Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-30
THE GAZETTE.
THURSDAY MORNING. S.rrrssKR 80, 1855
pIOuS BENENOLENuE.


A QUAKER's CoKN CRIB "A man had been
in the nauit Of stealing corn from his neigh
Dor, who was a Quaker. Every night be
would 60 softly to the crib and fill his bag
with the ears which the good old Quaker
tell had placed there. Every morning the
good gentlem an observed a diminutinn of his
corn piles. This was verv annoying, and
must be stopped out how? Many a one
would have said, Take a gun, conceal your
self, wait till be comes and fire." Others
would have said Catch the villain, and have
him sent to Jail" But the Quaker was not
prepared TO enter into any such severe meas
ures. lie wanted to punish the If 'nder. aud
at the same time brirg about his rciormation
ii possible. So he Fixed a sort OF trap close
to the hole through which the man would
thrus, his arm in getting the corn.
The wicked neignbJr proceeded on bis un-
holy errand at the hour OF midnight. with bag
in hand. Unsuspectibsiy be thrust his
hand into the crib to seize an ear, when 10 !!
he found himself unable to withdraw il. la
vain be tugged. and pulled and >weated, aud
alternately cried and cursed. HIS hand was
fast, acd every etf)rt to release 1t only miue
il the more secure. After awhile the tuDu!t In
hi, breast measurably subsiIed. lie gave over
his useless struggles aud beg"nto look around.
Al! was silence and repose. Good men were
sleeping comfortably in their beds, While he
was compelled to keep a drcary, dissraceiu!
watch through the remainder OF that long
and tedious night, his hand III constant pain
from the pressure of :he clamp which held 1t.
HIS t.red limbs compelled 20 sustain hs
weary body. would iain haze sunk beneath
HIM, and the weary eyes would have closed
Ia sumter, but 10. there was no rest, %
sleep for him. There he must stand, watch
the progress of the night, aud at once desired
and dreaded the return OF mornlnS.
Mornins came at last, and the Quaker
lackca on, Of bis window ard tcund lie had
.'caush, his man." WHAT WIS u re don'!-
SINE would say, Go out and give hIm D.
good cowhiding just as he stands. and then
release him; tbat'i cure him. But not so
said the Quaker. Such a course would have
sen, the mau away embi,tered aud mutterlng
curses Of revenge.
The good old man hurried on his clothes,
aad started at once 10 the reilet and punish
meut Of his prisoner. Good morniug,
friend" said he, as be cane IN speaking DIS
lance, How does thee d :" The poor cuiprlt
made no answer, but burst in,o tears. ~
fe ~ said the Quaker, as lie Proceeded to re-
lease him. Pm sorry that thee has got thy
hand fast. Thee putin the wrong place, or
il would not have been so" The man look
ed crestfalleu. and. begging forgiveness, has,
tily turned to make bis retreat. Stay"
said his prosecutor, for be was now becoming
such to the offender, who could have received
q Blow with much better grace than the emo
words that were falling from the Qaaker's
lips; 'stay, friend thy bag is not filled. Thee
needs corn, or thee would not have taken SO
much pains to get it. Come, let us fill it.
And the poor fellow was obliged 10 stand and
bold the bag while the old man filled IT, IN
,erspersirg the exercise with the pleasan,est
conversation imaginablt--all Of which were
ike daggers in the heart of his ChagriDed aud
mortified victim.
The bag was soon filled, the string tied,
and the sufferer hoped svon 10 be out OF the
presence Of III. turmentor, but again the ruT'
pose was thwarted. "S,ay," SAID the Quaker
a. the mai was aboutto hurry vi, haviug nut
tered once more his apologies and thanks
STAY, Ruth has breakfast ere this; thee nIu-i
not think OF going without breakfast. Come,
Ruth j. calling" This was almost unendur'
able. This was "heaping c"ais" with ven
gcance. In vain the mortified neighbor beg
ged to he excused; in vain be pleaded to be
released frcm what would be to him a pun
ishment. The Quaker was iuexorabie and lie
was obi ged to yield.
Breakfast ever, Nov" said the old fal-
mer, as he helped the victim to shoulder the
tag, III thee needs any more corn, come In the
day time, aud thee shall have it,"
With what shame and remorse did that
guilty man turn from the dwelling OF the
picus Quaker. Every body Is ready to say that
henevcr again troubled the Qauker's corn-rrlo.
lie at once r~epented aud reformed, and lived
and died an honest inaD.