The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-05-03

CirCliiar piece vi Tie uOOr was puSncQ 4
little inside. Then / saw two fingers
grasp and draw it out.
81 waited for the insertion of the hand,
for had determined to sever it with the
saber. l heard no noise outside, and
supposed the robber was alone. Not
long did l wait, however for the reap
pearance of the hand. 1t was thrust in
and the fingers moved toward the bar
| struck with all the strength of my
right arm The robbers hand fell at my
feet,and the bleeding stump was quickly
withdrawn.
"Then above the war Of the storm,
which seemed to increase at every mo-
ment. heard words and the roise of a
person forcing his way through heavy
drifts.
al can never use my right hand
again. heard the man groan. oh,
God! l might have known that that
stripping was fully armed. Curse my
folly"
Il picked up the severed member and
examined it at the light 1t looked as if
it belonged to man in the meridian of
life, and the little finger was encircled by
a heavy gold ring, with a solitaire dia-
mond setting 1t was right hand and
the tip of the thumb was missing.
wrapped the hand in cotton, laid it in the
desk, and replenishing the fro, watched
the door until. Through the fatal opening,
l saw limbs bending under their load Of
snow.
II opened the door, but saw no tracks !;
1t had showed all night and covered up
all traces of the robber. When Devices
came-he always reached the store half
an hour before Day-I showed him the
hole and the hand. OF course he was
astonisAed.
''By George, boyw he exclaimed !;
"yoir fears were not groundless. You
may keep that saber till it rusts; and
from this moment your wages stand in
"Of course, boys; was thankful, be:
cause he had knocked under to me, and
because my wages were increased
Great search was made for the robber,
but he was not found, and 1 remained in
possession of the ring and the hand
Five years later I left Dalton, which had
not been disturbed by robbers since that
night. I kept the robbers
hand in spirits for near fifteen years
when, neglecting it, it spoiled, and | bu-
r.ed it in my lot.''
"But what did you do with the ring ?"
asked the traveller, when Mr. Worden
l had noticed his agitation.
"Kept it. Nothing could have induced
me to part with it."
"Would you not return it to the own
er?'
"Perhaps he did not come by it hon
estly-he was robber, youknow?'
The traveller blushed.
"He did, sir" he said.
"What do you know about the ring
and the robber ?" said Mr.. Worden.
"a good deal. Look there!" and
turning up his sleeve he displayed to our
gaze a handless wrist
"The robberr the ex-merchant and
half a dozen of our party exclaimed. /
for one, could not keep back the word
'robbern'
"Yes, SIR" said the stranger; "robber
once, but one, thank God, no longer
The loss of my right hand reformed me.
Oh, never shall forget that night-the
march through the drifts to my compan-
ions in the suburbs of Dalton; how I
was compelled, to save MY life. to hold
snow upon the stump. While my COM
rades ncrime were binding up the %oun-
ded member, swore by my God to for
sake my calling. 1 have kept my oath.
l sought employment when the wound
had healed, and, learning to use my left
hand, was successful I have amassed
wealth-wealth enough to enable me to
spend my remaining days in travelling
for pleasure And now, my reformer,"
he smiled, 81 would ask you to. return
my ring. Did l comedy it dishonesty,
would not make the request; but as
there is q God, / did not. 1t is my
mothers. Upon her death bed, ,one year
before l fell into bad company, she gave
it to me and told me to wear it always.
She placed it on my finger, and wore
it through all my burglarious operations,
Give me the ring, sir, and name your
price"
Mr.. Wurden raised his hat, and we
saw the ring 1t was very beautiful, and
must have cost not small amount OF
money. The merchant slowly drew it
from his finger, upon which it had glis-
tened for twenty years, and passed it
over to its long=lost owner. The stran-
ger drew out long roll of greenbacks.
"Keep your money" said Mr.. Wor-
der; 81 have enough of that. The re-
turning of the ring is reparation for the
injury l inflicted upon you.'
81 am sorry, sir, that you will not ac-
cept the money" returned the stranger.
Il value tins ring above riches. Come,
let us be friends. Excuse my left hand, y
and, laughing, the two men grasped
hands in a hearty shake.
"And now, gentlemen, step up to the
bar and drink. Had not abandoned
tlohabit long ago. would join YOU"
We arose, approached the bar, and in
a bumper drank the health of the stran-
ger.
"Now, landlord" he said, "show me
my room. / can enjoy sleep to night,
for once again l possess that dear old
ring Good night, gentlemen"
| never learned his name.
Dissatisfaction With Congress.
WASHINGTON, April 24.-Tlc feeling