The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-09-05
THE ouAkER's coRN-CRIB.

A man had been in the habit OF stealing
corn from his neighbor, who was Quaker.
Every night he would 60 softly to the crib,
and Gil his bag with the ears which the good
old Quaker's toll had placed, there. Every
morning the old gentleman observed dimi-
mutton of his corn pile. This was very an
noying, and must be stopped-but how?--
Many one would have said, s'Take gun,
conceal yourself, wait till he comes, and
fre!" Others would have said, "Catch the
william, and have him sent to jail.'' H
But the Quaker was not prepared to en-
ter into any such measures. He wanted to
punish the offender and ut the same time
bring his reformation, if possible. So he
fixed sort Of trap close to the hole through
which the man would thrust his arm in get
ting the corn. Is.
The wicked neighbor proceeded on his
uholy errand at the hour of midnight, with
bag in hand. Unsuspectingly he thrust his
hand into the crib to seize an ear, when, 10!
he found himself unable to withdraw i'll
In vain he tugged and pulled and sweated,
and alternately cried and cursed. His hand
was fast, and every effort to release it, only
made it the more secure. After time, the
tumult in his breast measurably subsidized.
lie gave over his useless struggles, and be-
gan to look around him. All was silence
and repose. Good men were sleeping COM
fortably in their beds, while he was compel
led to keep dreary, disgraceful watch
through the remainder Of that long and te-
dious night, his hand in constant pain from
the pressure of the cramp which held it,
His tired limbs, compelled to sustain his
weary body, would fain have sunk beneath
him, and his heavy eyes would have closed
in slumber, but no! there was no rest, no
sleep for him. There he must stand and
watch the progress Of the night, aud at once
desire and dread the return Of morning
Morning came at last, and the Quaker look
ed out Of his window and found that he had
scaught the man."
What was to be done? Some would say,
"Go out and give him good cowhiding
Just as he stands, and then release him;
that'll cure him." But not so said the Qua
ker. Such a course would have sent the
man away embittered and muttering curses
of revenge. The good old man hurried on
his clothes, and started at once to the relief
and punishment Of his prisoner.
ssGood morning, friend,' said he, as he
came in speaking distance. SHOW does
thee do?" III
The poor culprit made no answer, but
burst into tears. # a5
go 6ep' said the Quaker, a. he proceed
ed to release him. "Pm sorry that thee has
got thy hand fast. Thee put Il in the wrong
place, or it would not have been SOP ss
The man looked crest fallen, and begging
for forgiveness, hastily turned to make his
retreat. sStay,' said the prosecutor, for
he was now becoming such to the offender,
who could have received blow with much
better grace than the kind words that were
falling from the Quaker's lips. "Stay,
friend, thy bag is not filled. Thee needs
corn, or thee would not have taken 80 much
pains to get it. Come, let us gil it,o and
the poor fellow was obliged to stand and
hold the bag while the old man filled il, in
terspersing the exercises with the PLEASANT
est conversation imaginable, all Of which
were like daggers in the heart Of his cha
grined and mortified victim. The bag was
filed and the string tied, and the sufferer
hoped soon to be out Of the presence of
his tormentor, but again his purpose was
thwarted.
''Stay," said tha Quaker, MS the man was
ABOUT to hurry OF, having uttered once more
his apologies and thanks. "Stay, Ruth has
breakfast ere this; thee must not think Of
going without breakfast; come Ruth is CALL
ing" II
This was almost unendurable. This was
"heaping Goals" with vengeance. Invain
he pleaded to be released from what would
be to him punishment ten times more se-
we're than stripes and imprisonment. The
Quaker was inexorable, and he was obliged
to yield. Breakfast over. Snow said
the old farmer, as he helped the victim
shoulder the bng, elf thee needs any mo
corn come in the daytime and thee shall
have it.o
With what shame and remorse did that
guilty man turn from the dwelling Of the
pious Quaketi Every body is ready to say
that he never again troubled the Quaker's
corn crib. l have something still better than
that to tell you. He at once repented and
reformed, and my informant tells me that
ne afterwards heard him relate, in an
experience meeting, the substance of the
story have related, and he attributed his
conversion, under Gods blessing, to the
course the Quaker had pursued, to arrest
him in his downward course.
- "a. 4 4 . 4