Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-09-18
A True Hearted Tanner.

The following incident Is so beautlfu
and touching, that il should be reaC
by every household in tha. coun
ttFy. 1t deTelopes the true, active prin
ciple of kindness. How many an er
ring mortal, taking his first step II
crime, might be redeemed by the ex,
ercise of this sublime trait in the char
acter Of the kind hearted Quaker:
William SaFery, an eminentministel
among the Quakers, was Q tanner BY
trade, One night q quantity of hides
was stolen from his tannery, and he
had reason to believe that the thiei
was a drunken, ousrrelsome neighbor,
called John Smith. Next week the
following advertisement appeared in
the county newspaper; srtU:r,,s /
whoever stole q quantity of hides
on the fifth Of this month is hereby in
formed that the owner has 8 sincere
wish to be his friend. If poverty tempt
ed 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 likely to
bring him peace Of mind" t.
This singular advertisement attracted
considerable attention; but the cul-
prit alone knew who had made the
kind offer. When he read it his heart
melted within him, and he was Rlled
with sorrow for what be had done. A
few nights Afterwards. as the tanners
family were about retiring 70 rest. they
heard q timid knock, and when the
door was opened, there stood John
Smith with q load of hides on his shoul-
der. Without looking up he said al
have brought these back, Mr.. SaVery,
where shall / put themi"
"Wait till get lantern, and I will
90 to the barn with thee" he replied /;
"then perhaps thou wilt come in and
tell Us how this happened. We will
see what can be done for thee"
As soon as they we're gone out, his
wife prepared some hot coffee aud
placed pies and meat on the table,
When they returned from the barn, she
said: "Nelghbor Smith thought a
good hot supper would be good for
thee" I.
He turned his back towards her, but
did not speak. After leaning against
the fireplace in silence for a few mo-
ments, he said.in choked voice;
at is the first time / ever. stole any
thing, and have felt very bad about
it, didn't once think that / should
ever come to what am. But / took
70 drinking, and then to qusrrelIing.-l
Since l began to 60 down hill every
body gives me q kick. You are the
frst man that has ever offered me q
hand. Ny wife is sickly and
my children starving. You have sent
them many q meal, God bless you !
but yet 1 stole the hides. But 1 tell
you the truth when ! say it is the first
time ever was a thief" slE-
"Let it be the last my friend, ire
piled William Savery. The secret lies
between ourselves Thou art still
young, and iE is in thy power to make
up for lost time. Promise me that you
will not drink any more Intoxicating
liquors for year, and 1 win employ
thee tomorrow on good wages. The
little boy can pick up stones. But eat
3 bit now, and drink Eome hot coffee
perhaps it viii prevent thee from era
wing any thing stronger Tonight
Doubtless thou wilt find it hard 70 ab-
stain st first, but keep up good heart
for the sake of thy wife and children,
and it will soon become easy. When
thou hast need ofcofee, tell Mary, and
she will give it 20 the.H !
The poor fellow tried to eat and
drink, but the food seemed to choke
him. After yainly 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 |
words. "Try and do well |
John, and thou wilt always find friend |
n me-" s7a
John entered his employ the next |
lay, and remained with him many |
Tears g sober, honest and steady |
nan. The secret of the theft was kept |
1etween them, but after Johns death,
William Savery sometimes told the sto-
y, to prove that evil might be over
,ome with good.