The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-04-16

50 10 eeil3 cola eosl6 oOtlS oOt35 oOS5 % % oQ
The PowER OF GoopSsss-A True
there WAS good man
whose name Was John Kant He lived
at Cracow, in Poland, where he taught
and preached 1t was his rule to suffer
wrong rather than do wrong to others.
When he got to be quite old. he Was
seized with a desire to see once more
the home Of his childhood, which was
many miles defiant from where he now.
lived.
So he got ready. and, having prayed
to God, set out on his way. Dressed in
a black robe with long gray hair ana
beard. he rode slowly along.
The woods through which he had to
pass were thick and dark; but there was
light in his soul, for good thoughts Of
God and Gods works kept him COM
pany, and made the time seem short.
One night, as he was thus riding
along, he was all at once surrounded by
men--some on horseback and some on
foot. Knives and swords flashed in the
light of the moon, and John Kant saw
that he was at the mercy of band of
robbers.
He got down from his horse and said
to the gang that he would give up to
them all that he had about him. He
then gave them q purse filed with sill
yer coins, a gold chain from his neck, .
ring from his finger, and from his pock-
ct book of prayer, with silver clasps.
"Havc you given us alp" cried the
robber chief, in stern voice; shave you
any more money!"
The old man il his confusion. said he
had given them all the money he had;
and when he said this they let him go.
Glad to get of 80 we'll, he went on,
and was soon out of sight But all at
once the thought came to him that he
had some gold peices stitched in the hem
of his robe. These he had quite for
gotten when the robbers had asked him
if he had any more money.
This is lucky" thought John Kant,
for he saw that this money would bear
him to his friends, and that he would
not have to beg his way, or suffer for
want of food or shelter.
But Johns conscience was tender
oae. and he stopped to listen to its
voice. 1t seemed to cry to him in ear
nest tones, Tell not a lie! Tell not .
liew These words would not let him
| rest
Some men would say that such .
promise, made to thieves, need not be
kept: and few would have troubled after
such an escape. But John did not stop
to reason.
He went back to the place where the
robbers stood, and walking up to them,
said, meekly. II have told you what is
not true. 1 did not mean 70 do so, but
fear confused me; 30 pardon me-"
With these words he held forth the
gold peices. but to his surprise, not one
of the robbers would take them. A
strange feeling was at work in their
| hearts.
These men, bad A. they were, could
not laugh at the pious old man. Thou
shalt not stealr' said voice within
them. All were deeply moved.
Then, IS il touched by q common
feeling, one Of the robbers brought and
gave back the old mans purse; another,
his ring: another his gold chain; an
other, his book Of prayer; and still an
other led up his horse and helped the
old man to remount.
Then all the robbers a. il quite
ashamed Of having thought Of harmiog
SO good man, went mp and asked his
blessing. John Kant gave it with de-
vout feeling, and then rode on his way,
thanking God for 20 strange an escape.
and wondering at the mixture Of good
and evil in the human heart.
It is said . farmer in Clark county,
confident that the weather viii hereafter
prove favorable, has already planted
forty five acres Of corn. This is what
We would call forcing the season The
third week in April is generally regar-
ded As early enough to plant corn in
this section Of the State.-[N. A. Com.
The Yorrc fnr,. 4C3.rie+;.r A.acc;e