The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-11-30
Lead us not into Temptation" !"
A COURT INCIDENT.

bers-ofton admits Of a construction adverse
to the designs Of its legislators and in its
application, frequently deserts the object which
ii was intended to sustain We have, howey-
er, numerous instances. wherein honest juries
have given their verdicts, conformaby TO the
prompting Of justice; and, happily when
such decisions have not been too widely diff.
ferent from the expressed rule, they have es-
capped from the appeal.
We take pleasure in relating an incident,
which greatly enlisted our sympathies, held Us
spell-bound by its interest, and finally made
our hearts leap with JOY at its happy termina-
ton.
In the spring 1884, we chanced to be spend
lug few days in beautiful inland country
town in Pennsylvania. 1t was court-week,
and to relieve us from the monotonous Incl
dents Of village life, we stepped into the rooms
where the court had convened.
Among the prisoners in the box, we saw
lad Of but ten years of age, whose sad and
pensiye countenance his young and innocent
appearance, caused him to look sadly out Of
place among the hardened criminals by whom
he was surrounded Close by tho box, aud
manifesting the greatest interest in the pro-
ceedings sat fearful woman, whose anxious
glance from the Judge TO the boy, left US no
room to doubt that it was his mother. We
turned with sadness from the scene. to enquire
Of the offence Of the prisoner, and learned he
was accused Of stealing money.
The case was soon commenced, and by the
interest manifested by that large crowd, we
found that our heart was not the only one in
which sympathy for the lad existed. How We
pitied him. The bright smile Of youth had
vanished from his face, and now it more ex-
/ pressed the cares Of the aged. His young
sister-a bright-eyed girl-had gained ad.
mission to bis side, and cheered him with the
whisperings Of hope. But that sweet voice,
which before caused his heart to bound with
happiness. added only to the grief his shame
had brought upon him.
The progress Of the case acquainted US
with the circumstances Of the loss, the extent
Of which was but dime-no more
The lads employer. wealthy, misorly and
unprinciplcd manufacturer, had made use Of
it. for the purpose Of what he called " testing
the boys honesty" Il was placed, where
from its very position the lad would oftenest
sec it. and least suspect the trap A day
passed, aud the master to his modification.
not pleasure, found the coin untouched. An
other day passed and yet his object was not
gainod He was, however, determined that
the boy should take it, and so he let il remain.
This continued temptation was too much
for the lads resistance. The dime was taken.
4 simple present for that little sister was pur-
chased by i. But while returning home to
gladden. her heart, his own was made heavy
by being arrested for theft IA crime, the ma
ture Of which he little knew. These clrcum-
stances we're subsiantiated by several OF his
employers Workmen, who we're also parties Of
the plot. An attorney urged upon the jury
the necessity Of making this little rogue"
an example to others, By punishment His
address had great effect upon all that heard t.
Before, / could see many tears OF sympathy
for the lad, his widowed mother and faithful
sister. AL eyes we're dry now, and none
looked as if they cared for, or expected ought
else but conviction.
The accuser sat in a conspicuous place, smi-
ling as if 10 iend-like exuitation, over the
misery he had brought upon that poor, but
once happy trio.
We felt that there was but little hope for
the boy; and the youthful appearance Of the
attorney, who volunteered his defence, gave
no encouragemont-as we learned 1t was the
young mans maiden plea-his first address.
lie appeared greatly confused and reached to
desk near him, from which he took the Bl-
bic that had been used to solemnize the testl-
mony. This movement was received with
general laughter, and taunting remarks
among which we heard a harsh fellow close BY
us. CRY out" He forgets where he is Think
ing to take hold Of some ponderous law book,
he has made mistake, and got the Bible"
The remark made the young attorney flush
with anger, and turning his flashing eye upon
the audience be convinced them 1t was no mis-
take saying;
Justice wants no other book"
His confusion was gone. and instantly he
was a. calm as the sober judge on the bench.
The Bible was opened, and every eye was
upon him as be quietly and leisurely turned
over the leaves. Amidst a breathless silence,
be read to the jury this sentence:
Lead rs not into temrtaticR.
A minute Of unbroken silence followed, and
again be read:
Lead rs not into Temptation"
We felt our heart throb at the sound Of
those words. The audience looked at each
other without speaking-and the jurymen
mutely exchanged glances, as the appropriate
quotation carried its moral 10 their hearts.
Then followed an address. which FIR its pa
thetic eloquence We have never heard excelled.
It's influence was like magic. We saw the
guilty aceuser leave the room in fear of per-
soual violence. The prisoner looked hopeful
the mother smiled again. and. before its
conclusion, there was not an eye in the court
that was not moist The speech was affecting
to that degree which causes tears-it held its
hearers spel-bound.
The little time that was necessary to trans
pire before the verdict of the jury could be
learned, was period of great anxiety and
suspense. But when their whispering con-
sultation ceased and those happy words, Not
guilty." came frcm the fore man. they passed
4 thrill Of electricity from lip to lip -thc aus
tere dignity Of the court was forgotten, and
not voice was there, that did not join the
aeclamation that hailed the lads release
Tho lawyers first plea was a successful one
IIa xvaa aoon n favorite and now represents