The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-08-27
The Quaker's Corn Crib.

| i1'e'y i'oThiuS tue OH gentleman observed
a diminution of his corn piles. This was
very annoying, and must be stopped-but
how Many one would have said, "Take
gun, conseal yourself, wait till he comes,
and fire. Others would have said, "Catch
the william, and have him sent to jail"
But the Quaker was not prepared to en-.
ter into any such severe measures. lie
wanted to punish the offender, and at the
same time bring about his reformation. if
| possible. So he fixed sort Of trap close
to the hole, through which the man would
thrust his arm in getting the corn.
The wicked neighbor proceeded on lis
u"holy GRAND at the hour ofmidnight, with
bag in hand.-Unsuspec,ingly he thrust his
hand into the crib to seize an ear when
10 he found himself unable to withdraw
1t! In vain he tuggcd, and pulled, and
sweated, and alternately cried and cursed.
His hand was fast, and every effort to re-
lease it only made it the more secure. Af
Ter while the tumult in his breast measur.
ably subsidized. Lie gave over his useless
struggles, and began to look around.-An
was silence and rcpose. Good men were
sleeping comfortably in their beds, while he
was compelled to keep dreary, discraccful
watch through the remainder of that long
and tedious night, his hand in constant
pain from the pressure Of the clamp which
held it. His tired limbs compelled him to
sustain his weary body, would fain have
sunk beneath him, and the weary eyes
would have closed in slumbcr, but 10
there was no rest, no sleep for him. There
he must stand watch tho progress of the
night, and at once desired and dreaded tho
return of morning. Morning came at last,
and the Quaker looked out of his window
and found he had caught lis man."
What was to be done : Some woulI
say, "Go out auL give him a cowhidinc,
just as he stands, and then release linn
that'll cure him. But not SO, said the
Quaker. Such course would have sent
the man away embi,tcred, and muttcring
curses of revenge. The good man hurried
on his clothes, and started at once to the
relief and punishment Of his prisoner.
"Good morning, friend" said he, as he
came in speaking distance, "How does thee
do 2"
"The poor culprit made no answer, but
burst into tears.
80 fie !" said the Quaker, as he proceed
ed to release him. "I'm sorry that thee
has got thy hand fast. Thee put in the
wrong place, or it would not have been sou
The man looked crestfallen, and begging
forgiveness, hastily turned to make lis re-
treat. "Stay." said his 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 so much pains
to get it. Como, let us fill it." (And the
poor fellow was obliged to stand and hold
the beg willie the old man filled it, inter-
spersing the exercises with the pIeasantest
imaginable-all of which were
like daggers in the heart Of his chaerned
and mortified victim.) The bag was soon
filled, the string tied, and the sufferer hoped
soon to be out Of the presence Of his tor
mentor, but again the purpose was thwart.
cd.
Stay" said the Quaker rs the man
was about to hurry of, having multered
once more his apologies and thanks, 'Stay,
Ruth has breakfast ere this thee must
not think ofgoing without breakfast. Come, |
Ruth is calling"
This was almost unendurable. ThG was
'heaP'ng Goals" with vengcncc. In vain
the mortified neighbor begged to be excus-
ed in vain he pleaded to be released from
what would be to him a punishment. The
Quaker was inexorable, and he was Obliged
to yield.
Breakfast over, "now," said the old far
mer, as he helped the victim to shoulder
the bag, "lf thee needs any more corn,
come in the daytime, and thee shall have
it."
With what shame and remorse did that
guilty man turn from the dwelling of the
p'ous Quaker:-Everybody is to say that
he never again troubled the Quaker's corn
erlo. have something still better than
that to tell you. He at once repented and
reformed, and lived and died an honest man.
MoTHERs.-By the quiet fireside of home
tho true mother, in the midst of her chill
dren, IS sowing, as in vases of earth. ,h.
seeds OF plants that. shall sometime sa,ive to
Heaven the fragrance Of their ,bloss6nis and
whose fruits will be q rosary Of angelic
deeds.the noblest offering that she can
make through the ever.ascendng and ever.
expanding SOILS Of her children to her
M Maker. Every word. that she utters goes
from rSart Spifh a ,,os,,nr ,f E..,