The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850, 1850-10-09

norton Court Orders and Judicial Advertisements will
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rates. reasonable deduction will be made to those who
advertise by the year.
THE POWER OF MERCY.
Quiet enough, in general is the quaint old town of
I.auborough. Why all this hustle to-day? Along
the hedgebound roads which lead to it, carts, chais-
es vehicles Of every kind are jogging along, filled
with countrymen !; and here and there the scarlet
cloak or straw bonnet Of some female occupying
chair, placed somewhat unsteady behind them, con-
trast gaily with the dark coats or gray smockocks
Of the front from every cottage Of the suburb
some individuals join the stream, which rolls on in
creasng through the Streets till it reaches the CASTLE
The ancient moat teens with idlers, and the hill op-
pose, usually the quiet domain of score or two of
peaceful sheep, parakes Of the surrounding agitation
The voice of the multitude which surrounded the
courthouse sounds like the murmur of the sea, till
suddenly it is raised to a sort of shout John West,
the terror of the surrounding country, the sheep
steaer and burglar, had been found guilty.
"Wha, is the sentence - is asked by hundred
voices.
"The answer is Transportation for life.''
But there was one standing aloof the hill, whose
inouiring eye wandered over the crowd with inde-
scribab'e anguish. whose palid cheek grew more and
more CHASTITY at every denunca:ion of the culprt and
who when at last the sentence was pronounced, fell
insensible upon the green sward. 1t was the bur-
glars son.
The father had been harsh and brutal parent, but
he had not positively i.used his boy. OF the Great
Mercol Father OF the fatherless the child knew no.
thing He deemed himself alone in the world. Yet
grief was not his pervading feeling, the shame of
being known as the son of transport. 1t was re-
venge 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
II e A. Il
he leant. Oh, that he were a man that he could
punish them a-all-the spectators first, the consta-
bIes, the Judge, the nry. the wi.nesses-one of them
especially, clergyman, named Legion, who had Civ
en- his evidence more positively. more clearly than
all the others. Oh, that he could do that some
injury-but for him his father would not have been
identified and convicted.
Suddenly thought occurred to him his eyes
sparked with fierce delight. II know where he lives,
said he to himself; the farm and parsonage of Mill.
wood. l will 90 there at once-t is almost dark al
ready. will do as l have heard my father say he
once did to the Squire. will set his barns and his
house on fire. Yes, yes. he shall get no more faith
ers transported
To procure box of matches was an easy task,
and that was all the preparation the boy made.
The clock was striking nine. but all was quiet as
midnight. not soul string. not light in the par
sonage windows that he could see. He dared not
open the gate lest the click of the latch should be.
lie
he dropped the other side of the wall before the
loud barking of dog startled him. He covered
down behind the haystack scarcely daring breathe
expecting each instant that the dog would spring
upon him. 1t was some time before the boy dared
to stir, and as his courage cooled his thirst for
revenge somewhat subsded also till he almost deter
mined to return to Lamborough; but he was too tr-
ed, cold, too hungry; besides, the woman would
beat him for staying out SO late. What could he dot
where should he go! and as the sense of his lonely
fororn position returned, SO also did the aectonate
remembrance of his father, his hal red of his
es, his desire to satisfy his vengance, and once more
courageous through anger, he rose, took the box
from his pocket, and boldly drew match across the
sand paper 1t famed he stuck it hastily in the stack
against which he rested-it only fickered little and
went out. In great trepidation, young West once
more grssped the whole Of the remaining matches
in his hand and gnted them, but at that instant the
dog barked. He hears the gate open, step is close
desperate effort to escape-but strong hand was
laid on his shoulder and deep calm voice inquired
IS What can have urged you to such crime ~
Then calling loudly. the gentleman, without rslin
gushing his hold, soon obtained the help of some
farming men, who commenced search with the
lanterns about the farm. OF course they found nc
accomplices, nothing at all but the handful of half
consumed matches the lad had dropped. and he al
that time stood trembling, and occasionally strug.
Cling, beneath the firm, but not rough grasp of thu
master who held him.
At last the men were told to return to the house
and thither, by different path. was George led, til
they entered a small, poorly furnished room. The
walls were covered with books, as the bright flame
of the fire revealed to the anxious gaze Of the litt,
culprit. The clergyman lit lamp, and surveyed
his prisoner attentively. The lads eyes were fxet
on the ground. whilst Mr.. Leyton's wandered from
his PALE punched features to his scanty, ragged at
tire through the tatters of which he could discern
a.. -. bav
at last impelled by curiosity at the long silence
George looked up, there was something so sadly
compassionate in the strangers gentle look, that th
boy could scarcely believe that he was really th'
man whose evidence had mainly contributed to trans
port his father. At the trial he had been unable u
see his face, and nothing kind had ever gazed up
on him. His proud, bad feelings were already mel
ting.
'You look halfstarved," said Mr.. Legion "drav
nearer to the fire. you sit down on that stool willis
question you and mind you answer me the truth
l am not magistrate, but of course can easily hant
you over to justice If you will not allow to bene
fit you in my own way.'
Here the young culprt's heart smots him. Wa.
this the man whose house he had tried to burn? o.
whom he had wished to bring ruin and perl,ap.
deaths Was it a snare spread for him to lead t
confession? But when he looked on that compas
sionate eounsenance, he felt that it was not.
Come. my lad, tell me all %
Oo'Se ""u '"t ysa's hoato Ilttio DOT oaths, and
curses, and rbald jests the shiefs jargon of biz
fathers associates, and had been constantly euEef
and punished bat the better part Of his nature wal
not ex,ingushed and At those words from the mouu
of his enemy, he dropped his knees. and, caspinl
his hands, tried to speak but he could only sob. H
had not wept before during that day Of anguish an,
now hia tears gushed forth freely, his grief wa
90 passionate, as he halt knelt, half rested on th
hoor, that the daestionef Rw that sorrow must hay
Its course ere calm could be restored.
The young Peni.enscti'l veps, when knock wa,