The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-01-01
The Fatal variance.
FROM TIE rorrsSr a DECEASED I4wrrA.

winter, intently pOring over huge pile o
authorities, to find decisions to substantiatl
the grounds Of an appeal had taken from
the judgment OF an inferior court, at vhicl
labor had been engaged ell the previous
part Of the day, when a uemIlous knock a
my Office door arrested my attention. Lay
ing aside my partially completed brief, aRt
not in the nildest mood for being interrupt
ed, opened the door, and eete saw mid
die aged lady, whose swolea YES and bag
gard cheeks betokened excessive weeping
On bidding her TO walk in, faint, sick !,
smile fitted across her vissge, and she in
quired if Squire B. was in, On my re
plying in the afirmative--that was The
person, her pale countenance suddenly ligh
ted up as though joyous tidings had beer
communicated to her, and she stepped ia
promptly and took preferred seat p ~
"Kind sir" she began. II am stranger
in this city, and it would have pleased me
ever to have remained SO, rather than be ne.
cessitated to visit it on such business as now
demands my presence here. am from the
State Of New York-from the village oil
l.. I am widow, with four children;
and, as is usual in such cases, am devoid Of
the means necessary to render this life a
blessing. For FIVE long years have sup
ported myself and family by the fruits of my
honest industry. We lived, may say, com.
fortubly, ard enjoyed the confidence and re.
spect Of the community in which we resided
and would have continued soto do, and re-
mained happy, had not dismal cloud low
cred over US, and bore down upon my af-
fiicted heart like an incubus"
She burst aloud into tears, md enveloped
her fuce in a linen handkerchief, which bore
marks that plainly indicated that it had seen
similar service before. | felt considerably
embarrassed, yet managed to make no re-
sponse, waiting for her to resume and inform
me Of the drift Of her remarks, which, as yet,
We're enigmatical to me. .. .1..
: "Excuse me, kind sir, for thus giving
way to my pent up feelings; but believe
me, my grief is unaffected and terrible. /
will now inform you Of the nature Of my bu.
siness here" e1f..... ......
81 am very busily engaged to-day, madam,
but If your business is urgent, l will forego
my other employment, and render you what
assistance ] cam" | remarked.
"Tbank you. | will be brief. The eld-
est OF my oifspring, q son fourteen years old,
is now in Jail in this city, on charge of lar
ceny. have come, at bis solicitation, to
render all the assistance in my power TO cf-
feet his release. have been directed to
counsel with you in reference to the matter,
and am now here for that purpose" 1t@2
"Can you give me the facts and circum.
stances relative to the alleged crime" ..
81 will show you letter which received
from his jaiof--the first intimation l had of
the confinement of my son--from which |
learn that he was arrested for purloining a
gold chain valued at fifty dollars; was tried
before magistrate and remanded to jail to
await his trial at the Cour; Of Oyer and Ter.
miner, in this city," iva ..n..ss -.r.-.
/ took the letter and read it carefully =
What she said was true. The jailor said,
that his guilt had been estab.
lished beyond doubt; that-he had been OBJ.
served, by person competent to be wit
ness, taking the property; and the identity
Of the boy and property clearly established,
"If no facts or circumstances exist to
change the present aspect Of the case, I
must say that the chances for effecting his
release are exceedingly small. However,
bear in mind the consoling promise, He
the widow and the fatherless,
aud do not despair. Providence always pro.
vides way for the erring to return to the
paths Of virtue. | may restore to you your
son. .na, e.,a...tl
"But," she paused and looked confounded,
am without money to reward you for your
#sa4lH.H I've }ars ! 5a.5
at is good paymaster who pays when
the labor shall have been performed. Give
Yourself no uneasiness ON that account IT
is the duty of every lawyer. and almost every
lawyer does more or less service for, the
amelioration of the condition Of the unfor
tunate, without charge" q. E'3'a@ 'tff'a
"God bless you! When may expect to
hear the result?" .~faG za 4rEr2 a
"Court sits on Monday next. two days
hence; and will have the trial brought on
as soon as may be, after the finding Of the
10 case an Indictment is found" /"
She hoped;l and her heart grew lighter.
could no, repress sigh for her when she
had quilted my office. Poor woman! she
was grieving under one Of the many sad ex
periences incident to the relationship Of
mother; the most noble OF all human rela.
yet the one which oo4ffequent.
", alas! attended with withefing sorrow. 'd
Soon after, seeking out the crimihal'in his
cell, ! learned tho facts in the case; and, in
to an interrogation 90 to the favor
abieness OF the result ofths triaTthatwrs to
be. / was compelled, BY my honest conyic.
tions, TO withhold any aattering assurances.
There was something id the bOy'sdeport
ment, that led me to believe he had been
wrongfnIly led astray; something noble,
which more firmly enlisted ne ihihis cause.
a.Thislis the Rrst crime, the commission