Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-03-02

but with a mannbr that buly increased the
trouble she felt, and passed up hastily to
his own room.
In the morning the strangely altered face
OF James, as he met his mother at the
breakfast table, struck alarm into her
heart. He was silent, and evaded all her
questions While they still sat at the ia.
BILE the door-bell rang loudly. The sound
startled james, and he turned his ear to lis
ten In Il nervous way, which did not escape
the observation of his mother
Who is il p asked Mrs. Lewis as the
servant came back from the door.
A gentleman wishes to see Mr.. James,
replied the girl.
James arose instantly and went ont into
the hall shutting the dning-room door as
he did so. Mrs. Lewis sut, in almost
breathless expectation awaiting her sous
return. She heard him coming back in o
few moments hut he did not enter the
dining-room. Then he returned along the
hall to the street door and she heard it
shut. All was now silent. Starting IN.
she ran out into the passage but James
was not there He had gone away with
person who had called, and without word!
Alb, that was II sad going away. Mr..
Carman had spent half the night in exam.
ining the accounts Of james, aud discover.
ed frauds 10 the amonnt of over six thou
sand dollars Blindly indignant, he had
sent an officer 10 arrest him early in the
morning aud it was with this officer that
the unhappy boy went away from the home
of his mother never again 10 return.
The Young villain shall lie in the bed be
has made for himself 7 exclaimed Mr.. Car
man, 10 his bitter indignation. And he
did not hold back in anything, but made
the exposure of the young mans crime
complete. On the trial he showed un ea-
ger desire to have him convicted, and pre-
sented such an array of evidence that the
jury could not give any ether verdict than
Guilty
The poor mother was in court, and audi.
BILE, in the silence that followed, came her
convulsed sobs upon the air The presiding
judge then addressed the culprit, and ask
ed him if he had anything to say why the
sentence Of the law should not be prouounc-
ed against him.
All eyes were turned to the pale, agita.
ted young man, who arose with an effort
aud leaned against the railing by which he
stood, as il needing its support
will it please your honors,' he said, 'to
direct Mr. Carman, my prosecutor to conc
little nearer, so that can look at him
and your honor at the same time p
Mr.. Carman was directed to come for
ward where tie boy stood There was a
Nreathless silence in the court room as the
prosecutor obeyed the order, and came for.
ward SO as to be in the eyes of all. James
looked at him steadily for few moments,
and then turned to the judges
what have to say to your honorS, is
this'-he spoke calmly and distinctly-'and
it may in a degree extenuate though it
cannot excuse my crime l went into that
mans store an innocent boy and If he
had been an honest man / would not have
stood before you as a criminal!
Mr.. Carman interrupted the young man,
and appealed to the court for protection
against allegations Of such an outrageous
character but he was peremptorily order
cd to be silent.
James went on in firm voice Only
a few weeks after l went into His employ
ment examined bill, by his direction
and discovered an error OF twenty dollars
The face Of Mr.. Carman crimsoned in
stantly.
You remember it, see,' remarked
James, and l shall have cause TO remember
1t while / live. The error was in favor o.
Mr.. Carman, and asked if ! should cor
rect their own mistakes His reply was
we don't examine bills for other peoples
benefit = 1t was my frst lesson in dis
honesty, and / never forget The words.
saw the bill settled, and saw Mr. Carman
take twenty dollars that was not his own
| felt shocked at first it seemed snch a
wrong thing. Bat, soon after, he called
me simpeton for handing back to the tel
Ter of bank fifty dollars overpaid on
check and then
May ask the protection of the court?
said Mr.. Carman, appealing to the judges
is it true what the lad says 2 asked th,
presiding judge.
Mr.. Carman hesitated, and looked con
fused. All eyes were on his face and jury
lawyers, aud spectators felt certain that hi
was guilty of leading tie Unhappy young
man astray.
Not long aTterwaru' TeSuheu young
Lewis, lin receiving my wages found thai
Mr.. Carman had paid ME fifty cents too
much. was about giving it back to bin
when Remembered bis remark about letting
Deople correct their own mistakes, and sale
to myself Let him correct his own errors,
and dishonesty kept the money. Again
the same thing happencd, aud again l KEEP
the money that did not of right belong Il
me. This was the beginning of evil, anc
here am Mr.. Carman has shown al
eagerness to convict and have me punished
as the court has seen. Ii be had show
me any mercy might have kept silent
But now interpose the truth, and may i
incline you to show some consideration to
the unhappiest being that is alive to day !!
The young man covered his face with hi
hands, and sat overpowered by his feelings
His mother, who was near him, sobbed ou
aloud aud bending over laid her hands 0
his head, saying
My poor boy My poor boy
There were, few eyes in the court rooI
undimmed. In the silence that followed
Mr.. Carman spoke out
Is my character to be thus blasted o
. Ii, ,e