The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-06-30

| very lew exceptions, Inc purlO1nlng o
said money was unhesitatingly declar
ed to be the act OF Charles Grafton. l
we were not writing true story, WE
might, perhaps, by a little stretch o
the imagination, imagine Charles dis
missed from his place, and sent forth
alone and unprotected into the world
only to become more skilled in such
practices as the one imputed to him.
But as this was not the case, we shall
not SO record it. Mr.. Rupert, it is true
felt less confidence in him than before
its occurrence, but thoughtit best upon
the whole to let the matter rest until
something might transpire to throw
some more light upon the subject. Two
or three weeks passed away, and then
Mrs. Rupert received another letter
from her daughter. The substance of il
our readers may gather from the follow.
ing conversation between Mr.. Melville
and his wife. Says the former, address.
ing the letter,
"You recollect that affair, two OF
thee weeks ago, about the letter ~
About the money, do you mean ?'
"Yes. Everybody, | believe, and
ourselves, too, suspected Charles Graf.
ton of having stolen it. 1t was so plain
to some people that they needed nc
other proof on the subject. But sup.
pose, if they were 10 be told that he
had confessed it, they would be little
better satisfied any now"
"Has he done SO 2" asked Mrs. Mel.
vile.
mot exactly" replied her husband
81 saw Rupert, this morning, and he
tells me they got a letter, last night, from
their daughter, which explains all the
mystery"
How was il then ?n
"Why, he says his daughters letters
are always placed in the box of Ger
tain doctor in that town, and that the
doctors son had been in the habit OF
bringing the letters to her"
And did he bring that one TO her 2''
"Yes.n
"Ah! well then, it's very easy 10
tell where the money went to-"
"You shouldn't be so hasty in FORM
ing your judgment, Jane" said Mr..
Melville. "A little while ago you
were certain in your own mind that
Charles Grafton was the guilty one, and
now you are just as certain that it was
the doctors son.n
"That's all very true but still if |
had known how she received her let
tiers, | should not have been 50 positive
in regard to Charles. Yet as you say,
I shouldn't be SO hasty in forming my
Judgment But tell me, are not my
suspicious correct now Z"
T. Yes; they are"
"How came they to find it out ?'
"Theysaw the postmaster, who said
there was money in it when he placed
it in the doctors box: the doctor said
there was money in it when he gave
il to his son, and as there was no money
in il when the son delivered it, it is but
reasonable enough to suppose that he
took it."
'And did they get any Of it back
again z"
Yes: the doctor paid the whole
amount"
"He would not have done it if he had
not believed his son guilty"
No, Of course not"
"What pity! how bad his father
must feeli How old is he?"
About fourteen. telieve.n
Dear! Dear! Well | feel right glad
to hear that Charles is clear of it, at
any rate"
Il hope this may be lesson to US in
future, said Mr.. Melville, how we
condemn a person. No doubt a great
many persons have heard Of the first
part of this affair, that will never hear
the last; and in consequence, poor
Charles will ever be looked upon by
them with suspicion and mistrust. 1t
is much easier to rob an unprotected
orphanless boy like him of his charac-
ter, than it is to restore it to him."
at is indeed, and | feel as if | had
done him injustice by harboring such
thoughts of him myself-although it
is some satisfaction to me 10 know that
{ never spoke of it to any one but YOU"
" | am glad you have not. | was
afraid you might have done So"
"No. Fve always felt bad about it
ever since l heard It, for in my own
mind | was satisfied that he had taken
the money. Where everything seems
so clear, it is hard sometimes TO help
forming an opinion, but shall try in
future to be more careful"
If all similar circumstances were re.
corded, reader, how many pages think
you they would filla Judging hastily
from appearances. is by no means an
uncommon practice among US. There
is not, we admit, much novelty or TO-
nance in the little story we have re-
lated; it is merely a simple statement
of facts, yet may not all learn lesson
from ite Let him that is without sin
in this respect cast the first stone"
WiIberf0rce's Speech on Potatoes.