The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-07-29
An Affecting Court Incident.
"Lcad US not into temptation"

An Affecting Court Incident.
"Lcad us not into temptation,
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 of 1888 we CHANGED to be spend
ing few days in beautiful inland country
town in Pennsylvania. 1t was court week. and
to relieve us from the somewhat mOnotOnous
incident of village life We steppd into the room
where the court had convened.
Among the prisoners in the box We saw lad
but ten years of age, whose sad, pensive coun-
tenance, his young and innocent appearance,
caused him to look sadly out of the place
among the hardened criminals by whom he was
surrounded. Close by the box and manfesting
the greatest interest in the proceeding, sat a
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 inquire of the offence of the
prisoner, and learned he was accused of steal
ing money.
The case was soon commenced, and by the
interest manifested by the large crowd, we
found that our heart was not the only one in
which sympathy for the lad existed. How we
ptied 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 to his side. and cheercd
him with the whispering 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 circumstance of the loss-thc extent of
which was but dimc no more.
The lads employer. wealthy, misery, and
nnprincpled manufacturer, had made use of it
for the purpose of what he called testing the
boys honesty" 1t was placed where, from it's
very position, the lad would oftenest see il.
least suspect the trap. The day passed. and.
the master. to his modification. not pleasure,
found the coin untouched. Another day passed
and yet his object was not gained. He. howe
yer. determined that the boy should take it.
and SO he let it remain.
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 returning home to
gladden. her heart his own was made heavy by
being arrested for theta crime the nature
of which he little knew. These circumstances
were sustained 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 punishment. Before | could see
many tears of sympathy for the lad from his wi
dowcd mother and faithful sister. But their
Z
they cared for aught else but conviction
The accuscr sat in conspicuous place. smil-
ing as If in licnd-lkc eXultaton over the mise
ry he had brought upon that poor but once hap
ny trio.
We felt that there was but little hope for the
boy, and the youthful appearance of the attor-
ncy who bad volunteered in his defence gave
no encouragement, as We learned that it was the
Young mans maiden plca-his first address.
lie appeared greatly confused, and reached the
icsk near him. from which he took the Bible
hat had been used TO solcmniZc the testimony.
his movement was received with general
laughter and taunting remarks among others.
we heard a harsh fellow, close to us, cry out
He forgcts what it is. Thinking to get hold
Of some ponderous law book be has made a
mistake and got the Bible"
The remark made the young attorney blush
With anger, and turning his blushng eyes upon
he audience, he convinced them that there was
10 mistake. saying. Justice wants no better
'ook.' His confusion was gone, and instantly
ne was as calm as the sober Judge on the
'cnch. The Bible was opened, and every eye
vas upon him, as he quietly and leisurely turn
81 the leaves. Amidst -breathlcss silence, he
cad the jury this sentence =" Lead US not
INTO fempfofion.'
we iclt our heart thrOb at the sound of these
words. The audience looked at each other
without speaking and the jurymen exchanged
: lances as the appropriate quotation carried
is moral to their hearts. Then follow ed an ad-
lress which for pathetic eloquence, we have
never heard excclled. Its influence was like
magic: We saw the guilty accuser leave the
Dom in fear of personal violence. The prison
n looked hopeful the mother smiled again;
md: before its conclusion, there was not an eye
n the courtroom that was not moist The
peccii, affecting to that degree which caused
cars, held its hearers spcll-bound
The little time that was necessary to trans
Dire before the verdict of the jury could be
earned was period of great anxiety and sus-
,ense. But when their whispering consulta-
ion ceased. and these happy words, "Not
iuilty," came from the foreman, they passed
ike thrill Of electricity from lip to lip, the
'ustcrc dignity of the court was forgotten, and
lot voice was there that did not join the ac-
;lamation that hailed the lads release. The
'oung lawyers plea was successful one. He
vas favorte, and now represents his dis
riot i'm the councils of the commonwealth.
The lad has never ceased his grateful re-
ncmbrances and we, by the affecting scene
lcrein attempted to be described have often
,een led to think how manifold greater is the
rhine of the tempter than the tempted.
THE HARvEsT.-Our farmers are in the midst
ftheir harvest, and by all with whom we
az &c XoI - l., Al