Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-06-20
THE KIND HEARTED TANNER.

The following incident is so beautiful and touch.
ing, that it should be read to every household in
the country. It developes the true active princi.
pie of kindness How many an erring mortal,
making his first step in crime might be redeemed
by the exercise of this sublime trait in the charac
ter of the kind-hearted Quaker:
William Savery, an eminent minister among. the
Quakers, was o tanner by. trade. One night q
quantity Of hides were stolen from his tannery,
quarrelsome, drunken neighbor, called John Smith:
Next week the following advertisement appeared
in the country newspaper:
''Whoeyer stole quantity Of hides on the fifth
of this month, is hereby informed that the owner
has sincere wish to be his friend. fpoyerty
tempted him to this false step, the owner will keep
the whole transaction secret, and will gladly put
him in the way Of obtaining money by means more
likely to bring him peace of mind.
This singular advertisement attracted consdera.
bic attention; but the eulprit alone knew who had
made the kind offer. When he read it his heart
melted within him, and he was filled with sorrow
for what he had done. A few nights afterwards,
as the tanners family were about retiring to rest,
they heard timid knock, and when the door was
opened there stood John Smith, with load Of
hides on his shoulder. Without looking up, he
said: 81 have brought these back, MIR. Savery,
where shall put them?'
"Wait till can get lantern, and | will go to
the barn with thee" he replied "thep, perhaps,
thou wilt come in, and tell me how this happened.
We will see what can be done for thee"
As soon as they were gone out, his wife prepared
some hot coffee, and placed pies and meat on the
table, When they returned from the barn, she
said: "Neighbor Smith, thought some good
hot supper would be good for thee"
He turned his back towards her, and did not
speak. After leaning against the fre-piece in 81.
lence few moments, he said in choked voice:
''It is the first time ever stole anything and
have felt very bad about it. am sure didn't
once think that should ever come to what I am
But took to drinking, and then to. quarelling.
Since began to go down hill everybody gives me
q kick. You are the first man that has ever offer.
children starving You have sent them many O
meal, God bless you but yet | stole the hides
But T tell you the truth when say it is the first
time I was ever thief"
'sLet it be the last, my friend, replied William
Savey. 'The secret lies between ourselves !
Thou art still young, and it is in thy power te
make up for lost time Promise me that thou wilt
not drink any intoxicating liquor for year, and
will employ thee tomorrow on good wages The
little boy can pick up stones. But eat o bit now,
and drink some hot coffee; perhaps it will prevent
thee from craving anything stronger tonight
Doubtless thou wilt find it hard to abstain at first
but keep up brave heart for the sake of thy wife
and children and it will soon become easy. When
thou hast need of Coffee tell Mary, and she will
give it thee"
The poor fellow tried to eat and drink but the
food seemed to choke him. After vainly trying to
compose his feelings, he bowed his head on the
table and wept like child. After awhile he ate
and drank, and his host parted with him for the
night with the friendly words, Try to do well,
John, and thou wilt always find friend in me. "
John entered into his employ the next day, and
remained with him many years, a sober, honest
and steady man. The secret of the theft was kept
between them; but after Johns death William
Savery sometimes told the story to prove that evil
might be overcome with good.