The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-11-28
Misrellanp.
-
THE LOST BOY.

The editor of the Sandusky Mirror
was formerly Warden Of the Ohio
Penitentiary. He gives the following
as one of the incidents which occurred
while he had the control Of the insti-
tuition
had beeRa few months in charge
of the prison, when my attention was
attracted TO, and deep interest felt
in the numerous boys and young men
who were confined therein, and per-
mitted to work in the same shops with
old and hardened convicts The in
t9rest was increased on every evening
as saw them congregate in gangs
marching to their silent meals, and
thence to their gloomy bedrooms,
which are more like living sepulchres
with iron shrouds, than sleeping apart
ments. These Young men and boys
being generally the shortest in height,
brought up the rear of the companies,
as they marched to the terrible Clock
step" and consequently more easily
attracted attention. To see many
youthful forms and bright countenan-
ces, mingled with the old and har-
dened scoundrels, whose visage beto-
kened vice, malice and crime, was
sickening to the soul. But there was
one among the boys, lad of about
seventeen years of age, who had par
ticularly attracted my attention; not
from anything superior in his counte-
nance or general appearance, but by
the look of utter despair which ever
sat upon his brow, and the silent nm
complaining manner in which be sub
mitted to all the hardships and degra-
dations of prison life. He was often
complained of by both officers and
men, and / thought unnecessarily, for
light and trivial offences against the
rules of propriety, yet he had seldom
any excuse or apology, and never de-
nying a charge. He took the repri-
mand and once the punishment, with
out tear or a murmer, almost as
matter Of course, seeming thankful
that it was no worse He had evi.
IDENTITY seen better days, and enjoyed
the light of home, parents and friends,
if not the Injuries of life. But the
light of hope seemed to have gone out
his health was poor-his frame fra
gile-and no fire beamed in his dark
grey eyes. thought every night /
saw him march to his gloomy bed, |
would GO to him and learn his history,
but with so many duties to perform,
SO much to learn and do, that day af-
ter day passed, and [ would neglect
him, having merely learned that his
name was Arthur Lamb, and that his
crime was burglary and larceny, indi-
eating a very bad boy for one so
young He had already been there
q year and had two more TO serve
He never could outlive the sentence
inflicted. He felt it. He worked at
stone cutting on the State House,
hence my opportunities for seeing him
were less, than though he had worked
in the prison yard, still his pale face
haunted me day and night, and / re-
solved on the next Sabbath as he came
from Sabbath School, | would send
for him and learn his history 1t hap
pened, however, that | was one day
in store, waiting the transaction OF
some business, and having picked up
an old newspaper, | had read and re-
read while delayed, until at last, my
eyes fell Hpon an advertisement of A
Lost Boy. Information wanted of a
boy named Arthur -" CT will
not give his right name for perhaps he
is still living) And then followed a
description of the boy, exactly cor
responding to that of the young con
Wet, Arthur Lamb.
Then there was somebody cared for
the poor boy, if indeed it was him ;
perhaps mother, his father, his bro
theirs and sisters who we're searching
for him. The advertisement was a
year old-yet ! doubted not, and as
soon as the eonvicts were locked up,
sent for Arthur Lamb. He came as
a matter of course, with the same I'M
complaining face, and hopeless gait,
thinking no doubt that something had
gone wrong and had been laid to his
charge.
was examining the Convict's Reg