True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-06-13

ded him torun away from home, and go tothe
West. He fOOlishly consented, with high
hopes of happy times, new scenes and great
fortune. They came as far as Cleveland,
where they remained several days. One
morning the other two boys came to his
room early, and showed him large amount
of Jewelry, &C., which they said they had
won at cards during the night. Knowing
that be was in need of funds to pay his
board, they pressed him to take some oft,
for means to pay his landlord But before
he had disposed of any of it, they were all
three arrested for burglary, and as portion
of the property taken from the store which
had been robbed, was found in his possess
ion, he too was tried, convicted and SEN
fenced. He had no,friends, no money, and
dared not write home-so, hope sank with
in hin-he resigned himself to his fate
never expecting to get out of prison, or see
his parents again.
Upon inquiring Of the two young convicts
who came with him on the same charge, /
learned that what Arthur had stated was
true, and that his only crime was keeping
bad company, leaving his home. and uR-
knowingly receiving stolen goods. Ques-
toned separately, they all told the same
story, and left no dubt in my mind Of the
boys innocence. Full of compassion for
the unfortunate little fellow, l sat down
and wrote full description of Arthur his
condition and history as obtained it from
him; painting the horrors of the place., the
hopclessneSs Of his being reformed there
even if guilty-and the probability of his
never living out his sentence; and desert
bing the process to be used to gain his par
don. This sent according to the direc-
tions in the advertisements. But week af-
ter week passed and no answer came. The
boy daily inquired if l had heard from his
mother, until at last, 'hope long deferred
seemed to make his heart sick and again
he dropped and pined. At length letter
came-such letter! 1t was from the Rev.
DR.. Bellows, of New York. He had been
absent to distant city, but the moment he
read the letter the good man responded.
The father Of the boy had become almost
insane on account of his sons long and
mysterious absence, he had left his former
place of re7idence; had moved from city to
city-from town to town, and travelled up
and down the country seeking the loved and
the lost. He had spent the most of a
handsome fortune; his wife, the boys
mother, was on the brink of the grave,
'pining for her first born, and would not
be comforted.' They then lived in wes-
tern city, whittier they had gone in the
hope Of finding or forgetting their boy, or
that change of scene might assuage their
grief. He thanked me for my letter, which
he had sent to the father, and promised his
assistance to secure the convict's pardon.
This news l gave to Arthur; he seemed
panied and pleased, hope and fear, joy and
grief, filed his heart, alternately; but from
thence his eyes beamcd brighter, his step
was lighter; and hope seemed to dance in
every nerve.
Days passed-and at last a man came
to the prison, rushing frantically into the
Office demanding to see his boy. My boy!
My boyl Oh, let me see him! The clerk
who knew nothing Of tho matter, calmly
asked him for the name of his son. 'Ar-
thur--,' No such name on our books
your son cannot be here! He is here
show him to inc! Here sir, is your own
letter! Why do you mock mep-The
clerk looked over the letter-saw at once
that Arthur Lamb was the convict wanted,
and rang the bell for the messenger. There
is the Warden, sir-it was his letter you
showed. Too much Of good thing is Of.
ten unpleasant-the old man embraced Inc
and wept like child. A thousand times
he thanked, and in the name sof his wife,
heaped blessings upon my head. But the
rattling Of the great iron door, and the gra.
ting sound of its iron hinges indicated the
approach Of Arthur, and l conducted the
excited parent into side parlor. l ther
led his BON to his embrace. Such hall
shrek and agonizing groan as the old mar
gave when he beheld the altered appearance
Of his boy, as he stood, clad in the degra
ding stripes, and holding convicts cap il
his hand, I never heard before. I hav'
seen many similar scenes since, and becOm'
Injured to them, but this one seemed, Sifi
would burst my brain.
I drew up and signed petition for th'
t pardon Of the young convict-and such
. deep and favorable impression did the per
E usal Of the letter wrote in answer to tn
q advertisement make upon tho Directors; tha
they readily ioined in the petition-thouph j