The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-07-06
From 1rthar,'S Home Gazette.
An Affecting Court Incident.
"LEAD Us NOT INTO TEMPTATION"

dent which greatly enlisted ursympathIes,
held US spell bound by its interest, and
finally made our hearts leap with Joy at
its happy termination.
In the spring of 1883, we chanced to
be spending few days in a beautiful in
land country town in Pennsylvania. 1t
was court week, and to relieve Us from
the somewhat monotonous incidents Of
village life, we stepped 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 countenance, his young and in
nocent appearance, caused him to look
sadly out of place among the hardened
criminals by whom he was surrounded.
Close by the box, and manifesting the
greatest interest in the proceedings, sat a
fearful woman, whose anxious glance from
tie Judge to the boy left US no room to
doubt that it was his mother. We turn
Cd with sadness from the scene to inquire
Of the offence Of the prisoner, and learned
he was accused 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 the
lad existed. How we pitied him ! The
bright smile had vanished from his face,
aud now it expressed the cares of the
aged. His young sister, a bright eyed
girl had gained admission to his side, and
cheered him with the whispering of 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 circumstances of the loss-the
extent of which was but dime, no more.
The lads employer, wealthy, miser
ly, and uDprincipled manufacturer, had
made use of it for the purpose Of what be
called "testing the boys honesty" 1t
was placed where; from its very position,
the lad would oftencst see it, and least
suspect the trap. The day passed, and
the master, to his modification, not
pleasure, found the coin untouched. An
other day passed, and yet his object was
not gained. He, however, determined that
! the boy should take it, and SO he let it
| 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 nature Of
which be little knew. These circum-
stances were sustained by several of his
employers workmen, who were also par
ties to the plot. An attorney urged upon
I the jury the necessity Of making the 'lit-
tie rogue" an example to others, by pun
ishment. Before, l could see many tears
of sympathy for the lad, his widowed
mother, and faithful sister. But their
eyes were all dry now, and none looked
as if they cared for aught else but con-
viction.
The accu5cr sat in a conspicuous place,
smiling as if in fend-like cxultation over
the misery he had brought upon that
poor, but once happy trio.
We felt that there was but little hope
for the boy, and the youthful appearance
of the attorney, who had volunteered in
his defence, gave no encouragement, as
We learned that it was the young mans
maiden plea-his first address. He ap-
pcarcd greatly confused, and reached to
a desk near him, from which he took the
Bible which had been used to solemniZe
the testimony. This movement was re-
ccived with general laughter and taunting
remarks; among which we heard harsh
fellow, close to US, cry out -
''He forgets what it is. Thinking to
get hold Of some ponderous book, he
has made mistake and got the Bible"
The remark made the young attorney
blush with anger, and turning his flashing
eyes upon the audience, he convinced
them that there was no mistake, saying,
Justice wants no better 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 leisure
ly turned over the leaves. Amidst breath
less silence, he read the jury this SEN
tence -
&" Lead as not into tehnrtatt0n."
We felt our heart throb at the sound
Of these words. The audience looked at
each other without speaking; and the
jurymen exchanged glances as the appro-
pirate quotation carried its moral to their
hearts. Then followed an address, which,
for pathetic eloquence, we have never
heard excelled. It's influence was like
magic. We saw the guilty accuser leave
the room, in fear of personal violence
The prisoner looked hopeful-the mother
smiled again-anl before its conclusion,
there was not an eye in the court room
that was not moist. The speech affect,
ing to that degree which caused tears,
held its hearers spoll-bound.' y
The little time that was necessary to
transpire before the verdict of the jury
could be learned, was a period of great
anxiety and suspense. But when their
whispering consultation ceased, and those
happy words, "Not guilty." came from
! n Il 4l-,n @F