The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-01-04
THE BURNING COIN.
A Sketch OF Desperate
Measures.
ny wM. GoGGEsHALL,

"Comc, come, Charles tie boys
will go without YOU"
These words were uttered at his bed
room door'by Charles Mcrwin's moth
cr5early one bright, frosty morning in
midwntcr.
The little fellow, arousing himself
from one ofthosc morning maps which
5'nukc the dreamer dread the sound OF
the breakfast bell, for Il moment ncs-
tied cozily in his war,n couch, and list,
cncd to the bleak wind rs it ratified the
easement; then he belhought him how
he had boastcd 10 his companions on
the previous evening. that none of them
should reach the skating ground that
morning earlier than hc, lie coveted
no longer the sluggard's repose; but,
springing from his bed, hastily dressed
: himself and in u few moments was
running brisl:Iy towards the public
square of the village. to meet u few of
his sclool-fellows, who had made ap-
pointmcnts with each other to assem-.
bic at sunrise at poud in the vicinity.
aud have "good skate" before school
time
Charles had run half way from his
fathers house to the public square,
when, Oh the opposite side ofthe street,
he saw number Of men and boys
standing around Il cellar door at the
residence ofone OF the rich men Of the
village.
A playmate cspied Charles, and he
7 cried to hiw, "Comc over here; there's
something up" ~ s4af
Charles curiosity was excited, and
for moment forgot his skating party,
but lost no time in answering the cal.
"WAot sup?" said he. when hc stood
beside his playmate.
"Thcre's II fellow down here" an
swered the boy, pointing, to the cellar.
II "W hat fellow?" returned Charlie.
"Nobody knows" was the reply
"Mr. James heard some body in the eel.
lar last night; he was watching, and he
slipped out and fastened the door
He says it Amt the first time his eel.
lars been robbed, and now he's got the
thief safe; that's what heard man
say. Let us stay and see who the fcl-
low is, Charlie?"
Charles agreed to this proposition,
willing to crafty his curiosity for lit
tie gossip at the expense Of the "fun'
upon Which he had calculated for the
morning with his school fellows at the
pond.
The boys did not wait long Mr..
James soon came out of his house, and,
opening tho front cellar door, b.d his
prisoner walk forth. There Was no..
answer to the call. Again he demad-
cd that the prisoner show himself, but
no one appeared. Lights were pro.
cured, and several men went into the
cellar. To the astonishmcnt ofall who
had waited, like Charlie, to CRAFTY
their curiosity, an elderly man, who,
even under these circumstances, was
regarded with dctcre9cc. was brought
forth. s4
''In the name Of Heaven, Squire
johnson, is it you?" cried Mr.. James
whenshe recognized the prisoner =
"Why did You go into my cellar to
steal, when you knew that whenever
you, ,Sfoi.d would freely give you?
So""nFi3sSsS =" s,'., ,,",csn g4ot there to steal
1'b" oId man ua, r-t Nc, L;s'eves
. from tic ground. but sullemiv answer.
ed, 7ous there to steal; my iamiJy
is starving; | would not beg
tNoono attempting to restrain him,
his hc.d bowed Upon his chin, he walk.
ed through the crowd, and bent his way
toward his miserable dwelling.
Esquire Johnson had been a promin.
cnt man inthe village. tfwenty years
u Et,Io''0us E 70 this scene he was among
ane @eai'hIcstmen Of our co,Mty, and
one 81 .he most popular -
iSlea iIaI nc represented his conn.
~ IN the lSislatures ofthc State and
5,sfor mary yeaSIStad been jnstice Of the
peace He Isassg'a man respected bv
,,eytearJySt'ody, even in degradation. NJ
'ooy,ilio&eyer rude or thoughtless, 'cv.
or tainted or5eried after Squire John
son y when he staggered in the street:
y Every man, woman and child in the
I, village seonIkilewithat Squire johnson
had been stealing in Mr.. James celhr
II was shocking news. Charles Mei.
.5w,n was deeply affected by it, and nd
b told his mother in n manner Which led
her 10 think that it was OF, eycejlont
opportunity to impart useful lesson.
She said to him: 'o"'
"You3 know, Charles, we have often
told you that Squire johnson was once
very much esteemed, and might have
been great man, ifhc had not been
31nltteAmPerate. lfhc had been a sober
man, fn his family had enjoyed The luxu.