Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-05
QQortester Daily SPY,
THE LOST ROY.

n,
The following affecting and true story is
from the pen of the editor of the Sanduskv
(0hio) Mirror, formerly warden of the Ohio
state penientiary -
had been 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 permitted to work in the same shops with
old and hardened convicts. The interest was
increased on every evening as l saw them
congregate in gangs, marching to their silent
meals, and thence 10 their gloomy bedrooms,
which are more like living sepulchres with
iron shr0uds than sleeping apartments. These
young men and boys, who are generally the
shortest in height brought up the rear of the
companies, as they marched to the terrible
lock STEP and consequently more easily at
tracted attention. To see many youthful
forms and bright countenances, mingled with
old and hardened scoundres, whose visage'be-
tokened vice, crime, and malice, was sicken
ing 10 the SOUL But there was one among
the boys, lad about seventeen years OF age,
who had particularly attracted my attention,
not from anything superior in his counte.
nance or general appearance, but by look
of utter despair which ever sat upon his brow,
and the silent and accomplishing manner in
which ne submitted to all the hardslips and
degradations OF prison life. He was often
complained OF by both officers ami men, and
thought unnecessarily, tor light aud trivial
offences against the rules OF propriety, yet he
seldom had any excuse or apology, and never
denied charge. He took the reprimand,
and once the punishment, without a tear or a
worse. He had evidently seen better days,
and enjoyed the light of home, parents, and
friends, if not the luxuries of life. But the
light OF home seemed TO have gone out-hs
health was poor-his frame fragile, and no fire
bcamed i'll his dark grey eyes. thought eve
ry night saw him march to his gloomy bed |
would go and learn his history, but with SO
many duties TO perform, SO much to learn to
do, day after day passed, and | still neglected
him, having merely learned thathis name was
Arthur Lamb, and that his crime was burgla-
ry and larceny, indicating very bad boy Tor
one SO young He had already been there a
year, aud had two more TO serve He never
could outlive the sentence inflicted He lelt
it. lie worked at stone cutting on the
State House, hence my opportunities for see
ing him him were less than though he had
worked in the prison yard still Ills pale face
L
the next sabbath, as he came from sabbath
school, would send for him and learn his
history. 1t happened, however, l was one
day in store, waiting for the transaction of
some business, and having picked up an old
newspaper, had read and re-read while de-
layed, until at last my eyes fell upon an ad-
vertisement of ga lost boy. Information
wanted OF a boy named Arthur" II will
not give his right nine, for he is still iving)
And then followed a description of the boy
corresponding TO that Of the young convict,
Arthur Lamb.
Then there was somebody cared for the
poor boy, if indeed it was him, perhaps a
mother, his father, his brothers and his sisters
were searching Tor him. The advertisement
was a year od-yet l doubted not, and as
soon as the convicts were locked up, sent for
Arthur Lamb He came as matter OF course,
with the same accomplishing face and hope
less gait thinking, no doubt, that something
was wrong and had been laid to bis charge.
/ was examining the convict's register
when | looked up, and there he stood, a per-
feet image Of deepest despair. | asked him
his name. His reply was
"Arthur."
"Arthur what 2"
"Arthur--Lamb," he answered, hesita-
tingly.
Have you got father or mother living 2"
l asked
His eyes frightened, his voice quiyered as
he exclaimed
ooh, have you heard from mother Is she
living 2"
And then the tears, which had never seen
him shed before, ran like great rain drops
down his cheeks.
As he became calm from suspense, / told
him that had not heard from his mother, but
that had paper l wished him to read. He
took the advertisement, which | had cut from
the paper, and as he read il, he exclaimed -
Chat is me That is me p
And again the tears and sobs checked his
utterance.
l assured him the advertisement was all l
could tell him about his parents, and that, as
it requested information, | desired TO know
what | should write in reply. The advertise.
ment directed that information should be sent
to the Christian Advocate, at New York
"Oh, do not write, he said, sit will break
poor mothers heart"
| told him | must write, and that it would
be a lighter blow to know where he was, than
the terrible uncertainty that must haunt her
day and night So he consented-and taking
him u my room, drew IRON him the follow
ing history =
His father was respectable mechanic in an
interior town in the state OF New YORK. Al
the holding Of the state agricultural fair in his
native town, he got acquainted with two strange
boys, older than himself, who persuaded HIN
to run away from his home and go west He
foolishly consented, with high hopes OF happy
times, new scenes, and great fortune. They
came us far as Cleveland, where they remained
several days.
One morning the other two boys came to his
room early and showed him large amount
OF jewelry, which they had won at cards dur
ing the night. Knowing that he needed funds
to pay for his board, they pressed him to take
some OF it, tor means to pay his landlord
But before he had disposed of any OF it, they
were all arrested for burglary, and as a por
ton OF the property taken from the store
which had been robbed was found in his pos
session, he too was tried, convicted, and sen.
fenced. he had no friends, no money, az d
dared not write home, SO hope sunk within
him. He resigned himself TO his fate-never
expecting to get out Of prison or see his pa
rents again.
Upon inquiring of the two young conyicts
who came with him on the same charge. I
learned that the story was true, and that his
only crime was keeping bad company, leaving
home, and, unknowingly, receiving stolen
goods. Questioned separately, they all told
the same story, and lett no doubt i'll my II ind
OF the boy innocence.
Full Of compassion Tor the unfortunate little
fellow sat down and wrote full description
of Arthur, his condition and his history, as
obtained it from him, painted the horrors OF
the place. the hoplessness Of his being REFORM
ed there--even if guilty-anl the possibility
of his not living out sentence, and describ-
ing the process TO be used 10 gain his pardon.
This | sent according TO the direction in the
advertisement. But week after week passed,
and no answer came. The boy daily inquired
il had heard from his mother, until at last
hope long deferred, made his heart sick, and
again he dropped and pin d.
AT length letter came. Such letter. 1t
was frnm Rev Dr RalIowe 81 NJ Wi, IL,