Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-12-05
From Arthur's Home Gazette
THE THIEF AND HIS BENEFACTOR.


| circumstances made me what | am,''
said a condemned criminal to benev olent
man who visited him in prison. II was
driven by necessity to steal"
Not So, replied the keeper, who was
standing by. "Rather say, that your own
character made the circumstances by which
you were surroupded. God never places
upon any creature the necessity of break
ing his commandments. You stole be.
| cause, in heart you were thief"
The benevolent man reproved the keep
er for what he called harsh words. He
believed that, alone, by the force of exter-
nal circumstances, men were made crimi-
nails. That, if society were differently ar
ranged there would lie little or no crime
in the world. And SO he made interest
for the criminal, and, in the end secured
his release from prison. Nor did his be-
nevolence stop here. He took the man
into his service and entrusted TO him his
goods and money.
IL will remove from him all temptation
TO steal,' said he, "by liberal supply of
his wants."
"Have you wife 90 he asked of the
man, when he took him from the prison.
"No," was replied. .a a.a.
"Nor any one but yourselfto support p
81 am alone in the world"
"You have received a good education,
and can serve me as clerk. /, therefore
take you into my employment, at fair
| salary. Will five hundred dollars be
enough ?" .. -.... =. ..n -- ....-
1T will be an abundance" said the
man, with evident surprise at an oifer SO
unexpectedly liberal.
"Very well. That will place you above
temptation"
"And will be innocent and happy
You are my benelactor. You have saved
me-"
81 believe it," said the man of benevo-
lence. ..>.
And so he entrusted his goods and his
money to the man he had reformed by
placing him in different circumstances.
But, it is in the heart of man that the
evil lies; and in the hearts impulses
spring all our actions. That must cease
to 6e bitter fountain before it can send
forth sweet water. The thief was thief
still. Not a month had elapsed ere he was
devising the means TO enable him to get
from his kind, but mistaken friend, more
than the liberal sum for which he had "a
greed TO serve him. He coveted his
neighbors goods whenever his eyes fell
upon them, and restlessly sought TO ac-
quire their possession. In order to make
more sure the attainment of his ends, he
affected sentiments of morality, and even
went so far as to cover his purpose by a
show Of religion. And thus he was able
to deceive his friend. 1g
Time went on-and the thief, apparent
ly reformed by change Of relation TO So
ciety, continued at his post of res sponsibil-
ity. How it was, the benefactor could
not make out but his affairs gradually
became less prosperous. He made inves
! LEGATIONS into his business, but was unable
to find anything wrong. .-
care you aware that your clerk is ;
purchaser of property to considerable
extent asked a mercantile friend of hin
one day. ...-.
"My clerk! II cannot be. His in
come is only five hundred dollars year
"He bought piece Of property for fv,
thousand dollars last week.
impossible ~
"Iknow tito betrne. Are YOU aware tha
he was once convict In theState's prison.