Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-11-04
AN AFFECTING COURT INCIDENT.
From a Correspondent Of Arthur's Home Gazette
"LsAp us NOT INTO TEMPTATION"

est, anu nfiuIly "aae o"' 6
with joy at its happy termination.
In the spring of 1888 we CHANGED tt
he spending few days in beautiful
inland county town in Pennsy lyau'a,- '!
liz was court week, and to relieve us
from the somewhat monotonous inc''
dents of village life we stepped into the
room where the court had convened.
Among the prisoners in the box we
saw lad but len years of age whose
sad. pensive countenance, hls young
and innocent appearance, caused nm To
Look sadly out Of place among the har'
dened criminals by whom he was sur
rounded. Close by the box, and mani
testing 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 il was
|his mother. We turned with sadness
! from the scene to inquire Of the offence
Of the prisoner, and learned he was ac-
cused 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 IT. the
lad existed. How we pitied him! The
bright smile had vanished from his face,
and now it expressed the cares Of The
aged. His young sister, a bright,eyed
girl. had gained admission 70 his side,
and cheered him with the whispering OF
hope.
But that sweet voice, which before
caused his heart to hound with happi-
ness, added only to the grief his shame
had brought nponhim.
The progress Of the case acquainted
us with the circumstances of the l"ss-
The extent Of which was but dime, no
more! .....Mr
The lads employer, wealthy, miser.
|ly, and unprincipled manufacturer, had
made use of it for the purpose Of what
he called "tcsling the boy, honesty
1t was placed where, from its very po.
sitinn, the lad would o,ftenest see it, aud
least suspect the trap. The day pass
ed. and the mns,er, to his modification,
not pleasure, fund the coli, untouched.
Another day passed, and yet his otiec,
was no, gained. He, however, deter:
mincd that the hoy should take it, aud
so he lot il remain.
This continued temptation was too
much for the boys resistance. The
dime was taken. A simple present. for
that little sister was purchased with it.
But while returning home to gladden.
her heart, his own was made heavy by
being arrested for theft! crime the ma
ture Of which he liele knew. Thase
circumstances were sustained by sever.
al Of his employers workmen, who
we're also parties 10 the plot. An at,or-
ney urged upon tho jury the necessity
of making the "li,,ls rogue" an exam.
ple 10 others by punishment, Before,
| could see many tears Of sympathy Tor
the lad, his widowed mother. and faith
full sister. But their eyes were all dry
now, aud none looked as it they cared
for aught else but conviction.
The uccusor sat in conspicuous
place, smiling as if in fendlike exul,a-
iion over misery he had brought upon
that poo, but once happy trio.
We felt that there was but little hope
for the hoy, and the youthful appear
auce of the attorney who had volunteer.
ed in his defence gave no encourage.
ment, as we learned that it was tho
young mans maiden plsa-his first ad.
dress. He appeared greatly confused,
and reached 10 desk near him, from
which he look the Bible that had been
used to solemnize the teslmony. This
movement was received with general
laughter aud lsunling remarks, among
which we heard harsh fellow, close to
us, cry out:
{" lie forge,s what it is. Thinking to
get huld of some ponderous law.book,
he has made mistake and got the Bi.
blu." ,aa .u.. 1a4ue
The rcmark made the young attorney
blush with anger and turning his flush.
ing eyes upon The audience he convin.
ced them that there was no mistake, say.
ing, Justice wants no better book" -
His confusion was gone. aud insl antly
he was as calm as tho sober judge on
tho bench. The Bible was opened, aud
every eye was upon him, as he quietly
and lcisurely turned over the leaves
Amidst brca,hlrss silence he read thu
iury this sentence: "Lrad as not ia.o
temptation."
We f.I, our heart throb at the sound
Of these words. Tho audience looked
at each other without speaking; aud
the juryman exchanged glaces u, the
appropriate qu"talion carried its mora
to their hearts. Then followed all ad
dress which for pathetic eloqnence w
have never heard excelled. Its inan,
ence was like magic. Wa sawthe guilt,
nccusor leave tho room in fear of pur
suual violence. Tho prisoner looke,
hnprf,l; the mother smiled again; and