Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-04-07
nlisGe!laneous.
From the Prisoners Friend.
THE STORY OF FINE-EAR.

Ten or twelve years ago, there was, in the prison
at Brest, a man sentenced for life to The galleys. |
do not know the exact nature Of his crime, but it
was something very atrocious. | never heard,
either, what his former condition of life had been A.:
for even his name had passed into oblivion, and he
was recognized only by a number. Although his
features were naturally well-formed, their express
sion was horrible. Every dark and evil passion
seemed to have left its impress there and his
character fully corresponded to its outward iudi-
cations. Mutinous, gloomy, and revengful, he
has often hazarded his life in desperate attemnts to
escape, which had hitherto proved abortive. Once.
during winter, he succeeded in gaining the fields,
and supported, for several days, the extremity of
cold and hunger. lie was found, at leneth. half
frozen and insensible, under a tree, and taken
back to prison, where with difficulty, he was re-
stored to life. The ward-master watched him
more closely, and punished him more severely by
far, than the rest of the prisoners, while a double
chain was added to his heavy letters. Several
times he attempted suicide, but failed, though
the vigilance Of his guards. Tho only results of
his experiments in this line were an asthma caused
by mail he hammered into his chest, and the loss
of an arm, which he fractured in leaping off a
high wall. After suffering amputation, and q six
months %sojourn in tho hospital, he returned to
his hopeless, lifelong task-work =
One day this mans fierce humor seemed soften
ed. Afterthe hours Of labor, he seated himself, with
the companion in misery TO whom he was chained
III u coTier II the court: ana MS repulslve c0un-
tenance assumed n mild Expression. Words of
tenderness were uttered by the lips which hereto
fore had opened only to blaspheme; and, with his
head bent down he watched some object concealed
in his bosom.
The guards looked at him with disquietude, be-
lieving he had some weapon hidden within his
clothes and two of them approaching him steal
thily from behind, seized him roughly, and began
to search him before he could make any resistance.
Finding himself completely in their power. the
convict exclaimed: oh, don't kill him! PRAY,
don't kill him. -
As he spoke, one of the guards had gained pos
session of a large rat, which the felon had kept next
his bosom.
Don't kill him ? he repeated. Beat me, chain
do what you like with me, but don't hurt my
poer rat Don't squeeze him so between your
If you will not give him back to me, let
him 60 freeP And, while he spoke, for the first
time probably since his childhood, tears filed his
eyes and ran low his cheeks. -,.,s.,~ --t~ r
Rough and hardened men as were the guards,
they could not listen to the convict, and see his
tears, without feelings of compassion. lie who
was about to strangle the rat, opened his fingers.
and let it fall to the ground. The terrified animal
with the speed peculiar to its species, and
disappeared behind a pile of beams and rubbish.
The feion wiped away his tears, looked anxious
y after the -at, and scarcely breathed until he had
seen 1t out of danger. Then he rose, and silently
with the old savage look, followed his companion
IN bonds, and lay down with him on their iron
bedstead, were a ring and chain fastened them to
a massive bar of the same metal. s-r sa m.re sol
Next morning, on his wayto work, the convict,
whose pale face showed that he had passed n sleep.
less night, cast an anxious, troubled glance to-
wards the pile of wood, aud gave a low, peculiar
cali 10 which nothing replied. One of his com
rades uttered some harmlessje Jest on the loss Of his