Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-05-10
NO. 36.

ken. A simple present for that little sister
was purchased with it. But while return
ing home to gladden. her heart, his own was
made heavy by being arrested fer theft =
a crime the nature of which he little knew
These circumstances were sustained hy sew
eral of the employers workmen, who were
also parties Of the plot. An attorney urged
upon the jury the necessity of making the
little rogue an example toothers, by pun
ishment. His address had great effect up
on all who heard it. Before, could see
many tears of sympathy for the lad, his
widowed mother and his faithful sister
But their eyes were all dry now, AMI none
looked as If they cared for, or expected
aught else but conviction. The accustr
sat in a conspicuous place, smiling as if in
iend-lke exultation over the misery be had
brought npan that s?oer but once shs,ypy
trio. We felt that there was but little hope
for the boy; and the youthful appearance
OF the attorney who hal volunteered bis de-
fence, gave no..encouragementa as we learned
that it was the young mans maiden plea
his first address. He appeared greatly con-
fused, and reached to desk near him, from
which he took the Bible that had been used
to solemnize the testimony. This move
ment was received with general laughter
and taunting remarks-among which We
heard harsh fellow close by US cry out,
He forgets where he is Thinking to
take hold of some ponderous law book he
has made mistake and has got the Bible
The remark made the young attorney
flush with anger, and turning his flashing
eye upon the audience, he convinced them
it was no mistake, saying, Justice wants
no other book His confusion was gone,
and instantly he was as calm as the sober
judge on the bench.
The Bible was opened and every eye was
upon him, as he quietly and lelsurely turn
ed over the leaves. Amidst breathless
silence, he read to the jury this sentence ::
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
We felt our heart throb at the sound of
those words. The audience looked at each
other without speaking-and the jurymeu
mutely exchanged glances, as the approp j.
ate quotation carried its moral to their
hearts. Then followed an address which.
for its pathetic eloquence, we have never
heard excelled. Its influence was like mag
ic. We saw the guilty accuser leave the
room in fear of personal violence The
prisoner looked hopeful--the mother smiled
again--and, before its conclusion, there was
not an eye in the court room that was not
moist. The speech, affecting to that de-
gree which caused tears, held its hearers
= spell bound
: The little time that was necessary tC
. transpire before the verdict of the jury
: stt.S0J' anu sslspoflso. Huon -CucIr WINS
pered consultation ceased, and those happy
words, Not guilty, came from the foreman
they passed like thrill of electricity from
lip to lip-the austere dignity of the cour
was forgotten, and not voice was ther,
that did not join in the acclamation tina
hailed the lad S release
The young lawyers first plea was sue
cessful one. He was soon favorite, anc
now represents his distric in the council
of the Commonwealth. The lad has neve
ceased his grateful membrances-andw we
$ by the affecting scene herein attempted tt
! l. be described have often been led to thinl
l. how manifold greater is the crime of tn
J. tempter than of the tempted.