The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-11-16

him to life; and get the story from him.
He lived, it seems, amongst thieves and
: they had planned to rob us that night,
and he, poor little nudge, had slipped in
somewhow, aud hidden in the cellar, to
open the door for them, never thinking
any one would come there that night.
But when Mike aud [ went down he
took to the vault, and there would have
smothered but for my hearing him. |
don't care to tell you how we kept him,
and filed the place with constables who,
when the burglars came, pounced out
upon them and took them into custody.
You can guess all that. It's the boy
have to tell you about-poor Ben Wade.
1t came out during the Investigation
| consequent upon the arrest, that the poor
child was kept among the thieves by
force, and that they used him cruelty.
Once u ruthian of the gang had broken
his leg in drunken fury, and he limped
yet from the injury. He was such pale,
worn, miserable thing, that every one
felt merciful to him, and it was decided
to pardon him, and send him to the poor
house.
But that very morning Grindy, junior
"a young mar-came into the office
where his father sat- and put his hand
upon his arm.
Father says he, Il want to ask you
a favor. [ want my own way IN one
thing"
WELL" said the ola gentleman, ''let
me hear you
Il want to take Ben Wade into this
house as an errand boy. " said young MIR.
"Heyr' said the old gentleman.
what! a young housebreaker as Grand
| boy Pi"ss my soul.
Father said young Grinby, "the
boy is naturally good boy. i ike him !;
[ want to save him. Perhaps If had
not so good father to guide me and care
for me, [ might have been worse than
be. | don ask you to trust him, sir, |
only ask leave to trust him myself. L
am sure he will prove deserving Of conf
dence. -
OII Grinby took out his snuf-boZ and
looked at Dir. Morris.
We noticed the lads eye it's a
good one" said MIR. Morris.
It's a lisk, said Mr. Grinby, but
wen consider"
And [ suppose the result was what
young Grinby wanted, for little Ben
Wade came to US the next Monday.
II month or SO the people stopped
predicting that young Gfinby would re-
pent some day, and III a year | don t
think there was one in the Office who
didn't love that boy. So grateful, so
trustworth, and so ready 70 90 anything
for every one. Yonng Grinby had him
taught, and well taught, too. The light
ming calculator might beat him, but [
doubt it; and [ never knew that boy to
forget to dot his IS or his is, in all my
acquaintance with him after he had learn
ed to write at all.
At twenty he was one Of the best clerks
in our establishment, besides being as
fne a looking young fellow as one would
wish to see. Ga the whole, | did not
wonder that Miss Lucy Evans took d
fancy to nina sister, sir, Of one of the
young fellows at our place, and girl y no
looked like queen, and Was as good US
she was handsome.
[ used to meet them walking on the
battery where lovers used to walk in
those days He was 50 fond and proud
OF her, and she had such tender way OF
/ looking at hlm1 that they made my old
heart young again, as often told Mrs
| iiumghrieS, to whom | always confde
! everything. Aud how he Teyerenced her;
| who a ribbon, on faded flower, that she
| had worn. were cherished by him as a
miser cherishes his gold
Atlast be told me ID confdence-for
her name was sacred and not to be spok-
en- before eyeTyOne-that they were to be
married.
And when look back, SIR said he,
| ''and remem Der the miserable years OF
my childhood, and think how friendiess
aud follosn was, and bow there was
nothing before me but the prison and
gallows and think that now have every
| thing to make man S life blessed-i!t
/ n =. Ta.rsa.t. !.ia i
| reputable labor, the respect OF honest
men. and the love of such a girl as Lucy
Il can never be too grateful TO the kind
| friend " ho saved ne from a life | dare
| not contemplate. God bless Dir. Griabyl'
| said he lifting his hat reverentiy as he
| might In church, and there was Il prayer
| in his dark eyes as he looked upward.
Those were the last wol DIS | eger heard
| him speak, except Good night. All,
dear NE, it should have been good bye
| Ten minutes after he went one way and
| [ the other. | took my way home. and
t he, as it seemed afterward, walked lust
two blocks, and then came back here
| At twelve o'c!ock that night | awoke
Mrs. Humphries
My dear" said I, Il must have had
the night mare or something.
Goodness" said she, 1t seems so.
L Jul iidilGS dIC lAhC iIC. w idG gave 1t
to you, love? The lobster, Iii be bound
Perhaps" said l. Il admit / ate
a hearty supper. And nothing else could
make me fancy young Wade at my bed
side, white as q ghosl, with both hands
| on my breast"
'Ah, but the nightmare is always
black, not white" said my WIFE Aud
then she went to cupboard and brought
ne glass OF wine. After that [ went to
sleep again.
| | did not rise ea-iy. and was quite be-
hind my usual time. But when [ reach
ed our place, found it in great com
notion. Clerks running hither and thith-
er, the heads of the firm standing about
In the most un5us'neSs- like manner, and
three cOnstables on the premises.
NV hat Is the matter, sir?" said I ad-
dressing Mr.. Grindby
Matter enough, said he. we've been
very heavily robbed. -
= iancied that cou ldn't happen here. .
said really believed i would be
| impossible or burgu lars TO break into
Morris, {. -nby & Sons sur
All, said he, they did not break
in. The door has been quietly opened
rom the inside
And believe" began Mr. Nor
Sir, cried young Mr.. Griuby, cut of
breath, i beg, as a gentleman. a man of
principle. You viii not give utterance to
your unfounded suspicion-totaily un-
founded and unworthy Of you. -
Prove them SO, sir, said Mr. Morris
colly, and / il apologize.
| looked al inquiry.
Don't ask explanations. I beg. Mr..
Hnmphries, said Mr.. Grinby. Some
tnng has been said which the speaker
will regret. All, there. comes nv mes
| Senger -