The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-07-07

AN EKeCHIVe court 4HClOeHls
''LEAD Us NOT INTO TEMPTATIoN.'
We take pleasure in relating incident whic
/ greatly enlisted our sympathes held US speII-boun
by lis interest, and fnaIly made our hearts leaI
with joy at its happy termination.
ln the spring of o39 chnnced to be spending
few days in beautiful inland country town il
| Pennsylvania. 1t was court week, and 10 relieve
| us from the somewhat monotonous incidents Of
village life stepped into the room where the
| court convened.
Among the prisoners in the box a lac
but ten years Of age, whose sad, pensive coun
| tenance, his young and innocent appearance
( caused him TO look sadly cut Of place among
the hardened criminals by whom he was sur.
rounded. Close by the box, and manifestng the
greatest interest in the proceedings, sat a fearful
| woman, whose anxious glance from the ,Jud &c TO
| the boy eft us no room TO doubt that it his
mother. We turned with sadness, from The scene
to inquire of the offence Of the prisoner. and learned
ne was accused Of stealing money
The was soon commenced, and by the
interest manifested by that large crowd, we found
that our heart not the only one which SYM
palhy for the lad existed How pitied him
The bright smile bad vanished from his face, and
now texpressed The cares of the aged. His young
siser, bright-eyed girl, had gained admission 10
his side, and ci,eered him with whispering of hope
But that sweet voice. which before used his
heart to bound with happiness, added only to the
grief of his shame had brought upon him.
The progress Of the case acquainted US with the
circumstances of the Ioss-the extent OF which was
but dime, more.
The lads employer, wealthy. miserly, and
unprinciped manufacturer had made use of it for
The purpose of what he called "testing the boys
honesty" 1t placed which, from its very
position, the lad would oftenest see it, and least
suspect the trap. The day passed, and The master,
to his modification, not pleasure, lound the coin
untouched. Another day passed, and yet his
object not gained. He, however, determined
that the boy should take it, and so he let it re-
main.
This continued temptation was too much for the
hoys resistance. The dime was taken. A simple
present for that little sister purchased with il.
But while returning home to gladden. her heart,
his own was made heavy by being arrested for
theft ! a crime the nature OF which he little knew.
These circumstances were sustained by several OF
his employers wCrkmen, who were also parties
the plot. An attorney urged upon the jury the
necessity Of making The slittIe rogue" an example
TO others by punishment. Before, 1 could
many tears of sympathy for the lad, his widowed
mother, and fan hu sister. But their eyes were all
dry now, and looked as if they cared for
aug ht else but convection
The accuser sat in a conspicuous place, smiling
as if in fend-Ike exultation misery he had
brought upon that poor hut 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 encourage
ment, as learned that it was the young mans
maiden 7Iea--his first address. He appeared
greatly confused, md reached to a desk him,
from which he took the B Bile that had been used
10 solemnze The testimony. This movement was
received with general laughter and taunting re-
marks; among which we heard harsh fellow close
10 us, cry out:
He iorgets what it is. Thinking to get hold
Of some ponderous law. book he has made mis-.
axe and got The Blble.''
The remark made the young attorney blush |
with anger, and turning his flushing eye upon the
audience, he convinced them that there was no |
mistake. saying: "Jusce wants no better BOOK |
His confusion was gone and instantly he as
:am as the sober Judge On the bench The Bible |
Vas opened, and every eye upon bim, he !
luirtly and lesurely turned over the leaves.-I
midst breathless silence he read the jury this |
sentence: "Lead as not anko tennptation."
We felt our hearts threb at the sound Of these I
words. The audience looked at each other with
'ut speaking; and the jurymen exchanged glanc'
IS the appropriate quotation carried its moral TO
heir hearts. Then followed an address, which
or pathetic eioquence have never heard ex
,eiled. lis influence like magic. We saw
he guilty accuser leave the room in fear of per-
DHdt FlpleHce lie PfIsOueI looheu HoPelu4
he mother smiled again ; and, before its conclu.
ION, there not eye in the courtroom that
vas not moist The speech, affecting to that de-
5ree which caused tears, held lis hearers spell.
Dound.
The little time that necessary to transpire
elore the verdict of the jury could be learned, was
period of great anxiety and suspense But when
heir whispering consultation ceased, and those
appy words, mot guilty." came from the fore.
nan, they passed like thrill OF electricity from
p to lip the ausere dignity Of The court was for
often, and not u vnice there that did not JOIN
1 the acclamat1 ihat hailed the lads release.
'he young lawyers first plea was successful
ne. He socn [avorirc. and now repre-
cnts his district in the councils of The Common
1eah.
The lad has never ceased his grateful remem-
RANGES, and we, hv the affecting scene herein
',emPted to be desctibed, have often been led TO