The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-06-09
KINDNESS.

we nave never seen better illuStra-
iion Of "lbe power Of Kindness" then the
following anecdote of William Savery, a
distinguished preacher among the Qda>
kers, whose name is TO this day "swee,
savor' with the society Of Friends:
"SaVerY was tanner; and one night o
quantity of hides were stolen from his
tannery, and he had reason to believe
that the thief was quarrelsome, drunk
EN- neighbor, whom shall call John
Smith. The next week the following
advertisement appeared in the county
newspaper:
"Whoever stole quantity Of hides on
The fifth Of the present month, is hereby
Informed that the owner has sincere
wish 10 be his friend. If poverty tempt.
ed him TO this false step, the owner will
keep The whole transaction secret, and
will gladly put him in the way Of obtain.
ing money by means mole likely to bring
lin peace of mind"
This singular advertisement attracted
considerable attention; but the culpril
alone knew who had made the kind of.
fer. When he read il, bis heart melted
within him, and lie was filled with sor.
row for what he had done.
A few nights afterwards the farmers
family were abou! retiring TO rest, they
heard a timid knock at the door,and when
i, was opened, there stood "Jobn Smith,"
with load of hides on his shoulder. -
Withou, looking up, he said:
81 have brought these hides back, Mr..
Savery; where shall | put them?"
swat till can get lanlern," replied
Savery, sand l will 60 10 the barn with
thee; then perhaps thou will, come in,and
tell me how this happened. We will then
see what can be done for thee"
AS soon as they vera gone out his
wife prepared some hot coffee, meat, and
pics on the table. When they returned
from the barn, she said:
"Neighbor Smith, though, some hot
supper would be good for thee"
He turned his back toward her and did
not speak. After leaning against the
fire, place for few moments, he said, in
choked voice:
sit is the frs. lime ! ever stole any,
thing in my life, and have fell very bad
abou, it. ] SIN sure | didn't once think
| should ever come to be what | am. But
| took TO drinking, and then to quarrel>
ing; and now, since began 10 60 down
hill, every body gives me kick. You
are the first man that has ever offered me
a helping hand Ny wife is sickIy, and
my children lack food. You have sent
them many meal. God bless you!-
and yet | stole your hides. But | tell
you the truth when say, it is the frs.
time was ever thief"
"Let it be the last, friend 'Srhilh,'"
said William Savery. "1'he secret still
remains with ourselves. Thou art still
young, and i, is in thy power TO make up
for los, or msspent time. Promise me
that thou wilt not drink any more intoxi.
eating liquors for year, aud will en-
p!oy thee to morrow, and give thee good
wages. Thy little boy can pick up stones.
Bu, eat something now. and drink some
hot coffee. Perhaps it will keep thee
from craving any thing stronger tonight.
Doubtless thou wilt find il hard to alb
stain a, frst, but keep up brave heart,
for the sake of thy wife and children, land
it will soon become easy. When thou
hast need of coffee, !ell Mary, and she
will always give it 10 thee"
The poor fellow tried to eat and drink,
but the food seemed almost to choke him.
Ate: voinly trying 10 compose his feel
ings, he bowed his head upon the table.
and wept like child. After while,
however, he ale and drank, and his host
parted with him for the night with these
friendly words:
"Try to do well, John, and thou will
always find friend in me-"
He entered into his employ the mex
day, and remained with him many year:
"a sober, honest. faithful man. The Sc
ere, of the theft was kept between them
but, after "Smlh's" death, Savery some
times told the story, to prove how surely
"evil might be overcome with good"