Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-06-10

! 0 The following little story, copiee
from the Boston CAromotyps, illustrates no
only how, frequently, the necessities of indi
viduals drive them to the commisson O
breaches Of the criminal law, but shows how
much more eficacious is the power of kind
ness in reclaiming the offenders and restor
ing them 10 society as good and peaceful
citizens, than the severe penalties Of ths
law-the barred windows, the grated doors
and clanking chains of the dungeon damp
and dark and drear:
z--.- An Incident.
About ten months ago, Mr.. John Spear,
on one Of his usual visits to the Police Court
one morning, noticed among the prisoners
a youth, who was poorly clad. and for
some cause or other was weeping. The phi
lanthropist sat down by his side, and the
following conversation ensued:
@Why are you here, my SOM"
Il am accused Of selling newspapers, sir,
without license. sEf-7 s-
care you guilty?" eas.e75
eyes, sir"
sHave you been arrested before?"
eyes, sir, twice" ~
aWhat for?" ...s. . -. ........ ....
@For selling newspapers" d.
sWhy do you persist in doing it?''
@Because don't know what else to do to
get living" -
sHave you father?"
"No, sir; my father is dead" ss
"ls your mother living?"
aMy mother is drunkard; she don't
take any care of me; don't know .ultere
she is moU." s.-.. ..--... ..-
As he uttered these last words, the deep
waters of the little fellows soul burst forth
afresh. and he expressed his grief aloud.
*Where do you lodge?' continued the
philanthropist. .-t.
sNear Union street, sir; pay nine pence
a night for my lodging, in advance. and I
buy two plates of beans in the course of the
day. for which I pay as much more.
sHow do you spend your evenings?' r'
II walk about the streets and go into
the auction rooms" ---. y -a-- ..E
sWhy don't you sit down in the house
where you lod dge, by the fire, and read?"
sBecause. the woman of the house is
poor. She has no room for me by her fire.
@Wouid you like to go into the country
and work, if place could be obtained for
you?" T. - z>e& ....t-1 a.5. i 81.
sYes,sir; 1 would be glad to go and
work for my living. don't want to stay
in Boston, but have nobody to get place
for me. l don't want to go down to the Jail
again. -.-f-EE2 +: a--,- +s.
Tho philanthropist now spoke to the
Judge respecting the prisoner. This SEEM
ed to worry Mr.. Power, the petty tyrant
and clerk of the court, who seems ever rea-
dy to throw frozen water upon any thing
that does not harmonize with the discord-
ant music of his soul. He informed Mr..
Spear that it would be Of no use to try to
do anything for that boy, because he had
twice been sent to Jail for the Same thing
before, and it did him no good. -s Ege
"That is good and sufficient reason"
was the calm and determined reply Of the
philanthropist, @why he should not be sent
there again" a1t 9oa ,zasa.,.aF.s s-a
After some conversation, the Judge re-
duced the fine to one cent and cost, which
the philanthropist paid, and then, taking
the boy by the hand, they both left the
court. - s15za17=.af .-.z -ss b. 1
Now for the sequel. Mr.. Spear took the
boy to his own house, and supplied him
with food and clothing, and then obtained
place for him in the country. Last week
the day before Thanksgiving, the grateful
boy, for the first time came to the city to
see his benefactor. He had been steadily al
work at the place which MIR Spear had
provided for him, and is still at work there,
earning nine dollars month and his board
b Sucil is the lesson which charity teaches
US. We will not moralize upon the evil
which would have followed that boy, had
be been left to the mercy Of the police court
but thank the generosity Of him whose on
| " wish is to heal the wounds of woe, and
who always-''"75s' q. -'-
% hath tears of pity, and a hand -
80, Open as day for melting pity, -1a
for his noble service in the cause Of charity