George Mason up for steal
, ing money of your fatherl They'll sem
/ him to the States Prison, guess"
( Caroline staid to hear no more; but
: rushing into the court house, and brave
, struggling her way through the crowd @
S men and boys, reached her father, and
5 throwing her arms around him, cried, "Oh
a father, have mercy on George | am sur
5 he is no thief! Save him, for my SAX
# father"
: "Silencer' said Mr.. Harton, in low
: Missing tone, peculiar TO MN Wnen furious
e ly angry. "James, take home your sister =
: James Alexander stepped readily forwar
and dragged, rather than led, the weepin
# girl away.
u The friends of George Mason in W
were not of the most influential class Their
y was none to help him in his hour Of peril
He was dumb before his accusers," sill
r ting ever with his eyes cast down, and hi
:, face crimson with the flush of shame.
/ Angels might have frowned on the arro
gance of petty human Judge, =" dressed il
i a little brief authority" on the horrible in
u justice of the decision, by which at the in
: stance of man "who Jared sumptuousl
every day" on wealth accumulated by extor
: tons from the poor, this noble boy, thi
n good, aiiectionate child was sentenced t.
one years Imprisonment in the county jail
S On Saturday night, Mrs. Mason and JUL
Y kept the supper waiting long time for tn
o expected son and brother, and Dory and lit
tie Fanny stood at the window, looking ca
. gerly down the road, till very late. But h
did not come. They knelt in their evening
}, worship and he was not with them. Alas
d at that moment he was kneelng on the ston'