Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-10-21
The Lost Boy.
AN INCIDENT IN THE OHIO PENIrENT1ARy.
By THE WARDEN.

! I had been but few months in charge of the
prison. when my attention was attracted to, ard
deep interest felt in the numerous boys and young
men who were confined therein, and permitted to
work in the same shops with old and hardened con-
victs. This interest was increased on every even
ing, as l saw them congregated in gangs marching
to their silent meals and thence to their gloomy
bedrooms, which are more like living Sepulchres,
| with iron shrouds, than sleeping apartments
| These young men and boys, being generally the
shortest in height, brought up in the rear Of the
companies as they marched to the terrible "lock-
STEP, and consequently more easily attracted atten
tion. To see SO many youthful forms and bright
countenances mingled with old and hardened scOn-
! drels, whose visages betOkened vice. malice and
crime, was sckening to the soul. But there was
! among the boys, q lad Of about II years. who had
particularly attracted my attention; not from any
| thing superior in his countenance or general
| appearance, but by the looks of utter despair
| which sat upon his brow, and the silent, un-
| complaining manner in which he submitted to
all the hardships aud degradations of prison life.
He was often complained OF, by both officers and
men, aud l thought unnecessarially for light aud
trivial offences against the rules of prOpriety; yet
he seldom had an excuse or apology, and never
denied a charge. BE took the reprimand, aud once
the punishment, withsut q tear or murmur, almost
as matter of course, seemingly thankful that it
was no worse. He had evidently seen better days,
and enjoyed the light of home parents and friends, if
not the luxuries of life But the light of hope SEEM
ed to have gone Out-his health was poor-his face
pale his frame frage-and no fire beamed IN his
dark gray eye. | thought every night as L saw
him march to his gloomy bed, that would go 10
him aud learn his hstory--but there were so many
duties to perform, so much to learn and do, that
day after day passed, and l would neglect him
having merely learned that his name was Arthur
Lamb, and that bis crime was burglary and larce-
ny, Indicating a very bad boy, for one so young.
He had alseady been there year, and had two
more to serve! He never could OuIlive his SEN
tenee, his countenance indicated that he felt it.
He worked at stone cutting on the State House
hence my poor opportunities for seeing him were
less than though he had worked in the prison yard;
still his pale face haunted me day and highland
| resolved that on the next Sabbath, as be came
from school, would send for him and learn his
history. 1t happened, however, that was one day
in store, waiting for the transactions of some
business, and having picked up an old newspaper,
read and reread while delayed, until at last my
eve fell upon an advertisement Of "a Lost Boy!-
information wanted of a boy named Arthur"
II will not give his real name, for perhaps he is
still living \ and then followed description Of the
boy--exacty corresponding with that OF the young
convict Arthur Lamb! Then there was somebody
who cared for the poor boy if, indeed, it was him
perhaps a mother, his father, his brother and SIS
ters who we're searching ior him. The advertise
ment was nearly year old-yet doubted not
and as soon as the convicts were locked up sent
for Arthur Lamb He came, as matter Of
course, with the same pale, uncomplaining face and
hopeless gait--thinking, no doubt, that something
had gone wrong and been laid to his charge.
I was examining the Convicts Register when he
came in and when 1 looked up, there he stood,
perfect image of despair l asked his name. He
replied,
arthur" ..-
ARTHUR what?" said 1 sterniy.
"Arthur--Lamb" he answered, hesitatingly.
| "Have you father or mother living?"
His eye brightened--his voice quiVered, as he
| exclaimed
| ooh! have you heard from mother? Is she
alive? is she wel2" and tears, which l. had never
! seen him shed before ran like great rain-drOps
| down his cheeks. As be became calm from sus-
pense, l told him had not heard from his psrents
but that had paper wished him to read. He
| took the advertisement which l had cut from the
newspaper, and as he read it he exclaimed
"Thats me! that's me. !" and again sObs and
| tears choked his utterGnce
| I assured him thvt the advertisement was all
! could tell him about his parents-and that as it
requested information, l desired to know what
should write in reply. The advertisement direct
ed information to be sent to the editor of the Chris
tian Chronicle, New York.
40, do not write ~ he said at will break my
Door mothers heart.
told him l must WRITE that it would be lght-
er blow to his mothers feelings to know where he
was, than the terrible uncertainty which must haunt
her mind night and day. So he consented; and
taking him to nay room, drew from him, in sub
stance, the following story:
His father was a wealthy and respectable me-
chsnic in on interior town of tho State Of New
York. At the holding of the Agricultural Fair,