The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-02-16
NO. As.
Consequence of Moment Of Error-..
A Mournful Story:

"
A Mournful Story:
Joseph Petit was a hard working man,
and bore the name Of an honest man
He had been for sometime warehouseman
in Messrs. c. d. E. Rolling's store, and
enjoyed the confidence of his employers.
About week ago, Petit was entrusted
with 500, TO make deposit in the bank;
on his way he met some old acquaint-
ances; they were on spree, and he was
invited to take drink they went into
coffee house, and another drink followed
the first, then another and another. His
friends were pressing, and Petit, like
many other men, was too weak TO resist
it was early, he had plenty of time be-
fore the bank closed. In a short time
the treachorous effect of the liquor was
felt by Petit-he was intoxicated and for
got all about his duties, the bank. and the
money be had about him. More drink
ing in this and that place, and o'clock
found the party at the gambling table, the
drunken, crazed man had lost all control
over his passions, all recollection of his
position. He drank and gambled, and
large portion of his employers money was
squandered.
When glimmering of light flashed on
the unfortunate mans mind, and showed
him the yawning abyss before him, it was
too late /; the deed was done, and he
plunged into debauchery with renewed
phrenzy TO drown the voice of conscience.
He did not think of escaping to some 9TH
er place; be had not the courage to GO
forward, acknowledge his fault, and inn
plore forgiveness. He loitered in drink
ing places of the lowest resort, drinking.
still drinking, seeking oblivion in the stu
pid, beastly apathy Of the drunkard.
Petit had widowed mother, an indus
trious, respectable woman, sixty years
old; her grief, her despair. may be bet
ter imagined than described. She sought
her son everywhere, with no success
He had been living maritally with a wo-
man, and there, with woman's unerring
instinct, she knew be would return some
day. She had called on neighbor, a
tenant in the same house, and begged of
him to watch and let her know when her
son would come, whatever hour of the
day or night it might be. On the night
Of the 18th, the neighbor called on Mrs.
Petit; her son had come home, she had
recognized his voice. The poor woman
went to him, and at her sight the erring
man wept like child he confessed his
fault, he told her how it had all happen
ed. He had not spent all the money,
$3.50 of it were left /; this she took, she
told him he must abide the consequence
of his fault, and not attempt to escape
she would implore the pity of the man.
as she implored the mercy of God. 1t
was two O'Clock in the morning when the
aged mother left her repentant son, and
with tottering step, but firm resolve,
crossed the quiet city, and reached Mr..
Rolling's residence, out on Carondelet
canal. She knocked and was received
by Mr.. Rolling; she had found her son
she brought back half of the amount he
had taken, and she would pay the bal
ance herself; she was known as an hon
est, industrious woman, and she would
earn the sum but let not her grey hairs
be dishonored; spare her son the penal
ty of his crime. Mr.. Rolling is kind
hearted man he comforted the poor wo-
man, who stood there before HIM, bitter
tears tricklng down her venerable face
be would not prosecute Petit, he would
be spared for has mothers sake; Mr..
Rolling would not hear of Mrs. Peti, re-
turning home at that late hour, and had
bed prepared for her. He would 60 in
the morning and see Petit, and take steps
to withdraw the affidavit made against
him.
Morning came and Petit was arrested.
An officer who had been watching for
him, went to his house at an early hour,
and found him there. When Mr.. Roll
ing arrived he was already in prison
the story of the embezzlement had be-
come public, an affidavit had been
made, and it was judged necessary to
let few days pass TO allow the guilty
man reflection, after which he would be
brought up for trial and dismissed, after
severe admonition from the recorder.
This was to have taken place to day
Yesterday, Petit, maddened by remorse,
by shame, knowing his name to be dis
honored, knowing that his fault had
stricken his old mothers heart by one of
those blows nothing can cure, committed
suicide in the parish prison. The fren-
zied man struck his head against tho
walls of his cell with such violence that
the skull was fractured. and Joseph Pc
tit was found dead by the jsilor, who
came TO bring him his meal Whata
lesson in this short story and how many
men have been ruined forever, like Pc
tit, by not knowing how to resist the
temptation of the wine cup ?''-Nev
Orleans Pieayvne.