Amador weekly ledger., 1858-07-10
A PICTURE OF LIFE.

" Nui Souitn, anu " Hllc cODFeTSlnR Win d
legal friend, heard the name of John An
derson called "There is hard case" re-
marked my friend. looked upon tie man
in the prisoners dock. He was standing up,
and ne plead guilty to the crime of theft
He was tall man but bent and infirm, though
not old. His garb was torn, sparse, and FL
thy; his face all bloated and bloodshot; his
hair matted with dirt; and his bowed
form qpvering with delirium. Certainly l
never saw more pitiable object. Surely
that man was not born villain I moved
my place 10 obtain fairer view of his face.
lie saw my movement, and turned his head
He.gazed upon me single instant, and then
covering his face with his hands, he sank
powerless into his seat
"Good God !" involuntarily calculated,
starting forward. OWL"
r had half spoken his first name when he
quickly raised his head, and cast upon me q
|iook Of such implorng agony that my tongue
w as tied at once. Then he covered his face
agahl. / asked my legal companion if the
pfisogIr had counsel he said no, | then
told himto do all in his power for the poor
fellows benefit, and l would pay him. He
promised, and | left could not remain
and see the man tried Tears came to my
eyes as | gazed upon him, and it was not IN
til had gained the street and walked some
distance that l could breathe freely.
John Anderson Alas, be was ashamed
to be known as his mothers son That was
not his name; but you shall know him by no
other will call him by the name that now
stands upon the records Of the courts
John Anderson was my school-mate; and
it-was not many years ago-not over twenty,
that we left our academy ;ogcther-he to re-
turn to the home of wealthy parents; l to
sit down in the dingy sanctum Of o newspa-
per Office for few years, and then wander
across the ocean. | was gone some four
years, and when | returned, found John q
married man. His father was dead, and had
left his only son princely fortune.
"Ah C" he said to me, as he met me
at TIE railway station, "you shall see what
bird have Gagged. My Ellen is a perfect
lark-a robin, very princess Of all birds
that ever looked beautiful or sang sweetly y
He was enthusiastic, but not mistaken, for
found his wife all he had said, simply omit
ing the poetry. She was truly one of the
most beautiful women | ever saw. And so
good, too,-so loving and so kind. Aye,
she so loved John, that she really loved all
his friends What luckey fellow to find
such wife. And what lucky woman tc
find such husband; for John Anderson was
as handsome as She Tall, straight, manly
high browed, with rich chesnut curls, and q
face as faultless noble and beautiful as ever
an artist copied And be was good too; and
kind generous and true.
spent week with them, and | was hap
py all the time. Johns mother lived with
them fine old lady as ever lived, and ma
king herself constant Joy and pride in Boosting
upon her son, her darling boy" as she al
ways called him. | gave her an account oi
my adventures by sea and land in foreign
climes, and she kissed me because loved hel
darling.
did not see John again for four years
| reached his house late in the evening. He
was Lot at home, but his wife and mother
were there TO receive me, and two curlyhead
ed boys were at play about Ellen'S chair
knew at'once, they were my friends children
Everything seemed pleasant, until the LITTLE
ones were in bed and asleep, and happy, and
then / could plainly see that Ellen was troub
led She tried to hide it, but face so use(
to the sun shine of smiles could not wear {
cloud concealed.
At length John came. His face Wgfush
ed and his eyes looked naamed. He'graspeC
my hand with happy laugh-called M
"Old Fellow, Old Dog,"-said must com
and live with him, and many other extraya
giant things His wife tried to hide her tears
while his mother shook her head and said;
He'll SOW these wild oats soon. M.
darling can never be bad man.
"God grant it," thought to myself; AM
| well knew that the same prayer was upo
Ellen's lips"
1t was late when | retired, and we nigh
not have done so even then had not John ia
len asleep in his chair.
On the following morning, l walked ou
with my friend. told him was sorry t
see him as | saw him the night before.
ooh" said he, with laugh, "that wa
nothing. Only little wine party. We ha
a glorious time. only wish you had bee
there"
At first, thought | would say no more
but was it notmy duty? | knew his natur
better than he knows it himself. His appe
-tites and pleasures bounded his own visions
knew how kind and generous
"John, could you have seen Ellen's fac
last evening, you would have trembled. Ca
you make her unhappy" He stopped IN
with
"Don't be fool Why should she |
unhappy" ?"
Because she fears you are going dow
hill," | told him.
q Did she say so ?" he asked with aus
: ed face.