Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-09-14
miscellaneous.
From Diokens's Household Words.
The Power Of Mercy.

luO lVNVf vi WCfOlt
QoiET enough, in general, is tile quiet old
town of Lamborough. Why all this hustle
to-day2 Along the hedge-bound roads
which lead to il, carts, chaiscs, vehicles OF
every description are Jogging along filled
with countrymen; and here and there the
scarlet cloak or straw bonnet of some fe-
male occupying chair, placed somewhat
lihsieadily behind them, contrasts g0ily with
the dark coats, or gray smack-ffocks of the
front row; from every cottage of the suburb
somo individuals Join the stream, which rolls
on increasing through the streets, till il reach
es the castle. The ancient moat teens with
oilers, and the hill opposite, usually the qui-
CT domain of a score or two of peaceful
sheep, partakes of the surrounding agita-
tion.
Tho voice of the multitude which sur.
rounds the courthouse, sounds like the muir
mur of the sea, till suddenly il is raised to u
sort of shout. John West, the terror of the
surrounding country, the sheep-stcnlcr and
burglar, had been found guilty.
"Whnt is the sentence p is asked by a
hundred voices.
The answer is, Transportation for Life"
But there was one standing aoof on the
hill, whose nquiring eye wandered over the
crowd with indescribabe anguish, whose
pallid cheek grew more and more ghnstly at
every denunciaton of the culprit, and who,
when ut last the sentence was pronounced,
fell insensibe upon the grccn-sward. 1t twas
the burglars son.
When tho boy recovered from his swoon,
il was late in the afternoon he was alone
the faint tinkling of the sheep-bell had
again replaced the sound of the human cho-
rus of expectation, and dread, and iestng;
-H.I 4. "A, "A
why he lay there, feeling so weak and sick.
lie raised himself tremulously aud looked
around, the turf was cut and spoilt by the
trampling of many feet. All his life of the
last few months iloated before his memory,
his residence in his fathers hovel with ruff
fianly comrades, the desperate schemes he
heard as he pretended to sleep on bis lowly
bed, their expeditions at night, masked and
armed, their hasty returns, the news of his
fathers capture, his own removal TO the
house Of some female in the town, the court,
the triul, the condemnation.
The father had been harsh and brutal
parent, but he had not positively il-used his
boy. OF the Great and Merciihl Father of
the faiherless the child knew nothing. He
deemed himself alone in the world, Yet
grief was not his pervading feeling, nor the
shame of being known as the son Of trans
port. 1t was revenge which burned within
him. He thought of the crowd which had
come to feast upon his fathers agony; he
longed to tear them TO pieces, and he pluck
cd savagely a handful of the grass on which
he leant. Oh, that he were a man that he
could punish them all-all-the spectators
first, the constabes, the Judge, the jury, the
witnesses-one of them especially, cler-
gyman, named Leyton, who had given his
evidence more positively, more clearly, than
all others. Oh, that he could do thut man
some injury--but for him his father would
not have been identified and convicted.
Suddenly thought occurred TO him--his
ewes spurkled with fierce delight al know
where he lives," he said to himself; she has
the farm and parsonage of Millwood. | will
70 there at once--it is almost dark already.
will do as / have heard my father say he
once did to the Squire. will set his barns
and his house on fire. Yes, yes, he shall
burn for it-ho shall get no more fathers
transported"
To procure a box of matches was an en-.
sy task, and that was all the preparation the
hoy made.
The autumn was far advanced. A colo
wind was beginning to moan amongst III,
almost leailess trees, and George Vests teetl
chartered, aud his il-clad limbs grew numl
as he walked along the fields leading Il
Millwood. "Lucky it's n dark night tli
fine wind will fan the flame nicely" he re
lieated to himself
The clock was striking nine, but all wa
quiet as midnight; not a soul stirring, not
light in tho parsonage windows that h'
could see. He dared not open the gate, les
tho click of the latch should betray him, S,
lie softly climbed over; but scarcely had h,
dropped oil the other side of the wall befor,
the loud barking of dog startled him.
lie cowed down behind the hay-rick
scarcely daring to breathe, expecting eacl
instant that the dog would spring upon him
1t was some time before the boy dared t
stir, and as his courage cooled, his thirst 70
revenge some what subsidized also, till he al
most determined to return TO Marlborough
but he was too tired, too cold, too hungry
besides the woman would beat him for stay
ing out so late. What could he do /? wher
should he go /? and as the sense of his lone
Iy and forlorn position returned so did als'
the afiectionate remembrance of his father
his hatred of his accllsers, his desire to salts
fy his vengeance; and, once more, courage
Gus through anger, he rose, took the bo.
from his pocket, and boldly drew mattel
across the sand-paper. 1t famed; he stucl
il hastily in the stack against which he rest
edit only flickered a little, and went oui
In great trepidation, young West once NOR
grasped the whole of the remaining matche
in his hand and ignited them, but at III
same instant the dog barked. lie hears tn
gate open, step is close to him, the match
es are extinguished, the lad makes despe
rate effort TO escape-but a strong hand wa
laid on his shoulder, and deep calm yoic
inquired, "What can have urged you {
such crime z? Then calling loudly, Ill
Gentleman without relino,,isl,in,r b;s hoI,
soon obtained the help of some farmn
men, who commenced search with thei
lanterns all about the farm Of cours
they found no accomplices, nothing at al
hut the handful of halfconsumed nlatche
tie lad had hronnah md ho oil tbnt Inn