Daily American telegraph., 1852-07-15

woods TO watch his chance to steal the silver
tankard, as soon as the men folks had gone to
meeting.
Shall give you cold victuals or will YOU
wait till can cook some meat?" asked Hitty
"We can't wait = was the reply; give us
what you have ready, as soon as you cam
~ am glad you do not want me to cook for
you; but weuld do it, if you did because
father would rather not have much cooking on
Sunday"
u Then away she tripped about, making her
for their repast Smith himself
helped her out with the table; she spread upon
it clean white cloth, and placed upon it the
silver spoons, and the silver tankard full of
" old orchard with a large quantity Of wheat
en- bread, and dish Of cold meat. don't
know why the silver spoons were put on.
Perhaps little Hitty thought they made the
table look prettier, @
After all was done, she turned to Smith,
and with courtesy told him dinner was ready.
The child had been so busy in arranging her
table, and SO thoughtful Of housewifery, that
she took little or no notice of the appearance
and manners of herguests. She did the work
as oheerily and freely, and was as unembar-
rassed as if she had been surrounded by her
father and mother and brothers.
One Of the thieves sat down doggedly, with
his hands on his knees, and his face down al
most to his hands, looking all the time on the
floor; another, a younger and better-looking
man, stood confounded and irresolute, as if he
had not been well broken into his trade and
often would he 60 to the window and look out,
keeping his back to the child Smith, on the
other hand, looked unconcerned, as if he had
quite forgotten his purpose. He never once
took his attention off the child, following her
with his eye, as she bust1ed about in arranging
the dinner table; there was even n half smile
on his face s.a ,1"'as
They all moved to the table--Smith at the
head, one of his companions on each side, the
child at the foot standing there to help her
guests. and TO be ready TO 60 # for further sup
plies, as there. was need. The, men ate as
hungry men, almost in silence, drinking occa-
sionally from the silver tankard. When they
had DONE Smith. started up suddenly, and
said s....s. .s.
~ "Come, let's go!"
"What!" exclaimed the older robber ego
with empty hands, when this silver is here?"
He seized the tankard y.
"Put that down!D shouted Smith "pn
shoot the man who takes, single thing from
this house."
Poor Hitty at once awoke to sense of the
character of her guests. With terror in her
face, and yet with childlike frankness, she ran
to Smith, took hold of his hand and looked
into his face, as if she felt sure that he would
take care of her.
The old thief looking to his young compan-
ion, and finding he was ready to give up the job,
and seeing that Smith was resolute, put down
the tankard, growing like dog who has had
o bone taken from him: ~.
-" Fool! Catch me in your company again; )"
and with such expressions left the house, fol-
lowed by the other.
Smith put his hand on the head of the child,
and said
"Don't be afraid stay quiet in the house
nobody shall hurt you"
Thus ended the visit of the thieves; thus
God preserved the property of those who had
put their trust in Him. What story had the
child to tell when the family came home How
hearty was the Thanksgiving that went up that
evening from the family altar
A year or two after this poor Tom Smith
was arrested for the commission of some crime,
was tried, and sentenced to be executed.
Daniel Gordon heard of this, and that he was
confined in jail IN the seaport town, to await
the dreadful day when he was to be hung up
like dog between heaven and earth Gordon
could not keep away from him he felt drawn
went down to see him When he entered the
dungeon, Smith was seated his face was very
pale his hair tangled and matted together; for
why should he care for his looks? There was
no other expression in his countenance than
that of irritation from being intruded upon,
when he wanted to hear nothing see nothing
more of his brother man, He did not rise, nor
even look up, nor return the salutation of Cor
don, who continued to stand before him. At
last as if wearied beyond endurance, he asked,
"What do you want of met Can't you let
me alone, even here?"
al come, !" said Gordon, to see you, because
my daughter told me all you did for her when
you"-
AS if touched to the heart Smiths whole
appearance changed an expression Of deep
interest came over his features; he was alto
gether another man. The sullen indifference
passed away in an instant
care you the father of that little girl? Oh,
what q dear child she is Is she well and
happy? How love to think of her That's
one pleasant thought have to think Of For
once was treated like other men. Could
kiss her once, think should feel better"
In this hurried manner he poured out an iu-
tensity of feeling little supposed to be in the
bosom of q condemned felon.
Gordon remained with Smith, whispered to
him of peace beyond the grave for the peni-
tent, smoothed in some degree his passage
through the dark valley, and did not return
to his family until Christian love could do no
more for an erring brother, on whom scarcely
before had the eye of love rested; whose hand
had been against every man, because their
hands had been against him
have told this story more at length, and
interviewer in it some unimportant circumstan-
ces; but it is before you substantially as it was
related to me- The main incidents are true;
though doubtless, as the story has been handed
down from generation to generation, it has