The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-12-01

| Dprlsuninedt, anu his manly form bad lost
some Of its vigor and fullness.
Mark Douglas and Mitop entered Wilson's
store, and the former pulled his purse from
his pocket, and threw the sum, as agreed
upon before he entered the Jail, contemptu-
ously on the counter. Then bending his
black eyes upon the merchant he slowly
said:
| "fou once sent an orphan to jail when he
was guiltless of wrong or crime Again.
| you sent an old neighbor to jail for no crime
but poverty. They both stand before you,
and should misfortune ever come upon you,
James Wilson, may you find others more
humane and forgiving than you have been.
| This is a world Of changes, and disease and
bad luck may waste you and yours in such
an hour as you know not"
! A palencss crept over Wilson's face, and
before he could reply, Douglas and Milton
passed from his store
Ten years later, and two Of the characters
OF our story are again brought together. A
change has been wrought in the affairs Of
James Wilson, the rich village merchant
Disease has been in his household, and his
store and dwellings have been laid in ashes
Financial revcrses followed in quick success
ion, until all his property was swept away,
and he found himself several thousand dol
lars in debt. Driven to desperation, and
struggling to save his fallen fortunes, he at.
tempted to sccrete portion Of his means by
the aid Of n friend. Tho scheme was de-
tected, and no was arrested on charge of
swindling, and sent to prison. Twas then the
ruined man learned the bitterness of poverty
and dcsertion. Not friend would be his
bail. The tickle popuacc turned against him
as quickly as they had against William Mil
ton years before. lie complained of this
bitterly-he could not see why all his old
friends should desert him because he was
unfortunate surely that was no crime. So
reasoned the man who sent Milton to the
debtors cell. His integrity had not passed
the ordeal as untarnished rs did that Of his
carly friend,
Dark and gloomy were the days between
the arrest and the trial Wilson had little
hope from the nagnaniinty Of the prosecu.
ting attorney as that official had been re-
jccted by one Of his daughters on account
Of the attorneys poverty. From the pri.
Soner's box Wilson looked in vain for friends
in the sea Of faces. lie had lost property
and had no friends.
defend him, Wilson answered that he had
retained none, his face burning as he
smoke for he had no means to employ
counsel. One and another Of the lawyers in
the bar plead prior engagements, and begged
to be excused from acting as Wilson's counsel
at the request Of the court. This marked
reluctance to defend him, stung the prisoner
keenly, and hc bit his lip until 1t blcd. Any
a I. F. q a
have most eagerly performed any service for
the wealthy merchant.
At this lunCture u tall and muscular gen
tlcman s'rode up to the bar and rendered his
services as counsel for the prisoner at the
bar. The stranger. head was gray, but his
presence was singularly noble and com
mandlng, and his eye full and lustrous.-
The finely chiseled mouth told its own story
Of daring iirmness and iron will The pro-
scouting attorney looked little blank as the |
distinguished looking gentleman took his |
seat within the bar, and answered for his |
client The interest in the audience became !
iut."-,s, far they expected something fr0m
50 fine a looking man. And he presence Of
that parsonage lofty bearing and eagle |
cye-was already making interest for his
as,onshed client.
The trial proceeded. -Thc counsel for the
defence asked few questions of the witness |
es, contcn,ing himself with playing with his |
peu.knfc, and now and then looking upon
those who swore swift There was ter
ror in his very eye, and the swift witnesses
quailcd as they read its sc0rntul glance
The District Attorney INDUCED in frequent
coarse and aggravating remarks rs the tcsti- /
mony proceeded.
The plea Of the stranger was most
finished specimen OF logic, irony and pa
thos The tide Of feeling in the people re-
acted under his cloquence, and rushed again |
to the merchant. A few words, calm, but
most iearfully withcring, crushed the prose-
cutting attorneys attempt to wound the un-
fortunate The testimony was picked and
torn in thousand threads, and strong men
blushed that they had ever doubted the ho-
ncsty of the prisoner.
"You are but men," said he TO the jury, |
"with the same frail nature Of him whose
honor you now hold in your hands. You
know not your own strength In prosperity |
it is no hard matter tc present clean sheet |
to the world. 1t is adversely that tests men.
The strongest among you might fail, were
misiortuncs to come upon you. Misfortune |
or poverty is certainly no crime, as prosper |
lty IS no virtue summer weather if'ehds
are 'h,ey VINO DaSS IN man iaVo1 to-uay,
and when dark hour comes upon hin' turn
TO heap approorinm lpon ms name AS men
heed mercy At Tue harus OF lin VINO Wept
over ana iorgave the sins oimen' so iet tnem
remember mercy, when Judging eaeh other
Should elther OF you gentlemen, oy any re.
verse oi fortune, become poor, ana SUBJECT
for the debtors cell and see your professcd /
friends desert anu turn against you you VIII
experience one oi HE biteerest lessons, ana
learn how cruel is the hahd which crushes
ana brands win shame 'hc name OF the
poor ana unfortunate p0u Is lne @owed
iriehu OF sucn' anu men sh0u'u oe careful
now n they arc less iors'''"g 'hah our common
ra,,er.
Inc manner OIL lie stranger was Pecullariy
tnrilIihs, ana carried the hult'tuue ior MS
ci'en'' l"e prosecuting attorney M,'hereu