The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-04-25
DOWN ELL.
A TRUE LIFE PICTURE.

one Of our Courts, and while conversing
with q legal friend heard the name Of
John Anderson called.
"There is hard case" remarked my
friend.
looked upon the man in the prison
er's dock. He was standing up, and
plead guilty to the crime of theft. He
was tall man, hut bent and infirm,
though not old. His garb was torn,
sparse and filthy; his face was blood-shot;
his hair was matted with dirt, and his
bowed form quivered with delirium. Ger
tainly never saw a more pitable object.
Surely that man was not born william.
[ moved my place to obtain nearer view
Of his face. He gazed upon me single
instant, and then, covering his face with
his hands, he sank powerless into the
seat.
GOOD Godm I involuntarily ex-
claimed, starting forward. CIVIL
| had half spoken his name when he
quickly la;sed his head and cast upon me
look Of such imploring agony that my
tongue was tied at once. Then he cover
cd his face over again.
asked my legal companion if III,
prisoner had counsel. lie said no. l
tod him to do all in his power for the
poor fellows benefit, and | would pay
him. He promised, and left. could
not remain and see that man tried; tears
came to my eyes rs looked upon him,
and it was not until | had gained the
street, and walked some distance that l
could breathe freely.
John Anderson! Alas he was asham-
ed to be known as his mothers son. That
was not his real name, but you shall know
him by no other. | will call him by the
name that stands upon the records of the
court
John Anderson was my schoolmate,
and it Was not many years ago-not over
twenty-that we left our academy to-
gethcr; he to return to the home of
wealthy parents-I to sit down for few
years in the dingy sanctum of a newspa-
per office, and then wander off across the
ocean. | was gone some four years, and
when | returned found John married
man. His father was dead and had left
bis only son n princely fortune.
And, c." he said t, me, as
he met me ut the railroad station, "you
shall sec what bird have Gagged. Ny
Ellen is lark, a princess of all birds
that ever looked beautiful or sang sweet
IT,"
He was enthusiastic, but not mistaken;
for [ found his wife all that he had said,
simply emitting the poetry. And SO good,
too-so loving and kind. Aye, she so
loved John that she really loved all his
friends. Whats. lucky fellow to find
such wife, and what lucky woman to
find such q husband. John Anderson
was asEandsome as she-tall, straight
manly, highbrowed, with rich chestnut
curs, and q face as faHltless noble and
beautiful as artist ever copied. And he
was good, too; and kind, generous and
true.
spent week with them, and I was
happy all the while. Johns mother liv-
ed with them, fine old lady, as ever Iiv-
ed, and making herself constant Joy by
doling on her darling boy,"fs she al
ways called him. | gave her an account
of my adventures by sea ond land in for
eign chimes, and she kissed ME because
[ loved her darling.
did not see John again for four
years. reached his house in tho even
ing. He was not in; but his wife and
mother were there to receive me, and two
curly-hcaded boys were at play about
Ellen's chair. | knew at once they were
my friends children. Everything seem
ed pleasant until the little ones were in
bed and asleep, and then could see that
Ellen was troubled. She tried to hide
it but face so used to tie sunshine Of
smiles could not conceal cloud.
At length John came. His face was
flushed and his eyes looked infiamed. -
He graspeJ my hand with happy laugh,
chilled me "old fellow" sold dog" said |
must come and live with him, and many
other extravaganza things. His wife tried
to hide her tears, while his mother shook
her head and said:
HELL SOW his wild oats soon; my dar-
ling can never be bad man."
''God grant it." thought to myself;
and knew that the same prayer was up
on Ellen's lips.
1t was late when we retired, and we
mi hit not have done so even then, had
not John fallen asleep in his chair.
On the following morning [ walked
out with my friend. I told him I was
sorry to see him as l saw him the night
| before.
"Oh," said he, with laugh, ooh, that
was nothing-only a little wine party
We had glorious time. | wish you
had been there"
At first l thought I would say no more,
but was it not my duty? l knew his ma
ture better than he knew it himself. His
appetites and pleasures bounded his own
vision. / knew how kind and generous
he was-alas to kind, too generous.
'syohn, could you have seen Ellen's
face last evening you would have trem-
bled. Can you make her unhappy9'
He stopped me with, "Don't be fool
Why should she be unhappy"
because she fears you are going dorm
hslIf'.I told him.
), ''Did she say soa' he asked, with q
flushed face.