Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-11-17

tinatlon, doubtless the summing up OF tht
Judge was not without influence, was draft
ed with gang of malefactors of the wors
possible class, to the extreme penal settle
ment. Here it was forbidden, under heavy
penalties. that he should attempt to holc
any communication with living soul, Of
even write to his family, for three years
His occupation, and that of the gang, was
packing wool, and while pursuing their la
bors the silent system was strictly enforc
ed.
"Three years passed away, The tircum
stances of the robbery were fast dying from
the memory, when one morning while
some laborers were engaged in unpacking ;
bag of Australian wool at the Bradford mill
where Burrows had formerly worked, let
ter, addressed in his handwriting to hi
wife was found deep-buried among its con
tents. The letter was Immediately taken
to the countlng-house /; but the strange cir
cumstances under which it was stated tc
have been found, induced in the minds O
the members OF the firm suspicious of it
authenticity. To unravel the mystery, how
ever, they resolved to open the letter. They
did so, and it proved to be genuine doc
ument. 1t came from Burrows himself
1t set forth that he was well, and that
if he continued to behave himself he
should be permitted to 60 to Sydney, where
he prayed his wife to try and meet him.
1t also exp essed his contrition for past of.
fences, and his acknowledgment of the
Justice of his sentence, and his determine.
ton to lead new life for the future
"What a remarkable circumstance % ex-
claimed several voices in concert.
at was, indeed" continued the clergy
man. "The letter was duly handed to Bur-
rows wife, and taking into consideration
the mysterious train of events by which il
had been brought in safety to its destination,
subscription was organized, and Burrows
family were sent out so as to meet him at
the time he requested. They duly mel, t,and
according to the last reports, the man was
bidding fair to retrieve his fallen position
in society,""
"a special Providence, indeed !" re-
marked the lady who had first started the
subject. "And such an extraordinary il
lustration," said another of the company.
"It teaches most important lesson"
said the clergyman. ut teaches humility.
Reflect that this man, an outcast to society,
while packing wool in remote settlement
of the antipodes, promiscuously placed a
letter in the heart of one of those packages,
which might have been sent to any part Of
Europe or America, indiscriminately. But,
instead of this, after crossing twelve thous-
and miles of trackless ocean, it not only
reaches England, but is forwarded to the
very town, consigned to the very firm of
whom Burrows was a servant, and thus the
letter falls into the hands of his family, for
whom it was intended, and answers all the
purposes for which it was written. This
singular combination of events, say, ap-
pears almost miraculous, yet the result
should, while intoxicating hope and trust in
the Almighty Creator and disposer of good,
teach the lesson that mercy is neither re-
stricted to rank nor class, and that none of
US for our supposed righteousness have
claim upon Heaven for any speciality of
favors."