Litchfield enquirer., 1859-09-08

"Only since last evening"" kindly replied } Nathan, "and even then became so only from the plain advice and counsel of another But we had some rare sport. o, some 1 tell you." And as Cooper thus spoke, he gave significant wink, and then Went to his bench.
 Joseph Cooper was only two-and-twenty and had been an apprentice to MT. Clark u.,- til his majority, since which time he had been at work as journeyman
 Nothing more Was said on the subject of the last nights scrape until near the middle of the afternoon. It was near three o'clock, when the Deputy Serf entered the shop and enquired for Joseph Cooper.
 :" Where is Cooper? ?" the officer asked of Nathan Wilder.
 That's him at the other end of the shop sir"
 Let's sce," resumed the visitor, gancing over the paper he held in his hand "where were you last night p
 |" At hone sir"
 You didn't go over to the back village ?"
 No. sir I've concluded 10 let that com pany go without me, hereafter"
 Good. Pm glad of that" uttered the Sheriff, emphatically and then went along to | where cooper was at work.
 He spoke with the young man, and the lat ter turned pale as death There was much evident begging and praying, but in vain- The officer had come for Joseph Cooper. and he could not go without him. So Joe washed his hands and put on his coat and hat, and then, with trembling step, he accompanied the officer from the shop When Nathan went out, after his days work was done, he learned the whole story - On the night before, a parry of young men had goue over to tine back village and had a ca- ronsal at Billy Mac Wayne's and on their It turn they tore down fences, and carried away barn doors, opened barn yards and let the cat 1 tie out, stole water melons, and several other things of like character News had been re- ceved there that the party were coming and they were watched. They were seen to do these things, aud though it was too dark to distinguish their faces at the time yet all who were at Mac Wayne's were known, aud they had been traced to their mischief. That very evening the party, fourteen in number, were ara gned before justice, ana the complaint Was entcrrd against thcm-- Poor Cooper pleading that he had nothing to do with the york; and while tears rolled down his cheeks he asserted his innocence.
 You have been in the same company be- fore ?" said tue Justice
 Yes, sir" hesitatingly answered Cooper.
 And you have known their character for mischief and disturbance p
 Yes, sir but I---"
 e Never mind, now," interrupted the ju6ge. You should have thought of all this before No one mau ip this party would have gone alone aud done this work. It takes gang to make such donys worth while, and you have been a member of that gang for some time. lfyou would be pure and above suspi- cion, you must beUarc aoAat conapany gnu Keep"
 After this, the justice went to speak of the many wicked deeds which had been done in times past, and which for the sake of the friends of the perpetrators, had been passed over but things could not be overlooked now The crime may have been sport to the doers, but, poor, honest people had suffered heavily A stop must be put to'it.
 ," sad 4he judge, "can only impose fine of twenty dollars, and think the enormity of the offence demands heavier penalty, must commit you to be tried at the next term of the Superior Court"
 Each of them was required to give bail in the sun of one hundred dollars Nathan Wilder became bail for Cooper, and others found bail among their friends.
 That night Nathan went home wiser man, and in his heart thanks Mir. Clark for the counsel Ire had given. Joseph Cooper went home wiser, too, but he was miserable and ull- happy He now Saw what evil company had done for him, and he wished that he had been wiser before.
 Within week, eleven of the guilty party went and saw the people whose property had been abused, and uot only confessed their er- TOT, and offered to make pecuuary restitution, but they also implorcd forgiveness, and promis ed to oo so no more. The consequence was, that at the next term of court no complaint appeared against the contrte youths Only three gleaders-three low, reckless, harden ed youths--were tried, and were sentenced to one years Imprisonment in the county jail. It was good lesson to many youth in that town, and from that time forth there was no more such disturbances of the peace and injuring of property for the more vrtuous of the youths had learned how dangerous it was to be found in bad company, and had conse- quently withdrawn from all connection with such, while the few who were evil in mind and Who dareu not go alone upon any such work, having lost the respectable cloak which the pres- ence of decent people had formerly thrown over their heads
 In time Nathan Wilder became the hus- band of Mabel, and a partner in business with Mir. Clark. He is now middle aged man, and has family of noble children, and no les so1 of social life does he urge more strongly upon his children than the simple truth ~" 4 man $ knoDn by Me company he keeps" WORTH KNowING.-A bowl containing two quarts of water, set in an oven, when baking, will prevent pies, cakes, &c, from. being scoreh- cd. So says the Rlltimore Sun