Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-07-07

This young man must have been driy-
en- by some pressure of circumstances
to the course which he had adopted
1 wish 1 had detained him little long
er and questioned him to this point"
Mr.. Peterson was not one Of the
self-righteous, but generous, warm
hearted christian man, who, conscious
of his own imperfection, always felt
like extending helping hand to those
who have been betrayed into error
So he thought more than ~once of the
young man whom he had encoun-
tered in so strange a manner, and re-
solved to make an effort to fall in with
him again.
He ascertained that the morning
train started at seven o'clock, and an
other did not go until eleven. He al
tered his arrangements and determined
to wait until the second train, though
he had originally intended to go by the
first.
After breakfast he sauntered out
once more hoping to meet this young
man, in whom he had began to feel
a friendly interest. 1t was very likely,
he thought, that having been defeated
in this first attempt of the evening
previous, he had left the town; not
wishing to run the risk of recognition
by one of whose good intentions to-
ward him he could not feel assured.
Still the merchant pursued his lonely
walk, till he came to a handsome
church. Beside it and extending to the
rear, was a churchyard with grey
head-stones, on each of which was
inscribed the name of one whose pill
grimage was ended. Casting his eyes
casually over the raveyard, Mr..
Peterson's eye detected a mans pros
trate figure stretched face down over
one of the mounds in an attitude in
dicating grief. His staff and broad
trimmed hat lay on the ground beside
him.
A sudden thought led the merchant
to enter the enclosure. He advanced
till he stood beside the PROSTATE form.
"My friend, what are you doing
here?' be asked in gentle accents.
The man raised his head, and Mr.
Peterson with surprise, recognized him
as the young man who attempted to
rob him the evening before.
The recognition was mutual, as Mr..
Peterson knew by the flush which rose
to the young mans lips.
81 come as friend" he hastened to
say, with a view of re-assuring the
young man.
81 have no friend" said the other in
sorrowful tone.
"Few are so badly off as that" said
Mr.. Peterson. "Even if all human
friends forsake us, we have one Friend
who never forsakes u.s."
eyes, l know who you mean"
"And as to human friends, / am dis
posed to befriend you, if you will con-
fide your troubles to me"
"You! Yet l tried to rob you only
last night"
81 saw that you were not a profess
sional robber, but were probably
driven by some necessity"
- "You are right, sir, was"
"Tell me about it"
81 was driven by my poverty--I may
say by my destitution l have not
eaten anything for twenty-four hours,
and l have no money"
"But how came you in this plight
You are young man who should be
able to make your own way. Why
should you be reduced to such dis
tress?"
Because there is something against
me-"
"Tell me, without reserve, and l will
do all 1 can to help you
"Then, sir, will tell you. A year
ago was clerk in a dry goods store in
this town. Ny pay was not large, but
enough to support me. As long as my
mother lived (she lies here, sir, and he
indicated the mound upon which he
had thrown himself, 1 did well enough,
but after she died 1 got into bad com
paDy, and formed extravagant habits.
l exceeded my salary, and formed
debts, and then in order to pay them,
1 took some of my employers money
in an evil hour. was found out, my
employer was unrelenting, and though
1 offered to work it out, he demanded
that I should be tried. l was convic-
ted and sentenced to the States prison
for a year. l came out a week ago,
determined to lead a new life. But no.
body would employ me; all looked
askance at me. l got out of money,
and finally in a fit of despair, l stopped
you last night. But though l had a
pistol, did not load it. I might make
up my mind to rob but not to take a
life."
"What is your name?"
"Ralph Erskine."
"Then, Ralph, let me assure you,
that did not inquire into your story
from any idle curiosity. Istopped over
one train expressly to find you If !
could, and serve you. First let me
ask you, have you made up your mind
to lead an honest life?"
eyes, sir; God help me. 1t was
only because everybody seemed to be
against me, that | was tempted to turn
back"
81 am a merchant in New York, in
the wholesale line. l have a large