Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-04-21

II
comfort her, but could obtain no an
swer.
| "Leave us alone" said he to the
keeper. perhaps she will speak to
| me ifthere is no one to hear.n When
! they were alone together, he put
back the hair from her te nples, laid
his hand kindly on her beautiful
head, and said in soothing tones,
my child, consider me as thy
father. Tell me all thou hast done.
If thou has taken this silk, tell me
all about it; 1 will do for thee as ]
would for my own daughter and ]
doubt not that lean help thee out oi
this difficulty"
After long time spent in affec-
tio1ate entreaty. she leaned her
young head on hls friendly shoulder
and sobbed out "Oh, I wish 1 was
dead. What will Imy poor mother
say, when she knows of my dis
grace ?n
perhaps we can manage that she
never shall know itn replied he.
gradually obtained from her the
whole of her acquaintance with the
nobleman. He bade her be comfort
ed and take nourishment, for he
would see that the silk was paid for
and the prosecution withdrawn.
He went Immediately to her en-
ployer and told him the story. "This
Is her first offence" said he. The
girl is young and she is the only
child of a widow. Give her a chance
to retrieve this one false step, and
she may be restored to society a use
full and honored woman, I will see
that thou art paid for the silk. The
man readily agreed to withdraw the
Il
dealt otherwise by the girl, if he had
known all the circumstances. "Thou
should have inquired into the mer-
its of the case replied friend Hop
per. "By this kind of thoughtless-
ness, many young creature is
driven into the downward path who
might easily have been saved"
The kind hearted man next pro-
ceeded to the hotel. and with Quaker
simplicity ofspeech inquired for Hen
ry Stuart. The servant said his
lordship had not yet risen. "Tell
him my business is of Importance"
said friend Hopper.
The servant soon returned and
conducted him to the chamber.
The nobleman appeared surprised
costume, should thus intrude up
on his luxurious privacy. When
he heard his errand, he blushed
deeply, and frankly admitted the
truth of the girls statement. His
benevolent visitor took the oppor-
tunity to "bear testimony" against
the selfishness and sin of prohigacy.
He did it in such kind and father
ly manner that the young mans
heart was touched. He excused
himself by saying that he would
not have tampered with the girl if
be had known her to be virtuous
said he, "but thank God, no betray-
ed confiding innocenc e weighs on
my conscience. 1 have always es-
teemed it the basest act of which man
is capable" The imprisonment of
the.poor girl, and the forlorn situa-
ton in which she had been found,
distressed him greatly. When
Friend Hopper represented that the
silk had been stolen for his sake,
that the girl had thereby lost profit
able employment, and was obliged
to return to her distant home, to
avoid the danger of exposure, he
took out fifty dollar note and offer
ed it to pay her expenses. "Nay,"
said Isaac. "Fhou art a very richi
man, presume. see in thy hand
a large roll ofsuch notes. She is the
daughter of poor widow, and thoul
hast been the means of doing her
great injury. Give me another,
Lord Henry handed him another
fifty dollar note, and smiled as he
said, "You understand your busi-k
ness well. But you have acted mob
ly, and / revere you for it. If you
ever visit England, come and see me.
L will give you cordial welcome,
and treat you like nobleman."
Farewell FRIEND" replied the
Quaker. "Though much to blame
n theSaffair, thou hast behaved no.
bly,. May'st thou be blessed in dol
nestle life land trifle no more with the
feelings of poor girls not even with
hose betrayed and deserted"
When the girl was arrested, she had |
sufficient presence of mind to assume
/ false name, and by that means, her
rue name had been kept out of the
"I did this" she said,
or my poor mothers sake" With |
,he money given by Lord Stuart,
,he silk was paid for, and she was
sent home to her mother well pro-
yided with clothing. Her name and
lace of residence forever remained a
1ecret in the breast of her.benefactor.
Years after these events transpired, /
md asked to see him. When he enter
ID the room, he found a handsome
v dressed young matron, with a
boy of five or six years
I'D. She rose quickly to meet him
md her voice choked, as she said,
Friend Hopper, do you known me?
he replied that he did not. She
ixed her fearful eyes earnstly upon
aim, and said, "You once helped
ne when in great Distress" But
,he good missionary had helped too
many in distress to be able to re-
collect her without more precise in
With a tremulous voice,
,he bade her son go into the next
.oom for a few minutes then drop
ping on her knees, she hid her face in
lis lap, and sobbed out, "am the
yirl who stole the silk Oh, where
should now be if it had not been
or you.?"
When her emotion was somewhat
,almed, she told him that she had
married highly respectable man, a
Senator of his native State. Being
1n a visit in friend Hopper's vicin--
ty, she had again and again passed
MS dwelling, looking wistfully at
the windows to catch glimps of
him; but when sheattempted to en-
ter, her courag failed.
HBut / music return home to-mor-
row." she said "and 1 could not go
away without, once more seeking and
thanking him, who saved me from
ruin." She recalled her little boy,
and said to him, "Look at him, and
.o,oon. bar biY,o xuolI for ha Uaa thal