The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-02-09


an explanation was given me, which satisfac-
torlly accounted for the suspicious circum-
stance.
! 1t seems that his lishonest companion,
fearing that he might come out of the room,
and detect him in the act, bad opened the
door, telling him that he would have to be
locked IN till the train arrived, and turned
the key on the outside. This passed for a
joke. and the imprisoned person though. lit
tie OF IT, as he would have no occasion to
leave the room until the train arrived. when
IT would be his duty TO inspect the cars. II
also appeared that this locking up trick had
been played several times previously, no
doubt for similar purpose.
Thus was an honest man subjected to sus
plclon, by circumstances beyond his control
A satisfactory explanation of this however
was not beyond his power, and bis experience
goes to increase the arrav 6f testimony. TO
show the Ipe .tlmaIe "aIuc Of clear ron.
science in all exigencies whatever.
lhe key of private desk in the baggage
room was taken from the robber, and in this
desk was foun! about $4,000 in bank drafts
checks, Ne. and more than hundred rifed
letters, which, as their postmarks showed.
must have been the proceeds of one or two
nights robbery. Everything taken from the
mails except money, had been committed TO
the flames, as the criminal himself afterwards
confessed. large portion Of the available
funds which he had accumulated was recov-
cred. and restored to the ri.httul owners.
| In less than week from this time, he was
tried and sentenced to the State Prison for
the tcrM OF tr"ntY-Srr.,. pears.
line discoveries here dct uled gave rise to
great surprise and exclamation among all who
knew the guilty individual. for he had sus
t'1ned a "oo' reputation for sobrietv, honesty
and industry.
His inno"rnt family received the warmest
sympathy of the entire community. wh;rb IN.
deed they deserved. for the culori,'s wifi, va,
sincere christian woman a living rxcmp.i-
hcation OF III" religion by which she profess
ed to NE guided
som" Of the interviews at the prison be
tween her husband, children and herself. were
) p.ni;l - behold; vet. after the first terrible
shock (ana how terrible it was can To-. real
!zcd ly tlo>" only who have seen beloved
one >u "!cn!v mctainorphu>cd trotl q tancicd
ANGEL IEto ial.cE spirit. she became more
Resigned 70 the overpowcrinc ra!ami:y which
had ovrriakrn her and her children.
She la! 10 reI'roaclcs for her SHINING Eu,.
band. nor DID 81" aiIu1a III h.s presence 70
'he >uilrringS winch he had brought UPON N,
innocent family; but her aim seemed 10 I've
TO induce him .. means of i., bitter cxrcri
eLc", 10 lem new and Christian HE.
One day WHEN called to see the prisoner
in com;anv with gentleman who was anxlon,
10 learn ;iIe tate OF a package of pa,crs he
had lost. We found the afflicted wcn,an si,,nc
4 ty her husband one arm, thrown Ioyinol,
around his neck, and an open Bible l,inc n
= her LAP. We apoio.izrd to her Tor the inter
= rnr'ion. She looked I'D mourn.uI,y. a tea,
stealing down her wan check As .h, SAID.
! 1t is no matter. | was only read,ro :,
poor Eiwar!. Then ookins at him tondv
She conlinned.-"iir la, been a kind, 900,
: husband and father, and he hadn, an, b.o
= hahl's or companions that knew Of: ana
= have often Thought tha. ii hr only lad r,il
: zion he would te perfect. And if this trial
bad a, it is. will on'v make him a Christian
n it will br all shall ask
: McGnw hIic. her two .i;:.,. children wcr,
thou-htlcs>lv playing abou; the door of IL.
tC!i. unr"Il>' ;"uS OF shr ruin winch had bee,
wrought ~ the hearts and PROSPECTS of t!,ei,
l. wcctrhrd parents. The voun".st one. Will.
Nc ""rr there. tried To ,.Iav "bo prep Will
II it> father, 'ut was INN" !iaicly chr kcd y,
: the poor mother. Who "ricd out in an a.on;1cl
, voice. "Oh, Ellie, don't"
II Ever since her husband was sent to prison
this devoted wifi; has visited him twice :
I month (havin. h.cn furnished with fire.,
y pass bv the officers Of the railroad. which
= passed near the piison). and TO indcc of tn.
. report OF those who have an opportunity of
observing every day. the prisoner has com
mcnccd 4 Christian life. to which the PRAYER
Il OF his iovin. wife We're designed to lead him
Nothing can be SAID that would add 10 H.,
force Of the lesson contained in the facts her,
Il narrated. Ii lifetime Of Imprisonment
and the hIi"htn. Of the hopes and happiness
OF loved ones. do not >how with sufficient i'm
IS prrs>lvencSs the result o: crime. ima.ina,io,
l. viii IN vain attempt to supply the deficiency
: append letter received by me from Ill.
. criminal. some time after his communal to TN,
State frisOn:
Il W, July Is, 1854.
Kind Friend
IS For must consider You as such, becau&,
:! through your inSrumentalitv ! have bee,
saved. pcrhars from worse fate than has be
fallen me. think throuS., this, I have bee,
J. taught TO see what q sinner am. | am tru,,
{ renitent for this crime, az well as INV dsobc
: dIence to the ,st laws of God. linear thro
j. the help of Almighty power to serve INV Gre
aor the remaining wears of nv life
Z 81 h., I
4 crime. never was inclined to do evil or {,
keep bad company. In fact kept no com
! pany hardly, except that of NV wife and lrt,,
II ones. Oh. how my heart thro!s to break
loose and JON them. Look upon yours a.
I. You can in freedom and think OF me. IL al
4 most suilocates me to call them before me II
my mind.
Oh. horrors little did think such a fate
g would befaiI me- cannot tell why | did
3 it. more than this-to pay my debts. How
they did trouble mellow sSould ! ever pa,
them? But this was not the way to cancel
! them.
, do not love monev-not at all. Eever
desired to be rich, only to be square with the
world. | became indebted by extravaganza
and pride.
l would tel you little story Of my life, il
: | could. My connections except my father
' are p'ous people. My mother was good
Christian, and died in the hope of Heaven.
She called me to her bedside about two
months before her death. That was the last
time | saw her alive and when she parted
with he. she c!asped me TO her bosom with
these words,-"My son, obey God, and meet
me in Heavenr'
But this is too painful. cannot write of
this.