The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-09-01

ooh sir mother that last night. and
there was no one with her then but poor
little Eddie and me-
The poor little fellow wept bitterly as
he said, YES, sir, Just as she was dying
she raised her hands and blessed us both,
and prayed that God would raise up
friend to protect her two helpless or
phans- Her last words, were oh Harry,
as you love me, take care and look after
Eddie; my own darling child, keep away
from bad bOys-rather starve than steal
or tell lie / am a poor orphan boy,
but L didn't steal the purse, and Pm
telling no lie about it.'
There were few dry eyes in the Police
Court. Even the stern police wiped his
face with the cuff of his blue uniform,
and the reporters notes were bleared
with tears.
''Your worship" 1 said, after a mo-
ment's silence, and gaining a mastery
over my feelings, "there is no evidence
to convict this boy. My firm conviction
| is that he knows nothing about the
purse, and anything against him rests
/ upon circltBlsto1lti0I evidence. He has
no friends i'm the world, no prospects
now, with suspicion resting upon him,
/ but to turn to his former occupation,
! 'shOeblacking in the streets This is
beset with danger. His little brother
has now a home in the Boys Refuge
Discharge him, and l promise to find
shelter for him in the same establish
ment."
The worthy magistrate at once ordered
| the boy to be discharged.
Harry and Eddie are now together,
both receiving Il solid and useful edUca-
tiOn, combined with an industrial
training which will fit them to gain
hereafter an honest and respectable liv-
ing.
Some months afterwards | was pleas
ingly gratified by receiving a note from
Mr.. Brown saying that the purse, with
its contents, over twenty pounds, had
been found by his customer
1t turned out that Mr.. Brown HIM
self, in the hurry of making up the par
GELS, had rolled it up along with the
goods, and that all the while it was Sc
cretly in the possession of its owner.
The case, along with others which are
constantly occurring, show how danger
Gus it is to convict upon circ,HistdHtidi
, cridcHcC only, however strong that evi-
dence may be. Many an honest, pool
boy has grown into confirmed criminal
, through the demOraliZing influences o.
l prison life. 1t was a mere chance thai
: Harry EsmOnd escaped. How many
bright, intelligent orphan boys now
wander in our streets, Uneducated anC
; in poverty, who would sooner starv,
e than steal or tell lie, because sucI
e would disgrace the memory of theil
: poor mOtherI
b Love and loyalty to the sweet nam,
e of "mOtheT'' are not merely aristocrati,
e virtues, but, stranea 60 say, they fioUrisl
[ most in the mi-e. cultivated by th,
!. ARABS of our Streets Men scarcely
4 recognize facts whiC are daily pas r.
e under their eyes. Iney must seek som,
5 out of the way place to find them. y,
h better school can be found for probin,
a human nature, and looking at mel
n without their masks, than in prison
e There you see things in their true light
n and find out that among the poor an
suffering classes virtue has more gri
n than among the upper crust of society
p Rags and poverty often become the &C
Y cusers Ofthe innocent, and secure con
viction, whilst the criminal in purpl
t and gold gets off scot free.
q a felOn's dress and his number ar
# not infallible proofs of guilt, just as broa
L cloth is not an honest heart-LireIpot
g Catholic Times. t,resa9,,i