Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-02-28

and join the jolly company.
"It would take too long a time to relate
the details of his life while in the employ
of that reckless crew, but suffice it tossag
that he was no dull scholar. In alEtheir
wicked schemes, for burglary and rebbes
ry. DC, he was foremost in the battle,
fearless of danger, and cunning as the
arch fend himself. It was not 50 much
the love of the employment, as hisnatdral
tact, which made him successful; and
while he belonged 70 the companY it was
for is interest to do his best. 4 Bnt his
conscience often smote him, nd9heswouId
many time have changed his ssitpaEion
for crust of bread and bed pl straw in
the meanest hovel. But he WAS kept
along by the kind treatment and strong
encouragements Of his comrads, ,Iwho knew
how much their success Gepended$on just
such hand as Jim. q
"Their career. however, had ID end
Jim had been in the company ahout six
years, when they were all caugHN in the
act Of robbing a gentleman's dwelling
house in his absence, and were all arres-
ted and tried. jim turned states evi
dence against them and god clear, while
all the rest were sent to prisp pm.
"That was lucky day for HIN but where
10 go or what to do wiih himself he knew
not. He was hearth sick othis former
mode Of life. and he fed determined to get
an honest living if i'm psssible. The at
tempt, however, was altsnded with poor
success. He applied iussll sorts of busi-
ness for employment, uatn he was tired
OF being refused. He liIe9 on the remains
Of his iIl-gotten gains uddiSall that renal
ned was a single worn OIL suit of clothes
His pocket was entirelYfsem and his
| ,tOmach was in the same e6hdition; and he
Was compelled at last to beg for bread
"Even that last rcSortrYas Intended with
difficulties, too, for be #ass healthy able
bodied fellow. and fe wasnething about
aim to attract synpathY x gRhetirsC house
he applied to for Sd iaat happen
cd to be that of tn l,tlsss &dd3 gave his
companions their Sen enee and he recol-
Iecled the Scam gtacess couptenance. The
only reply mag to Jjm's appeal. which
was tendeEsThLo the servant and overheard
by the WAS an order TO the bid dog
to carry go,
ola, tnnllrig ght,ES55 nsls lsined
the lis e1staB scoti "a no EN-
liments longer. ss5y.s< sss'e
Judge MT hassi ny friend" !" said
Dolby. Yea a!s ST boy was Somebody's
child. saPPgse he bad been yours ?''
Well HsiL-go on with your story
Did the dog kill him ?'' -.
No; Jin was thankfutto escape with
his life, though without bread he felt that
it could not last long.
"ReIused thus iu his first attempt at hon
esty, his good resolutions all failed, and he
turned again to thoughts OF his old ira Iy
for living, feeling that h4 was deSpised
among respectable people, and he might
as we'll possess the game AS the name OF
vagabond. Something was to be done
quickly. too, Tor he WAS pennlrss anI had
not eaten morSei Tor twenty four hours.
lie rccolIected having passed IN ratin5 rs>
taOIlshment few minutes before, and
looking very wi,tfully in;o an open window
upon some very tempting dishes, he
thought there might be chance for
seizure, perhaps, without being seen. Re.
tracing his steps to the place, he took
haSty look within to see if the way WAS
clear, and feeling pretty safe, he grasped
cUld chicken and slipped it under his
coat. The trick was very we'll done, and
he passed on, thinking he was not disco.
vered by any one. Presently we'll dres-
sed lady stepped up to his side and spoke
softly in his ear.
"' Ny poor fellow said she, are you
hungry 2"
''JIm started as if a thunder bolt had
struck him. What 10 do or say he did
not know. To run was death for him, for
it would surely display guilt, and he inn
agned he could almost hear the cry,
stop thief! J at that moment.
"'Pray, ma am. don't expose me- he
uttered, on the impulse Of the moment, and
| then attempted to hurry forward, for he
felt ashamed TO be seen in conversation
with lady; besides. that position alone
was sufficient to cause suspicion. in one Of
his cloth.
The lady, however, was no! to be so
easily satisfied, ,and following on after him,
she continued
Stop, sir. l am not going to expose
you, but want to know if you really
stand in need Of the article YOU took from
that window
"'God knows I do. nla'am,' answered
Jim, trembling with fear.
Then you are an object of charity,
surely, and here is a tribe which l wish
you TO accept from me- said she. handing
him silver dollar. And if you are ever
similarly situated, come to me and l will
give you another, for pity you
Jim accepted the gift, and his unknown
benefactOr tarned and left him to his own
reflections So great was his amqzement.
he forgotten moment that he was a Gu prit
fleeing from justice, and stood looking
first at his donation and then after the do,
nor. querying in his mind what all that