Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-06-27
VOL. v.

bad; it was not primitively hard and callous
case, full of selfshness; but education-the
vicious education of an abandoned companion
ship-had corrupted it, and ruined its possess
or. His mothers sorrows seemed hardly to
touch him, as spoke to him of them at first,
and gradually he could converse about his for
mer pursuits, and amusements, and compan-
ions, with an ease and carelessness that grieved
me, and rendered my hopes of redemption far
less sanguine than my fears of his deeper fall
were strong. He was the orphan son of a
merchant of respectability. When his father
died, he had been apprenticed to one of the
trustees of his parents insolvenf affairs. A
love of display, and false and perverted notions
of manlness and spirit, had led the youth into
the company of others of his own age, whose
vices and follies were too expensive for their
means, and who, hurried on by infatuated ap-
petites, paused not to consider where folly end
ed its career and crime took up the race. In
an evil hour, and under the influence of that
fearful vanity which so often plays with the
gibbet to win the appreciation of the thought
less, or perhaps vicious, Edward Harrington
had forged bill upon an old correspondent of
his father. 1t was, of course, dishonorcd and
protested, and, before either the partners in the
clearinghouse, Mr., Gully, or young Harring-
ton, had wellrefected on the consequences, the
youth was apprehended, and the parties COM
mitted to prosecute for forgery. had felt in
terested in the poor youths case, and had en-
deavored to become the medium of communica-
tion between him and home but if he under
stood my intentions by the delicate hints which
| gave him, he did not seem inclined to profit
by them, for he appeared not to notice them
His trial had been an exposure of youthful fol-
lies that did not operate in his favor, and hav-
ing been found guilty by the jury, and admon-
lshed by the Judge, he was sentenced to ten
years transportation. Alas and he so young
he was only in his twenty-third year.
thought it would have crushed him, but it did
not. He had begun Immediately to speculate,
upon the probability of becoming an overseer,
or some other such thing, in Australia, and his
spirit still retained buoyancy which seemed,
in him at least, very unbecoming
This way, ladies' said Barr, as he returned
to the yard, leading an elderly woman, in deep
mourning, from the main passage into the yard,
where l stood, while gentleman, evidently
some relation to the lady, followed, with two
nteresting-looking girls hanging upon his arm.
This ma am said the official, pointing with
key through the massive stanchons of paral-
telegram, lis number one, where the little prgs
as is new caught are allowed to play leap-frog
for an hour a-day. lit good amusement to
them as is used it, said the wonderful turnkey,
'and two three of the little boys as can't stay
away from US, are really expert at it
The widow, who was tall, had once been
handsome, happy, and beautiful, bent her head,
and raised her handkerchief to her eve
This here cage is number two, said Barr,
evidently supposing that he was both interest
ing and instructing the visitor this here is
where the feminines teach each other vocal
music, and the manly art of self-defence.-
There's talk about making em work, and tax
ing away several of the prisoners privileges
I guess, if they had anything to say in the mat
ter, they would protest against the change
said the jailor sententiously.
AS the group of visitors approached raised
my hat and bowed. The sorrow-stricken fam
lily returned the salute with much apparent en-
barrassment, and | heard the youngest girl
whisper to the gentleman, He is the chaplain.
They were extremely beautiful girls, tall, and
delicately formed, with pale expressive fea-
lures, in which grief was blended with intelli-
gence and benevolence. They wore black
dresses of Orleans cloth, and their little bonnets
of black silk were scarcely so glossy as their
raven hair. Their ages might be fifteen and
seventeen.
Visitors to number twenty-nine, sir, said
Barr, winking his eye to me. bowed again,
and they passed toward the yard which led in
10 Harrington's cell. l directed my way to
another part of the Jail, lest should intrude up
on the sad meeting.
was sitting conversng with an old man,
who had been convicted of poaching, and who,
having wounded a game-keeper in an affray,
was about to be transported, when the cell-door
was thrown open, and Giles Brook was called
out into the yard to be manacled.
| 'Yes, yes, MASTER said he, turning to me
and shaking his head before he went, you may
bother me with logic, and put me out with
your learning, but you wont make me believe
that am a thief for shooting hare, or that the
carcass of leveret is worth seven years of my
life and liberty
followed the unhappy man into the yard
and never shall forget the sad scene that was
being enacted there. The prisoners who were
about to be conveyed to the transport wert
joined in couples, and fastened to each other b.
strong iron manacles, which locked their hand.
together, and of which constable carried +;
key. Their relatives had been allowed tn.
melancholy privilege of seeing and conversins
with them previous to their final separation
and these stood round in groups, sobbing o
talking to each other in low, broken tones
The governor of the prison. was there, to SCI
that the prisoners were delivered, and to re-
ceive from the conveying officer, the certificate
of transfer The chaplain, my aged and ben
evolent friend, moved amongst the prisoner
shaking hands with them, and looking sadly il
their faces as he gave them some kindly part