Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-05-26


prisoner, .nor do l seek to palliate it. But
neither do ask for mercy. l can face
death as l have faced il dozen tines
But ] wish to say word on the causes that
brought me to this place."
Every neck was strained forward 10 catch
the words of the speaker: even the Judge
leaned over the bench, controlled by an in
terest for which he could not account.
81 was born of reputable, nay distin-
guished parents" said the man, sand one
at least was an angel. But she died early,
and my father, immersed in ambitious
schemes, quite forgot me, so that was left
TO form my own associations, which, there
fore, were naturally not all of the most un-
exceptionabe kind. BY and bye, my it,
regularities began 10 attract the notice OF
my father. He reproved me too harshly.
RecollectI was spoilt by indulgence. !
soon committed another youthful folly
My punishment, this time was more Sc
we're and quite as i'll advised as before. |
was creature OF impulse p,iabe either for
good or bad-and my only surviving parent
fell into the error of attempting TO drive
mr., when he should have persuaded me
with kindness. The fact is, neither Of ns
understood each other. Well, r1atters
went on thus for two years and more:
was rxtravaqant, rebellious, dsSipated, my
parent was hard and untorgiving. s.
DAT length" continued the speaker, turn
ing full on the judge until their eyes met,
sat length, one evening, my parent sent
for me into his study. / had been guilty
of some youthful folly, and having threat
ened me about fortnight before with dis
inheritance il | again veXed him, he now
tod me that hencelorth / was 10 be TO
child of his, but an outcaSt and bcGgar.-
He said, too, that he thanked God my
mother had not lived to see that day Ihat
touched me. Had he then spoken kindly
had he given me a chance, might have
reformed but he irritated me with harsh
words, checked my rising promptings OF
good by condemning me unheard, aud sent
me forth alone in the world. From that
hour" continued the prisoner, speaking
rapidly and with great emotion, 81 was
desperate. | went ont from his doors a
homeless, pennilcsS, frieudless boy. Ny
former associates would have shrunk from
me, even if had not been too proud TO
seek them. All decent society was shut
against me. soon became almost starved
for want Of money. But what needs it 10
tell the shifts was driven to = sep. in
miserable hovels-I consorted with the
lowest and vilest-I gambed, | cheated,
and yet l could scarcely get my bread
You, who sit in luxurious homes, know
not the means to which the miserable out.
cast must resort for a livelihood. But
enough. From one step passed TO anoih-
er, till | am here. From the moment |
was cast out from my fathers house NY
fate was inevitable, leading me by con-
stantly descending steps until / became the
felon now am. And stand here to day
ready 10 endure the utmost penalty Of your
laws, careless of the future as ] have been
reckless of the past"
He ceased and now released from the
torrent of his passionate eloquence, which
had chained their eyes TO him, the specta-
tors turned toward the judge TO see what
effect the prisoners words had produced.
Well was it, that no one had looked there
before, else that proud man had sunk cow
ering from his seat. They would have
seen how his eye gradually quailed before
that of the speaker-how he turned ashy
pale-how his whole face, at length, be-
came convulsed with agony. Ay old
man, remorse was now fully awake. In
the criminal he had recognized his only
SON He thought then of the words he
had once used, "as you so,r, so shall goa
reap" But by mighty effort he was ena-
bled to hear the, prisoner to the end, and
then, feeling as if every eye was upon hln
penetrating this terrible secret in his looks
he sank, with a groan, senseless to The
earth.
The confusion that occurred in the court
house when it was found that the Judge hat
been taken suddenly i'll, as the physician:
said by stroke of apoplexy, led to the post
ponement of the prisoners sentence: ano
before the next session of the court, the cul-
prii had received conditional pardon, the
result, it was said, of the mil eating circum'
stances which he had urged SO eloquent,
on his trial. The terms on which larg,
proportion Of fcitizens petl,ioned for his par,
don required that he should forever attel
reside abroad. 1t was said that the Judge
although scarcely recovered, had taker
such an interest in the prisoner, as 10 yisi
him in a long and secret interview th,
night before he sailed for Europe.
About year after these events Judge
Harcourt resigned his office on the plea o
ill-health, and having settled his affairs en-
barked for the old world where he intend
ed to reside for many years. He never re-
turned to America. But travellers sale
that he was residing in secluded valley o
Italy, with man in the prime OF life, whc
passed for his adopted son. 1t was the re-
claimed outcast. A smiling family o
grand d-chidren surrounded him. The hap
py father could say in the language 0
Scripture, s'this my son was dead and i
alive again, he was lost and is found"
sIs that the tune the old COW died of, ask
ed an Ergishman Of Yankee who wa
whisiing Yankee Doodle. .,.....