Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-09-04

d i@i Se amount OF JeNCli &C. which the
had won at cards during the night
Knowing that he was in need of funds t
pay his board, they pressed him to tax
some of it, for means to pay his landlord
But before he had disposed of apy of il
they were all three arrested for burglary
and as portion of the property takel
from the store was found in their posses
sion, he too was tried, convicted aud sen
fenced. He had no friends, no meaev.-
and dared not write home-so hope sanl
within him-he resigned himself to hi
fate, never expecting to get out of prison
or see his parents again. Upon inquirine
of the two young convicts who came Will
him on the same charge. | learned that
what Arthur had stated was strictly true
and that his crime was keeping bad com
pany, leaving his home, and unknowingly
receiving stolen goods. Questioned sep
erately, they all told the same story, and
left no doubt in my mind of Arthur
innocence. Full of compassion for the
unfortunate little fellow, | sat down and
wrote full description of Arthur, his
condition and history, as | obtained it
from him, painting the horrors of the
place, the hopelessness of his being re,
formed there, even if guilty, and the prob
ability Of his never living out his SEN
tence, and describing the process to be
used to gain his pardon. This I sent ac-
cording to the directions in the advertise
ment But week after week passed, and
no answer came The boy daily inquired
if | heard from his mother; until at last,
hope long deferred seemed to make his
heart sick" and again he dropped and
pined. At last letter eame-such a let
ter 1t was from the Rev DIR. Bellows.
of New Y York He had been absent to a
distant city, but the moment he read my
letter the good man responded The IA
ther of the poor boy had became almost
insane on account of his sons long and
mysterious absence He had left his for
mer place of residence, had moved from
city to city, from town to town, and trav-
eled up and down the country in search
of the loved and the lost He had spent
the most of handsome fortune his wife
the boys mother, was on the brink of the
grave. "pining for her first born, aud wo'd
not be comforted" They then lived in
Western city, whittier they had gone in
the, hope of finding or forgetting their
boy or that change Of scene might as
suage their grief He thanked me for
my letter, which be had sent to the father,
and promised his assistance to procure the
young convicts pardon.
This news [ gave to Arthur he seemed
panied and pleased-hope and fear, JOY
and grief filed his heart alternately =
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 man to the prison,
rushing frantically into the Office, deman-
ding to see his boy.
Ny boy my boy Oh let me see him +"
The clerk, who knew nothing of the
matter, calmly asked him for the name of
his son
"No such name Sir, on our books ;
your son cannot be here"
g He is here Show him to me Here
sir, is your own letter Why do you mock
me 2n
The clerk looked over the letter, saw
that Arthur Lamb was the convict want
ed, and rang the bell for the messenger
" This is the Warden, Sir, it was his
letter you showed"
Too much of good thing is often IN
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
rattling of the great iron door. and the
grating sound of its hinges Indicated the
approach OF Arthur, and [ conducted the
excited parent into a side parlor. [ then
led his son to his embrace Such half
shrek and agonizing groan as the old
man gave, when he beheld tie altered ap-
pearance of the boy, as he stood clad in
the degrading stripes, and holding a con
victs cap in his hand. [ never heard before
[ have seen many scenes since and become
Injured to them: but this one seemed as
if it would burst my brain
[ drew up and signed a petition for the
pardon of the young convict and such a
deep and favorable impression did the Pc
rusal of the letter | wrote In answer to
the advertisement make upon the Direc-
tors, that they readily joined the petition
though it was long time before Mclean
consented. He was exceedingly cautious
and prudent; but the old man clung to
him-followed him from his Office to his
country residence, and there in the pres
ence of his family plead anew his case
At length excited by the earnest appeal
of the father the director looked over the
papers acain-his wife, becoming interes-
ted, picked up the answer to the adver-
tisement read it, and then tears came to
the rescue Mac, said rather harshly.
that the Warden would let all the young
rascals out if he could Those who know
Gov. Wood. will not wonder that he was
easily prevailed on in such case and
the pardon was granted.
Need describe the old mans Joy
how he laughed and wept-walked and
ran, all impatient to see his son free
When the lad came out in citizens dress
the aged parent was too full for utterance
He hugged the released convict to his
bosom-kissed him-wept and prayed l.
Grasping my hand, he rendered me hi:
farrn-his watch thing I would take
j Panied at the thought of pecunia-y re
ward. [ took the old mans arm in mine
/ a