Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-09-07
22O8
miscellaneous.
The Reformed Robbsr.

death. The criminal was not more than
two or three and twenty, with an interest
ing physiognomy, and had been seduccd by
bad company. lie had frankly confessed oil
the circumstances of his guilt; his chains
were already taken off, as usual, previous TO
his execution aud as there was no conve-
nient place IN the prison, the clergyman and
the culprit were shut up in small chapel,
which stood detached from any other build
ings, at the extremity of the village, and re-
ceivcd all its light from an aperture in the
middle Of yauted roof
Here the ecclesiastic Immediately COM
menced an earnest exlIortation to repent
ance; but though he made it MS persuasive
aud pathetic as possible, he observed that
the poor fellow paid very little attention to
what he said. AS his appearance, age, and
confession gave the father no reason TO sup
. pose him hardened criminal, he was some
what surprised at his inntteniion.
He ascribed ii, however, TO a natuarl levi
ty Of disposition, which he did not fail seri-
ously to reprove, and reminded his compan-
ion TO make the hest use of the short time
lie bad yet to live.
!" BY all means, reverend father,' replied
the prisoner, "that is just what should wish
TO do. Your exhortations are indeed excel
lent; but yet | doubt whether your rover-
ence would yourself pay much attention to
the finest prayers in the world If you were
in my place. For, TO say nothing about the
conioundedly disngrceabe sensation, arising
from the knowledge, that in few hours
ones neck is to be broken, there is one idea
which suggests itself with such force as to
occupy my whole SOUL"
"Well, and what is that z"
"Tlint might yet find means to get
Off i your reverence chose to spare my
life ~
"I?r-I? What do you mean"
"Don't you see that opening in the roof?"
"Yes, certainly; but what then %
That il is considerable hight is evil |
dent enough. But if we were to put that |
altar exactly underneath it, and upon the al
tar that chair; if your reverence would get
upon the chair, aud then suffer me to mount
upon your shoulders, should certainly be
able TO reach IT,"
"And when you had got up there what
would you do"
al would scramble down the roof to the
cornice, and then leap of five or six yards /
would be but rifle for man in my situa-
tion. hope that nobody is watching on
the outside The chapel stands detached, |
wood is not far off; can assure you that as
soon as reached the ground, would run |
ns fast as my legs would carry me-"
Here the poor fellow paused. The priest
considering the whole plan in silence, with |
difficulty ropressing an involuntary smile,
and rejoined:
Excellent. And j am TO nssist you TO
do this AT great risk to myself, am TO
enable robbcr TO continue his guilty course
All the depredations which you would hence
forth commit"
"No, reverend sir, never would commit
any more. ] am now fully aware of the
the gallows not 10 avoid il in future as far as
lies in my power. ] will betake myself TO
work, aud maintain myself honestly, let me
toll ever SO hard to do 1t. Help lae but this
once, entreat you%
The father did not suffer him to solicit
long, he only exacted a solemn promise of
amendment, aud then, though his heart was
long before soitened in favor OF the priso-
ner, he complied with his request. lie as
sisted 10 remove the altar, placed the chair
upon it himself, and patiently served to
lengthen ont this singular ladder. The poor
fellow certainly had great difficulty TO reach
the opening; but what will not the fear of
death accomplish? When he had crept out
the father listened attentiyey for some time,
and as the leap was followed by no outcry
or noise, he removed the altar and chair to
their proper places, aud contentedly waited
end. At length the officers of justice con-
ceiving Tint the prisoner had been allowed
sufficient lime TO prepare, the jailor and exc
cutioner went 10 fetch him away. The &C.
clesiastic from within replied that he hsd
long been anxiously wishing TO be released.
With nstonishment they opened the door of
the chapel, and with still greater astonish-
ment, they beheld the father sitting all alone
in the midst of it. "Where is the pris-
oner| wus very naturally the first ques-
tion. ~
"Thc prisoner calmly replied the eccle-
siastic, "was either an angel or devil it
is impossible he could be man. While
was endeayoring, 10 the best OF my ability,
TO bring him to due sense of guilt, lac sud
IDENTIFY rose from the place, and assembled
through the aperture. | looked after him,
peirified with astonishment, unable TO move
u limb, or TO utter a word. II was not till
you knocked that RETAINED the power to stir
or speak,
The jailor and executioner would willing
ly have supposed that the fathers ntellects
were derapged; but as the criminal was ir-
recoverably lost they knew not whether TO
consider II a miracle or deception. Several
of the villagers assembled; but after the
most diligent search in every corner of the
chapel, no trace of the criminal could be
discovered. The executioner, who was the
greatest loser by this accident, bastencd TO
acquaint the officers of justice with the cir
cunstance. They repaired to the spot, and
TO them the ecclesiastic repeated the same
story as before. lie ndded that in no case
was It bis duty to act the part of keeper TO
prisoner, and that he was almost convinced
this replised culprit was innocent; and sol
emnly swore that he went our the aperature
in the roof The auterstition of the nnulti-