The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-10-24
sTROUDsBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA, OCTOBER "a, 1867


and as it is said that the human breast,
however hardened, must love something
or somebody, it necessarily happened that
he should love bis child
A painful uneasiness settled over him
since the night of Amy's arrest. Through
out life he has smoothly and indifferently
acted as her parent and guardian; but
now an intenseness of feeling mastered
his inaptitude. Returning into the room
he advanced with steady step to his an-
tagonist, and accosted him in severe
and significant tone:
Say Jefferson, you are the winner
L have discovered it within an hour. =
Even since l left this room. Look upon
that hand. You have made it wither
with crime, far tlacker than your foul
heart. You have no children, no, no
sweet girl as | had once, but now no
more. You are a gentleman = an official
rufian, hunting for preferment and lucre
= honor and you are dissemblers. =
Moreover, you prentend to be Christian,
| don't; but if [ did = rather than re-
sort to the vile and contemplate means
by which you live, l would lay my head
upon that carpet and permit you to split
it with an axe as if it had been a log"
He turned abruptly as he spoke aud
left the room, leaving his companions in
state of surprise. A company of evil
doers are never terrified more than when
one of their number abandons their sin
ful sociality and retorts upon them for
their vile seducing practices Fisher, al
though he had spent years in their soci-
ETY., had never found cause of offence,
and, perhaps, might not now, were it not
that his child fell a victim to his own
dishonesty. The thought ranked like an
ulcer at his heart His foul and abdu-
rate spirit now met the sad reward of his
illicit and nefarious trade; and, although
humbled by his misfortune, he never
conceived the idea of saving his child at
the forfeit of bis own liberty. Resolute
as his sufferings could make him, he bu-
sled up his spirits with a determination
of bordering upon insanity; yet fixing in
his mind that henceforth no man should
be his friend or betrayer.
With these intentions he hurried into
the street. He moved on like other peo-
pie evidently on their business. How cas-
lily can dark spirit mingle with the liv-
ing world; the mysteries Of life are Deep
ly hidden in the noise and hustle of the
hurrying crowd.
x X
1t was ten o'clock when Amelia Fisher,
the condemned sufferer, was again placed
at the bar. She looked worn aud atten-
uated. The lustre of her once clear blue
eye now dimmed its brilliancy in shame
Violated innocence is the most sorrowful
picture that human weakness can behold.
There is an innate distress always ready
in our bOsoms to commiserate with those
who suffer. Amelia Fisher was sentenced
to undergo confinement in the Peniten-
tiary for two years. She was led away
from the bar amidst the tears and fare
wells of her young companions, and the
entire Court regretted that the Law COM
pelled it to act as it did.
! There was rumor in the street as
Amy passed through the crowd; and
Reuben Fisher, surrounded by a multi.
tude, was led as malefactor into the
court house. Cries of indignation were
heard on every side. Amy was quiet
now = the power Of life had forsaken
her, and she was borne away insensible
Reuben Fisher was a ruined and altered
man - .herc was contrition at his heart
but also deep dread of punishment, and
.eese two alternately swayed his con.
science. After long and severe struggles
hn ka1 ~
which resulted in clear and full confes.
sion Of his guilt, which, throughout life
he had carried to fearful extent His
manufacture of base notes was owing to
his iDordinate desire for gaming, hoping
daily of retrieving his losses, and becom-
ing an honest man. 1t was the snare
into which thousands fell victim before
him; and those who will dare to become
honest by f'aululent means, will in the
end sit down disappointed and find them.
selves the betrayers of their own saliva.
ton. Fisher was remanded for trial al
the ensuing session, and, finally, was sen
fenced to penal servitude for eight years
Amelia was released On the testi
mony of Harry Corwell it appeared that
she had found the money in her fathers
room, secreted evidently till further need
and probably might have answered their
purpose, had not their intended elope
ment intervened. The Court was salts
fed and Amy restored.
Two years afterwards the town of BE
issued its weekly newspaper, and IN pro
minent type was the followinS:-
MARRIED. - On Sept. 18th, at The resi-
dence of the bride, by the Rev. l.. p. Bew
ley, Mr.. HARRY q. CoRwELL and Mi:
AMELIA FISHER, both of this township"