The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-11-26

lost its unearthly height: the gray mis-
foated around the miserable young creature
dropping there; there was q nurmur an(
humming, as of confused voice; the numb
ness left his limbs; the court seemed il
motion sharp voice sounded near him
and with start, the Judge sat upright,
! looking through the eyes that seemed
changed to stone, at the poor young thing
before him, who seemed that moment to BIZ
/ speaking.
so, sir, it is tho first time"--she sobbed.
! "l--was hungry--starving-- that
| might die-die here. 0! am SO poor, so
| helpless, mo.herless n'--her voice was
drowned in cries, and she seemed falling to
! the floor.
"Sentepced to four months in the house
of correction" said the lawyer on the
right.
"stop I" cried the Judge, with thrilling
emphasis-'sI did not say it,"
"We understood your honor" replied
the clerk, Observation-Disclosures the evil
dence''--
"Let tho ca.c lay orer," cried the Judge,
wiping his forehead, ''and God have mercy
On us ALL -.sgE ....
The court WAS astonished. The Judge
left his seat ,and entering an adjoining room, i
paced the foor-his face haggard, his sou
in rams. --r
"God have mercy on me - he exclaimed,
ever and anon-''I-a guilty, unrcpepsing
mar, to condemn those whom l ruin! Yes
in these high places of the worlds honor
dwells iniquity. How many of these law
yers are pure men? How many are care
fll of the honor and reputation of women
How many are there who do not drink to
excess, and but for their sealed houses,
their silken curtains, gold and a reputation,
would be in the same gutter from which
that old man was dragged? And Heaven
help me am Il vile, accursed thing. am
a whlted sepulcher. Out Of my black soul
shall judgment fall upon my fellow-man
Never again-neyer again! have given
my last verdict. | will rescue this poor
child-this poor, humbled woman, who has
never known mothers love. Dream or
vision, whatever it was-that strange reve-
laton has changed the current Of my life.
| have no longer courage to stand before
ny Maker as am-tefore men as am
not. God have mercy on Us who make and
administer laws! We are, many Of Us,
rotten at the core, and dare our Maker to
his face.''
The public wondered why the Judge re-
signed. The papers were full. of regrets.
That gray-wh!te look came over his face
again as he read this and that comment
upon his "unstained reputa:ion,'' "wise,
skillful, just and sagacious he had been
and above all, how upright"
"Rottcn at the core" he muttered, clash
ing the paper down-"and God knew it all
the time! God is never deceived"
People wondered, at the change in the
old Judge. He was no longer conrivial.-
lie gave no more great suppers, and was
seen no more at public festivals-nor was
his name paraded in capital letters on great
occasions. There was a stranger in his
house-a pale consumptive glrl, who sell
dom went out-whose life had been a con-
tinual regret. But the old Judge was re-
pensing before God. Hours of anguish did
the review of his long life give him. His
head was bowed-his step was slow-his
words We're few and penitent, Men said,
"The old man is changed" with Il Sigh.
Angels said, also, "The old man is changed"
but the words gave JOY in their counsels.
One day there were two funerals. The
Judge and the gray haired drunkard were
gone to their long home. One mourne!-
whose tears were of deepest grlef-followed
in the long train-and she is ''only waiting
to follow father and grandsire.
With God, who alone .iudgeth in perfect
righteousness, we. leave them all.
.