The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-05-09
"But we had some rare sport"
"And what kind of sport ives 1t !

thus spoke, he gave a,signihcant wink end "
then went to his bench P
Joseph Cooper wns only two and twenty
and had been on apprentice to Mr.. Clark un'
til his majority, since which time he had
been at work as journeyman.
Nothing more was said on the subject of
the last nights scrope until near the middle
of the afternoon when the deputy sheriff en-
tered the shop and inquired after Joseph
Cooper.
"Where is Joseph Cooper" I" the officer
asked of Nathan Wilder.
"That's him at the other end OF the shop
"Let's see," resumed the visitor gIanc ing
over paper he held in his hand; "where
were you last night!"
cat home, SIR"
"You didn't 60 over to the back village :"
"No, sir. I've concluded to let that COM
pany 90 without me hereafter"
"Good. I'm glod of that" uttered the
sheriff emphatcolly and then he went
along to where Cooper was at work.
| He spoke to the young man, and the latter
was pale as death. There was much evident
begging and praying but in vain. The oth
Ger had come for Joseph Cooper, and he
could not go without him. So Joe washed
his hands and put on his hat and coat ard
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, party of young men
had gone over to the back village and had
carousal at Billy McWoyne's and on their
return they tore down fences. carried away
barn doors and let cpttle out, stole water
MELONS, and several other things Of like
character. News hid been received there
that the party were coming, and they were
watched. They were seen to DO these
THINGS, and though it was too dark to dstin-
puish their faces at the time, yet all who
) were at McWayne's were known, and they
, had been traced to their mischief.
That very evening the whole party, four
teen in number, were arraigned before
2 Justice, and the complaint was entered
b against them. Poor Cooper pleaded thnt hi
' had nothing to do with the work, and while
r tears rolled down his cheeks, he asserted h
innocence.
"You have been in the same company be
It fore :" said the Justice.
r eyes, sir" hesitatiDgly answered Cooper
), "And you have known their character 70
y mischief and disturbance -
j. eyes, sir 5" but l.
s "Never mind. now," interrupted the judge
1t "You should have thought of all this before
n No one man of this party would have eve
70 gone alone and done that work. 1t takes
e gang to make euch doings worth while, an
W YOU have been member Of that gang som
a time. If you would be pure and above su'
m picion, you must be,Oare Ohat company go
ID keep"
r. After this the justice went on to speak
M the many wicked deeds which had been dor
in times past, and which, for the sake OF ii
ne friends of the perpetrators, had been owe
looked but the thing could not be passt
over now. The crime may have been spo
or to the doers, but the poor people had sufle
to ed heavily. A stop should be put it.
"I," said the Judge, "can only impose
er fine of twenty dollars, os think its emo
'is nifty demands heavier penalty | mu
ID, commit YOU to be tried OF the next term
the Superior Court.
E,ch of them was required to give bail
the sum of one hundred dollars. Nath'
Wilder became bail for Cooper. and othe
vas found bail among their friends.
snt That nieht Nathan went homo a wis
man, and in his heart he thanked Mr.. Cla
the for the counsel he had given. Joseph Ct
'ne per, went home wiser, too, but he was m
I'er erable and unhappy. He now saw what
ked company had done for him, and he wish
he that he had been wiser before.
ght Within week, eleven of the guilty pc
as went and saw the people whose property
been abused, and not only confessed tt
ct," error, but they also implored forgiVnees'
My, promised to do no more. Inc conseque'
as wad that al the next term of court no &C
had plant was made against the contrite err
ould youths. Only three ngleeders-three II
reckless, hardened youths-were tired,
,uth were sentenced to one years imprisnmen
ylie+ the county Jail.
how was good lesson to many youth
that town, and from that time forth tn
was no more such disturbances OF the pei
vent and injury of property; for the more Vlrtu
t. Of the youths had learned how dangsrou
,ner was to be found in bad company, and
and conse quently withdrawn from all connec
with such, while the few who were evil
I of mind and wish, dared not 60 alone upon
such work, having lost the respectable C
Rum which the presence Of decent people
h to formerly thrown over their Deeds
In time, Nathan Wilder became the
cred band of Mabel, and a partner in busl
with MIR. Clark. He lie now middle.'
* +" man. and has family of noble children,
no lesson OF social life does he urge 4
last strongly upon his children than the sir
get truth -
"A man is knoaOn By the company he kss
- ----sHAes---s