Washington telegraph., 1855-08-01


Lamb. Then there was somebody who
cared for the poor boy, if. indeed, it was
him; perhaps mother, his father, his broth
ers and sisters. who were searching for him.
The advertisement was nearly year old
yet doubted not-and as soon as the con-
victs were locked up l sent for Arthur
Lamb. He came. as matter of course-
with the same pale face. uncomplaining look
and hopeless gait-thinking no doubt, that
something had gone wrong and been-laid to
his charge
was examining the Convicts Register,
when he came in, and when l looked up
there he stood. perfect image of despair !,
l asked him his name. He replied
Arthur
"Arthur qclsat o'' said I, sternly.
Arthur Lamb ''' said be, besita-
tingly.
''Have you father or mother living % I
asked.
His eye frightened voice quivered,
az he exclaimed
'Oh, have you heard from mother? Is
she alive? Is she well 2'' and tears which
L had never seen him she'd before, ran like
great rain drops down his cheeks. As he
became calm from suspense, told him /
had not heard from his parents, but that [
had paper | wished him to read He
took the advertisement, which | had cut
from the paper, and as he read it he exclai.n-
ed =
That is nzc-tbat Is me .o' And again
sobs and tears chOlzed his utterance.
! L assured him that the advertisement was
all l could tell him about his parents. and
as it requested information, / desired to
know what [ should write in reply. The
advertisement directed information to be
sent to the editor Of the Christian Chronicle,
New York
ooh, do not write. it viii break poor moth
er's heart :"
/ told Kim 1 must write-aud that it
would be a lighter blow to his mothers feel
ings to know aC]ieTe he was. than the terri
bic uncertainty which must haunt her
mind day and night So he consented, and
taking him to my room, 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 tow n,
he got acquainted with two strange boys
older than himself, who persuaded him to
run away from home. and go to the West
He foolishly consented. with high hopes of
happy times, new scenes and great fortune
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 amount of jcwelry, &c,
which they said they had won at cards du-
ring the night Knowing he was in need
of funds to pay bis board. they pressed him
to take some OF it. for means to pay his land
lord. But before he had disposed of any
of it, they were all three arrested for bur-
glary, and as portion of the property ta-
ken from the store which had been robbed
was found in bis possession, he too, was
tried. convicted and sentenced, He had no
friends, no money, and dared not to write
hOme,-so, hope sank within him-he re-
signed himself to his fate. never expecting
to get out of prison, or see his parents
again.
Upon inquiring OF the two young convicts
, who came with him on the same charge,
learned that what Arthur had stated was
strictly true, and that bis only crime was
keeping bad company. leaving his home,
and unknowingly receiving stolen goods
Questioned separately, they al told the same
: story, and left no doubt in my mind of the
I. boys innocence. Full of compassion for
the unfortunate little fellow, sat down and
| wrote a full description of Arthur his con-
dition and history, as | obtained 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 describ-
ing the process to be used to gain his par
; don. This | sent according to the direc-
5 tions in the advertisement But week al
ter week passed, and no answer came =
The boy daily inquired if had heard from
l his mother, until at last, ''hope long defer
red seemed to make his heart sick and
agained he dropped and pined. At length
letter came-and such letter, 1t was
: from the Rev. DR. Bellows of New York
} lie had been absent to a distant city, but
, the moment he read my letter the good man
r responded The father of the poor boy had
become almost insane on account of his sons
1 long and mysterious absence; ne had left
: his former place Of residence-had moved
from town to town, and travelled up and
: down the country, seeking the loved and
: lost He had spent the most of hand
some fortune his wife, the boys mother.
L was on the brink of the grave, 'pining for
: her hrst- thorn. and would not be comforted. ,
: They then lived in western city, wh;the,
+ they had gone iu the hope of finding or for
1 getting their boy. or that change of scene
e -might assuage their grief He thanked me
q for my letter, which he had sent to the faith
: er. and promised his assistance to procure
;, the young conyict's pardon.