Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-05-19

that as il requested information. desired J
to know what / should write in reply. The
advertisement directed information to be
sent to the Christian ChrOnioie, New-York,
oh. do not write. he said. 1T viii break
poor mothers hearth
Itold him / must write-and that Il |
would be lighter blow to his mothers
feelings to know where be was, than the
terrible uncertainty which must haunt her
mind day and night. So he CONSENTED
and taking him to my room, 1 drew from
him in substance, the following story:
His father was respectable and wealthy
mechanic in an interior town Of the state |
of New York. That at the holding of the !
State Agricultural Fair, in his native town,
he got acquainted with two stranger boys,
older than himself, who persuaded him to
run away from home, and go to the West.
He foolishly consented, with high hope of
happy times, new scenes aud great for
tune. They came as far as Cleveland,
where they remained several days. One
morning the other two boys came to his
room early, and showed him large a
mount of jewelry, &C., which they said
they had won at cards during the night
Knowing that he was in need of funds to
pay his Board, they pressed him to take
some Of it, for means to pay his landlord.
But before he had disposed of any of it,
they were all three arrested for burglary,
and as portion of the property taken from
the store which had beenrobbed was found
in his possession. he too, was tried, con-
victcd and sentenced. He had no friends,
no money, and dared not write home-so,
hope sank within him-he resigned him
self to his fate--never expecting to get
out of prison, or see his parents again.
Upon inquiring of the two young con-
victs who came with him on the same
charge, l lear ned that what Arthur had
stated was strictly true. and that his only
crime was keeping bad company, leaving
his homcand unknowingly receiving stolen
goods, Quast:one separately, they all
told the same story, and left no doubt in
my mind of the boys innocence. Full Of
compassion for the unfortunate little fol-
low, | sat down and wrote full descrip-
ton of Arthur, his condition, and history
4 as Iobtained it from him; painting the
horrors of the place, the hopelessness Of
his being reformed there-even if guilty
} and the probability Of his never living
out his sentence; and describing the process
f to be used to gain his pardon. This I sent
according to the directions in the adver-
tisement. Bnt week after week passed,
and no answer come. The boy daily in
quired if l had heard from his mother, I'M
; till at last, 'hope long deferred seemed to
| make his heart sick, and again he dropped
and pined. AT length a letter came
$ such letter! 1t was from the Rev. DR..
Bellows, of New York. He had been alb
t sent to distant city, but the moment he
+ read M letter the good man responded.
e The father of the boy had become almost
: insane on account Of his sons long and
mysterious absence; he had left his former
t place of residence: had moved from city to
! city-from town to town and travelled up
y and down the country seeking the loved
# and the lost. He had spent the most Of
: a handsome fortune; his wife the boys
mother, was on the brink of the grave
= 'pirir G for her tirst-born, and would moi
e be comforted.' They then lived in a west
It ern city, whittier they had gone in the hop
$ of forgetting their boy, or that chang
d of scene might assuage their grief. HI
y thanked me for my letter, which he hat
d sent to the father, and promised his assis
d tance to secure the young conviet's pardon
It This news / gave to Arthur: he seemed
is panied and plaesed, hope and fear, Joy
g and grief filled his heart, alternately; bu
e from thence his eye beamed brighter, hi
o step was lighter, andhope seemed to dance
is in every nerve.
d Days passed-and at last..a man came
t. to the Prison, rushing frantically into tn
y office, demanding to see his boy. ny
n boy! My boyl Oh, let me see him!'-
d The clerk who knew nothing ofthe mat
1T ter, calmly asked him for the name of hi
le son. Arthur No such name o.
ID our books-your son cannot be here!'-
A. He is here-show him to me! Here 81,
a is your own letter! Why do you moe
u me?' The clerk looked over the letter.
III bdW dt OllCt tudt AItuul lIau1o w do titO CoH
le vict wanted, and rang the bell tor th
IN messenger. There is the Warden, sir
r. it was his letter you showed Too muc
,n of good thing is often unpleasant--th
or old man embraced me and wept like
v child. A thousand times he thanke
r ME, and in the name of his wife, heape
ct blessings upon my head. But the raj
e. tling of the great iron door, and the grea
ed ing sound Of its iron hinges indicated tt
re approach of Arthur, and / conducted tt
mt excited parent into side parlor. l the
OF led his son to his embrace. Such ha
ed shrek and agonizing groan as the oil
as man gave, when he beheld the altered al
e, pearance of his boy, as he stood, clad i
lit the degrading stripes, and holding a cor
i'd vict's cap in his hand, never heard b
- fore. ] have seen many similar seen,
,r, since and become Injured to them, but tn
M one seemed as ifit would burst my brai
If. Idrew up aud signed petition for Il
r pardon OF the young convict--and such
r. deep and favorabls impression did u
- perusal Of the letter wrote in answsr
p the advertisement make upon the Dire
d. tors. that. they readily jnined.,in the petite
Thought it was long time befo
be Nc Lean consented. He was exceeding
ad cautious and prudent--but the old ms
IN clung to him---following him from h
L y p .