Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-02-01
NUMBER 81.
The Cuaker;s Cora .-rIa.

y man ilau beeR IN the haUlt OF S'faitl9
corn from his neighbor, who was Quaker
Every night lie wcutd 60 softly to the cIib
and FL his bag With the ears which the
good old Quaker's toll had placed there.
Every morning the ola gentleman observed
q dimiy i.ion q his corn iys. This was
very annoying. aid ml st he storped-lut ut
how Many d one would have said -
take gun. conceal yourself, wait till ho
comes and FIRE" Others would have said :
Catch the william and have Lin sent to
jail"
But tie Quaker was not prepared tie en-
ter into any such severe measures. He
wanted to punish the offender, and at the
same time bring about bis reformation if
possible So he fixed a sart of d trap
close to the hole through which the man
would thrust his arm in getting the corn.
Tie wicked re ghbor proceeded on his
unh y errand at tie hour Of midnight, with
bag in hand. Unsuspcctirgly he thrust
his hand into the crib to seize an ear, when
10 lie found himself unable to withdraw
it In vain be tugged, aud pulled, and
swcated, and alternately cried out and
cursed His hand was fast, and every eff
fort to release it only made it the more Sc
cure After while the tumult in his
breast measurably subsidized He gave
over bis useless struggles, and began to
look arouud All was silence and repose,
Good men were asleep comfortably III their
beds, while be was compelled to keep d
dreary, disgraceful watch through the re-
mainder Of that long and tedious night. ! is
hand in constant pain from the pressure Of
the camp which held it. His tired linbs,
CONF elled to sustain bis weary body, wcu.d
fain have sunk beneath him, and his weary
eyes would have closed in siuinbcr, but 10
There he must stand aid watch the pro-
gress OF the night, and at once desired and
dreaded the return Of the morning. Morn
ing came at hast, and the Quaker Looked
out Of his window and found that lie had
caught the man"
What was to be done? Some would say,
Go out and give lin a good cowhiding
Just as he stands; and then release him -
that'll cure hIm." But not So said the
Quaker. Such a course would have sent
the man away cmbittered, and mutterirg
curses Of revenge. TIE old man hurried
on his clothes, and started at eEee to the
relief aud punishment of lis prisoner.
Good morning. friend, " said he, as he
came in speaking distance, ''how does thee
do?"
The poor culprit made no answer, but
burst lite tears.
40 6e !" SAID the Quaker. as he pro-
ceeded TO release him. Il am sorry that
thee got thy hand fast. thee put it IN the
wrong place or it would not have been so.
The man looked crcstfalcn, and begged
forgiveness, hastily turning to make bis re-
treat Stay said lis prosecutor, for la
was now becoming such to the offender,
WHO would have received blow with much
better grace than tie kind worda which
were falling ironI tile QuaEer's lips stay,
friend the lag is not filled. Thee needs
corn, or thee would not have taken So
much pains to get it. Come, let us Gil it.
(And the poor fellow was obliged to stand
and hol tie bag while the Old man filed
it, intersFel sing the exercise with the
leasantest conversation inaglnable-ali
Of which were like daggers IN tie heart Of
his chagrined and mortified victim.) The
bag was filed, the string ted, and she su'-
fcrer hoped soon t. be out Of the presence
of his tormentcr, but again bis purpose
was thwarted.
.Stay," said the Quaker as the man
was about to hurry Of, having mut'er,d
once more his apologies and thanks -
Stay, Ruth has breakfast ere this thee
must not think of going without breakfast.
Come, Ruth is calling"
This was almost uncomfortable. This was
.'heaping GOALS with a vengeance. In
vain the mortified neighbor begged to be
excused in vain he pleaded to be releas-
ed from what would be to him punish
ment ten times more severe than stripe
and imprisonment. The Quaker was mex
orable, and he was obliged to yield.
Breakfast over, Now, said the old
farmer, as be helped the victim to shoul-
der the bag, IF thee neads any more corn,
come in the day time and thee shall have
it."
With what shame and remorse did that
guilty man turn from the dwelling of the
pious Quaker Eyeryb body is ready to
say that he never again troubled the Qua
ker's corn crib. l have something better
than that to tell you. lie at once repent
ed and reformed, and lived and died an
honest man.
Tho Chicago &. Northwestern Read
was opened for business to Neenah, "A
miles North Of Oshkosh, last wsek. The
cars are taken across the river at Oshkosh
on large scow boat; the difficulties of
hniI.ii,,,. q hr-i1nn at fhak mint dptprrinp