The Nevada journal., 1852-06-19
TIVE STORY or FINE EAR.

I'VE SIORY OF FINE EAR.
Ten or twelve years back, there was
in the prison at Brest, man sentenc-
cd for life 10 the galleys. i do not
know the exact nature Of his crime,
hut it was something very atrocious
! never heard, indeed, what his for
iner condition in life had been; for
even hi, name had passed into obi
won, and he was recognized only by
a number. Although his features
were naturally well formed, their ex-
preston was horrible every dark and
evil passion seemed TO have left its i'm
press there; and his character fully
corrcsponded to its outward indica.
tions. Mutinous, gloomy, and revenge
ful, he had often hazarded his life in
desperate attempts to escape, which
had hitherto proved abortive. Once,
during winter, he succeeded in gain
ing the fields, and supported, for sew
eral days, the extremity Of cold and
hunger. He was found at length half
frozen and insensible, under q tree.
and brought back to prison, where,
with difficulty, he was restored to life.
'fhe ward-master watched more close
" and punished him more severely by
far than the other prisoners, while u
double chain was added TO his heavy
letters. Several times he attempted
suicide, but failed through the vigil
ance Of his guards. The only result
Of his experiments in this line was
the loss Of an arm, which had been
fractured in leaping off o high wal.
After suffering amputation and q six
months sojourn in the hospital, he re-
turned to his hopeless life long task
work.
One, day, this mans fierce humor
seemed softened. After the hours of
labor, de seated himself, with his COM
panion in misery, to whom he was
chained in o corner of the court and
ins repulsive countenance assumed q
mild expression. Words Of tenderness
were uttered by the lips which hereto
fore had opened only to blaspheme,
and, with his head bent down, he
watched some object concealed in his
bosom. .,g..6
The guards looked at him with dis :
auietude. believing he had some wea-
non hidden within his clothes and two
Of them, approaching him stealthily
from behind, seized him roughly, ard
began to search him before he could
make any resistance. Finding him.
self completely in their power, tie
convict exclaimed "Oh, don't kill
him! Pray, don't XIII him. ,so.
AS he spoke, one Of the guards hsd
gained possession Of d large rat which
the felon had kept next his bosom.
Don't kill him." he repeated, "beat
me; chain me do what you like with
me; but don't hurt my poor rat y.
Don't squeese him so between your
fingers! If you will not give him back
to me, let him 60 free !--and while
he spoke, for the first time, probably,
since his childhood, tears filed his eyes
and ran down his cheeks. ssnl.
Rough and hardened as were the
guards, they could not listen to the
convict and see his tears, without some
feeling Of compassion. He who was
about TO strangle the rat, opened his
fingers and let it fall to the ground.
The terrified animal fed with the
speed peculiar to its species. and dis
appeared behind pile Of beams and
rubbish. A The felon wiped awaf his
tears. looked anxiously after the rat,
and scarcely bi ieathed till he had seen
il out Of danger. Then he rose and
silently, with the old savage look fol
lowed his companion in bonds and lay
down with him on their iron bedstead'
where ring and chain fastened them
to a massive bar of the same metal
Next morning, on his way 70 work !;
the ,conyict whose pale face showed
that he had passed q sleepless night
cast an axious troubled glance towards
the pilc of wood, and gave low, Pc
cuIiar call, to which nothing replied