Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-09-24


A man had been in the habit OF stealing corn
from his neighbor, who was Quaker. Every
night he would go softly to the crib, and fill
his bag with the ears which the good old Qua
ker's toll had placed there. Every morning +
the old gentleman observed dlminution of /
his corn pile. This was very annoying, and
must be stopped--but how Many one
would have said, &c Take a gun, conceal your
self, wait till he comes, and fire." Others !
would have said, Z" Catch the villain, and have
sent him to Jail.
But the Quaker was not prepared to enter
into any such severe measures. He wanted to
punish the offender, and at the same time
bring about his reformation, If possible. So
he liked sort oftrap close to the hole through
which the man would thrust his arm in getting
| the corn. ~
| The wicked neighbor proceeded on his un,
/ holy Grand at the hour of midnight, with bag
In hand. Unsuspectingly he thrust Ms hand
into the crib to seize an ear, when 10 efound
himself unable 20 withdraw it In vain he
! rugged, and pulled, and sweated, and alter
nately cried and cursed. His hand was fast,
and every effort to release it only made it the
more secure. Aftera time tho tumut in his
| breast meaSurably subsidized. He gave over
his useless struggles, and began to look around
him, All was silence and repose. Good men
were sleeping comfortably in their beds, while
he was compelled to keep dreary, disgracetul
watch through the remainder of that long and
tedious night, his hand in constant pain from
the pressure of tho clamp which held it. His
tired limbs, compelled to sustain his weary
body, would tain have sunk beneath him, and
his heavy eyes would have closed in sumber,
but 10 there was no rest, 40 sleep for him.
There he must stand and watch the progress Of
the night, and ut once desire and dread tho re-
turn Of morning. Morning came at last, and
the Quaker looked out of his window, and
= found he had " caught his man"
Q What was to be done2 Some would say,
4 $50 out and give him II cowhding, just as he
stands, and then release him; that'll cure him. "
+ But not so said the Quaker. Such a course
!. would have sent the man away embittered,
o and mutterng curses of revenge. The good
Il old man hurried on his clothes, and started a
|, once to the relief and punishment hf his prse
: oner.
1t "Good morning, FRIEND" said he, as he
d came In speaking distance. " How does thee
1t do q"
d The poor culprlt made no answer, but burs
{, into tears.
J go flo l' said the Quaker, as he proceeded
d to release him. g Pm sorry that thee has go
IS thy hands fast. Thee put it in the wrong place
d or it would not have been SOL
p The man looked crestfallcn, and begging
h forgiveness, hastily turned to make his retreat
It " Stay" said his persecutor-for he was nov
IS becoming such to the offender, who could hay
l. received blow with much better grace thai
/. the kind words that were falling from tn
II Quaker's lips" stay, friend, thy bag is 10
n iilled. Thee needs corn, or thee would no
TO have taken so much pains to get it," Gan
50 the poor fellow was obliged to stand and hol
to the bag while the old filled it, interspers
50 ing the exercise with the peasantest converse
70 ton imaginable all OF which We're like dag
rn gers in the heart Of his chagrincd and mort
es tied yictim.) The bag was filed, the strin
nd tied, and the sufferer hoped soon to be out
y, the presence of his tormentor, hut again h
ne purpose was thwarted.
ed " Stay |" said the Quaker, as the man WI
cd about to hurry of, having uttered once MOI
ll- his apologies and thanks. Stay Ruth III
aAt breakfast this thee must not think
'rs going without breakfast. Come, Ruth Is cal
pit. ing ~
pm This was almost unendurablel This WI
IN fEheaping Goals" with q vengeance
no vain the mortified neighbor begged to be cS
cused in vain he pleaded to be released froi
II. what would be to him punishment ten time
I'm more severe than stripes and imprisonment
nG The Quaker was inexorable, and he was oblig
al cd to yield.
ny Breakfast over, !" Now" said the old farmer
en- as he helped the victim to shoulder tho bag
as ''If thee needs any more corn, come in til
70, daytime, an thee shall have it.''
a. With what shame and romorse did that gull
IL ~ man turn from the dwelling OF tho piou
~ Quaker Everybody is ready to say that h
10 never again troubled tho Quaker's corn crib.
III have something still betterthan that to tell you
y He at once repented and reformed, and m
Up informant tells me that no afterwards heart
F' him relate, in an experience meeting, the sui
IL stance of the story have related, and he al
ne tributed his conversion, under Gods ble
ls sing, to the course the Quaker had pursued
e. to arrest him in his downward course.