Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-09-07
An AFFECTING IxClDENT.
From correspondent. Of Arthurs Home G,,.,,.
"Lead ai NOT iuta 7.....,,-- :,

sPellbouOd by its interest, and finally m.ds ~,
hearts leap with Joy at its happy termination
In the spring Of 1886 We chanced to Be spen
ding a few days in beautiful inland coun,r,
'oWn in Pennsylvania. 1t was court week srt
to relieve US from the somewhat mopotoDop,
incident Of the village we steppedin the room
where The court had convened.
Among the prisoners in the box we saw
iaa but ten years of age. whose sad pensiy,
cOun'enance' hisyOung and innocent appearance
caused nm to look sadly out of place among
hardened criminals BY whom he was surroun
dsd. Close by the box. and mAnfssting the
greatest interest in the proceeding sat tear.
tul woman, whose axious glance from the Judge
to the boy left US no room to doubt but that
she was his mother. We turned with sad.
ness from the scene to inquire of the prisoner,
and learned he was accused of stealing mon.
ey. ---1.
The case was soon commenced, and oy the
interest manifested by thelsrge 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 had vanished from his
lace and now il itexpressed the cares ofthe aged.
his young sister, bright.eyed girl had gain
ed admission TO bis side, and cheered him with
the whispering Of hope. r.-r --.
But that sweet voice, which before caused
bis heort to bound with happiness added only
to the grief his shame brought upon him
The progress of the case acquainted us with
the circumstances of the loss-the extent of
which was dime, no more.
The lads employer, a wealthy, miserly, and
unprincipled manufacturer, had made use of il
for the purpose of what he called "testing the
boys honesty. 1t was placed where, from
its very position the lad would oftenest see II
and least suspect the trap. The day passed,
and the master, to his modification, not pleas
ure, foun1 the coin untouched. Another day
passed yet his object was not gained. He,
however, determined that the boy should take
it, SO he let remain. "...e
The continued temptation was too much for
the boys resistance. The dime was TAKEN
A simple present for that little sister was pur.
chased with it. But while home to gladden.
her heart, his own was made heavy by being
arrested for theft! crime the nature of which
he little knew. These circumstances were sus
tanned by several of his employers workmen
who were also parties to the plot, An attorney
urged upon the jury the necessity Of making
the little rogue an example to others by punish
ment. Before, could see many tears Of SYM |
pathy for the lad from his widowed mother and
faithful sister. But their eyes were all dry
now, and none looked as il they car ed for aught
else but conviction.
The accuser sat in a conspicuous place, smil
ing as if in f nd like exultatlon over the misery
be had brought upon that poor but once happy
trio. '-+
We felt that there was little hope tor the boy,
and the youthful appearance OF the attorney who
had volunteered in his defence gave no encour>
agement, as we learned it was the young mems
maiden plea-his first address He appeared
greatly confused and reached to the desk near
him, from which be took the Bible that had
been used to solemnize the testimony. This
was received with general laughter
and taunting remarks; among which we heard
\ harsh fellow, close to us cry out: r
"He forgets what IL is. Thinking to get hold
Of some ponderous law-book, he has made
mistake and got the Bible" v |
The remark made the young attorney blush
with anger, and turning the flashing eyes upon
The audience he convinced them that there was
40 mistake, saying: "Juslice wants no better
book" His confusion was gone, and instantly
he was as calm as the sober Judge upon the
oench The Bible was opened, and every eye |
vas upon him, as he quietly and leasurely tur-
led the leaves. Amid breathless silence he read {
be jury this sentence; "Lead as not into tempt
HoR." sya-- {
We felt our heart throb at the sound OF the
Vords. The audience looked at each other
Without speaking, and the iurymen exchanged
,lances as the appropriate quotation carried its
moral to their hearts. Then followed an ad-
ress which for pathetic eloquence we have new t
II heard excelled. It's influence was like ma :
ic. We saw the guilty accuser leave the room
! fear Of personal violence, The prisoner look
d hopeful: the. mother smiled again, and be- {
ore its conclusion, there was not an eye in the {
ourt room that vas not moist The speech
ffecting to that degree which caused tears,
eld its hearers sPell,bOund.
The little time that vas necessary to trans
ire before the verdict of the jury could be
armed was a period of great anxiety and sus- ,