The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-08-08
Ghe 1enusha Tele9rap1,
Thursday, August 8, 1867.
Ths Kind Hearted Tanner.

The following incident is so beautiful and
touching that il should be read in every
household in the country. 1t develops the
true, active principle of kindness. How
many an erring mortal, making his first
step in crime, might be redeemed 10y the
exercise of this sublime trait in the charac-
ter of the kind hearted Quaker.
William Slavery, an eminent minister
among the Quakers, was tanner by trade.
One night quantity of hides were stolen
from bis tannery and he bad reason to
believe that the thief was a quarrelsOme,
drunken neighbor called John Smith
Next week the following advertisement
appeared in the county newspaper;
"Whoever stole quantity of hides on
the fifth of this month is hereby Informed
that the owner has sincere wish to be his
friend. If poverty tempted him to this false
step the owner will keep the whole transac-
tiou secret, and will put him in the way of
obtaining money by means more likely to
bring him peace Of Inind!'
This singular advertisement attracted
considerable attention, but the cul prit alone
knew who made the kind offer When he
read it his heart melted within him, and
| De was nllGu Will SOllOW lOI WbdG hC
had done A few nights afterward 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 shoulders,
Without looking up he said,
Il have brought these back, Mr. Slavery;
where shall put them?"
''Wait till can get lantern, and l viii
go to the barn with thee ''he replied; ''thcr
thou wilt come in and tell me how this hap
pened We will see what can be done fol
) thee"
AS soon as they were gone out his wifi
prepared some hot coffee. and placed pie'
aud meat on the table. When they retnrn
ed from the barn she said, ''Neighbor Smith
thought some hot supper would be gooC
for thee"
He turned his back towards her
and did not speak. After leaning agains
the fireplace in silence few moments, h,
said in a cracked voice, at is the first tim
1 ever stole anything, and l feel very badl,
about it. | an sure | didn't think tina
| should ever come to what | am; but l tool
r to drinking, aud then to quarreling. Sine
began to 90 down hill everybody gives N
a kick. You are the first man that has eve
!, offered me helping hand My wife is sick
y, aud my children starving. You hav
sent them meal. God bless you, and ye
= stole the hides. But tell you the trut
when say it is the first time ever was
! thief"
Let it be the last, my friend" reptile
William Slavery. ''The secret lies betwee
ourselves Thou art still young, and it is
thy power to make up for lost time. Prom
Use me that thou wilt not drink any intox
I eating liquor for year, and | will emplo
thee Tomorrow on good wages Thy hit
boy can pick up stones. But eat a bit no
and drink some hot coffee, perhaps it wi
keep thee from craving anything strongt
, to night. Doubtless thou wilt find it har
5, to abstain at first; bnt keep up BRAY
heart for the sake of thy wife and childre
nd it will soon become easy. When the
hast need of coffee, tell Mary, and she wi
give it thee"
The poor fellow tried to eat and drinl
but the food seemed to choke him. Aft
lie vainly trying to compose his feelings,
le bowed his head on the table and wept lii
a child. After a while he ate and dranl
and his host parted with him for the nig
with the friendly words, Try to do we
re John, and thou wilt always find friend i
me-" John entered his employ the ne:
day, and remained with him many years,
sober, honest, aud steady man. The seer
y OF the theft was kept between them; BIT
after Johns death William Slavery som
times told the story, to prove that ev
might be overcome with good.