Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-08-22
WA RREN,

again he dropped and plned- Al last
letter came-such a letter 1t was from
the Rev. DR.. Bellows, of New York. He
had been absent to distant city, but the
moment he read my letter the good man
The father Of the poor boy
had become almost insane on account of
lns sons long and mysterious absence.
He had left his former place of residence,
had moved from city to city, from town
to town. and travelled up and down The
seeking the loved and the lost
He had spent lhe most of a handsome
fortune /; his wife, the boys mother, was
on the brink Of the grave, pining for her
first bern, and would not be comforted."
They then lived in Western city, whiIh
er they had gone in the hope of finding
or forgetting their boy ! or that change
of scene might assuage their grief. He
thanked me for my letter, which he had
sent to the father, and promised his as
sistance TO procure the young convict's
pardon.
This news 1 gave to Arthur; he seem
ed panied and pleased-hOpe and fear,
Joy and grief, filed his heart alternate
ly; but from thence his eye beamed
brighter, his step was lighter, and hope
seemed to dance in every nerve.
Days passed-and at last there came
a man to the prison, rushing frantically
into the Office, demanding TO see his boy.
My boy! my boy! Oh, let me see
him.
The clerk, who knew nothing of the
matter, calmly asked him for the name
OF his sou.
arthur -"
''No such name on our books +; your
SON cannot be here
"He is here Show him to me! Here,
sir, is your own letter Why do you
mock me?''
The clerk looked over the letter, saw
al once that Arthur Lamb was the con-
vict wanted, and rang the bell for the
messenger.
There is the Warden, sir; it was His
letter you showed"
Too much of good thing is often I'M
pleasant. The old man embraced me
and wept like child. A thousand times
he thanked me, and in the name of his
wife, heaped blessings upon my head
But the ra Ting OF the great iron door,
and the grating sound of It's hinges indi-
ca ed the approach of Arthur, and | con-
ducIed the excited parent into side
parlor. l then led his son to his en-
brace. Such half shrek and agOnizing
groan IS the old man gave, when he be-
held the altered appearance of the boy,
as he stood, clad in the degrading stripes.
and holding con'ict's cap in his hand,
l never heard before! have seen many
similar scenes since, and become enured
to them but this one seemed as if it
would burst my brain
drew up and signed petition for the
pardon Of the young convict; and such a
deep and favorable impression did The
perusal of the letter | wrote in answer to
the advertisement, make upon the direct,
ors. that they readily joined in the petit
ton, though it was long while before
Mclean consented. lie was exceedingly
cautious and prudent; but the old man
clung 10 him-followed him from his
Office to his country residence, and there
in the presence Of his family plead anew
his cause. AT length, excited by the
earnest appeal of the fathel, the director
looked over the papers again-his wife,
becoming interested, picked up the an
swer to the advertisement, read and then
tears came to the rescue. Mac sad rath-
er harshly, that the warden would let
all those young rascals out if he could.
Those who know Gov. Wood, will not
wonder that he was easily prev lied up
on in such a case and the pardon was
granted.
Need describe the old mans 10y
how he laughed and wept-walked and
ran, all impatient to see his son free .
When the lad came out in citizen dres S,
, the aged parent was too full for utter.
ance. He hugged the released convict
to his bosom kissed hm-wept and
prayed Grasping my hand he lender.
ed me his -watch-any thing
would take. Panied at the thought o.
pecuniary reward, l took the old man
arm in mine, and his boy by the hand
and escorted them to the gate-iiIerally
bowing them away.
l never saw them more But tn,
f young man is doing well and long may
h. live to reward the filial affection of Iii
parents.
This case may be but one among
= hundred. Where guilt is clear, ther
f should be pity for youth. and some pro
per means taken TO restore them to tn
y Pa-hs of rectilude and honor.
' Joanna Baillie had great admiration
S of Maculay's Roman Ballads. "But.
e said. some one, edo you really accou
i them as poetry !'' She replied. ..The