Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-05-19
The Lost Boy.

Any person who VIII visltthe Ohio PEN
itentiary, cannot help but be struck at see
ing the. number Of mere children there in
carcerated. Boys from twelve to fifteen
years of age. who from defective education
bad example, want Of moral training.
have fallen into crime. and that too.
through the intrigues Of some willy old
criminal. As these poor boys are COM
PEELED daily to associate with these harden
ed offenders, what chance is there in them
for moral reformstion7 They have no
mother to inculcate into them moral prin-
ciples-no one is near them who feels in
terested in their behalf
In several of the States, House, Of Cor
rection have been erected for these Juven
lie offenders. Michigan has made an ap-
preparation to purchase afew hundred acres
of land-to put up the necessary buildings
and when completed will employ moral
men-not such scamps as have been con
nected with the Ohio Penitentiary, to i'm
part to them the right kind of instruction.
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, have not
in this particular been backward. But in
Ohio, no such law has vet, been passed.
Although bills have been introduced, to
build House of Refuge, they never yet,
received the sanction of the majority.
The editor of the Sandusky Mwror was
formerly Warden ofthe Ohio Penitentiary.
He gives the following. as one Of the incl
dents which occurred while he had control
of that Institution:
I had been but few months in charge
of the Prison, when my attention was at
tracted to, and deep interest felt in, the nu-
merous 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 ev-
cry evening, as saw them congregaed in
gangs, marching to their silent meals, and
thence to their gloomy bedrooms, which
are more like living Scpulchres, with iron
shrouds, than sleeping apartments. These
young men and boys, being generally the
shortest in height, brought up the rear of
the companies, as they marched to the ter
ribls Iock-step,' and consequently, more
r., easily attracted attention. TO see many
l youthful forms and bright countenancse,
e mingled with the old and hardened scoun-
:, drels, whose visages betokened vice, malice
and crime, was sickeningto the soul. But
: there was one among the boys, lad o.
!, about seventeen years Of age, who had par.
- = ticularly attracted my attention; not from
VI anything superior in his countenance OIL
/ general appearance but by the look Of ut.
e ter despair which ever sat upon his brow
e and the silent uncomplaining manner il
e which he submitted to all the hardship.
J and degradations of prison life. He wa.
C often complained Of by both officers ant
It men, and thought unne :essary, forligh
n and trivial offences against the rules o
Is propriety; yet he seldom had any excuse
s. or apology, and never denying charge
l. He took the reprimand and once, pun
y ishment without a tear or murmer, almos
le as matter of course, seemingly Thankful
"a that it was no worse. He had evidentl,
l. seen better days and enjoyed the light o
lie home, parents. and friends, if not the lux
n uries OF life. But the light of hope scenes
v to have gone out-his health was poor
81 his face palc-his frame fragile, and no fir
m beamed in his dark grey eye!-I though
ID every night, as saw him march to hi
OF gloomy bed, that l would got him, an
u learn his history--but there were so man
a duties to perform, so much to learn, an
n. do, that day after day passed, and l woul
neglect him-having merely learned tina
his name was Arthur Lamb, and that hi
- crime was burglary and larceny, inIicatin
We a very bad boy, for one so young! Ii
d. had already been there aysar, and had tw
more to serve. Henever could outlivc hi
III sentence, and his countcnance indicate
that he felt it. He worked at stone GU
as ting on the new State House-hence m
ok opportunity for seeing him were less tha
Sc though he had worked in the prison var
1t. still his pale face haunted me day and nigl
m and resolved on the next Sabbath, as /
nj came from Sabbath School, l would sen
Ter for him, and learn his history. 1t thappe,
- ed however that | was one day in
Ter store, waiting the transaction of some b,
lst sness, and having picked up an oI
he newspaper, l had read and re-lead, whi
RI delayed, until at last my eyes fell upon 6
at advertisement of A LOST BoY!--Info
rel NATION wanted of boy named ARTHt
ais - q will not give his real name, +;
ne perhaps he is still living, )and then follow
lis ed description Of the boy-exactly CO
or, responding with that of the young convi
ed Arthur Lamb. Then there was som
- body who cared for the poor boy, finde'
or, it was him; perhaps mother who we
re- searching for him. The advertiseme
Der was nearly year old-yet ! doubted n
and as soon as the convicts were lock
ler up, sent for Arthur Lamb. He came
in matter of course--with the sattte pal
dg accomplishing face and hopeless 81
thinking, no doubt, that something b,
lad gone wrong and been laid to his Charge
,es ! was examining the Convict Registe
Ter when he came in; and when looked ,
er- there he stood perfect image ofdespa
l asked him his name. He replied "a
thurP Arthur sohdts said I sterhly A
I'm thur--Lansbp said he hesitatingly.-
'ed Have you father or mother living
i've His eye brightened-his voice quivere
MS as he exclaimed sa..> L.
*, Oh, have you heard from mother? Is s
the alive? Is she well: and tears, which I b.
never seen him shed before, ran like ra