The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-11-09


one felt merciful to him, and it was
decided to pardon him and send hin
to the poor house.
But that very morning Grinby jun.
ior-a young man-came into the of
flee where his father sat, and put his
hand on his arm.
Father" says he, "I want to ask
you favor. I want my own way il
one thing.
"Well," said the old gentleman
let me hear you."
al want to take Ben Wade into thi;
house as an errand boy" said young
Mr.. Grinby."
"Hey ?" said the old gentleman
g whatI a young housebreaker as er-
rand boy! Bless my SOUL"
Father" said young Grinby, the
boy is naturally good boy. I like
him; I wanteto save him. Perhaps il
had not so good father to guide
me and care for me might have been
worse than he. / don't ask you to
trust him, sir; only ask leave to
trust him myself. l am sure he will
prove deserving of confidence"
Old MF. Grinby took out his snuff
box, and looked at Mr.. Morris.
Give noticed the lads eye; it's a
good one," said Mr.. Grinby, &c but
we'll consider" SIS 81
And 1 suppose the result was what
young Grinby wanted, for little Ben
Wade came to'us next Monday. ~
Ina month or SO people stopped
i predicting that young Grinby would
repent some time, and in year don't
think there was one in the Office who
didn'tlove that boy. So grateful, so
trustworthy, and SO ready to do any
thing for everyone. Young Grinby
had him taught, and well taught too.
The lightning calculator might beat
/ him but doubt it; and never knew
that lad to forget to dot his is or cross
his t's, in all my acquaintance with
him after he had learned to write at
all. Aii7 E4g't1 sat O @ :
| At twenty he was one of the best
clerks in the establishment, besides
/ being as fine looking young fellow
as one would wish to see. On the
whole did not wonder that Miss
Lucy Evans took a fancy to him-a
sister, sir, of one of the young fellows
at our place, and girl who looked
like queen. and was as good as she
was handsome, 32h 3#
| / used to meet them walking on the
battery where lovers used to walk in
those days. He was SO fond and proud
of her, and she had such tender way
of looking at him, that they made my
old heart young again, as / often told
Mrs. Humphries, to whom 1 always
confide everything. And how her rev.
erenced her; why a ribbon, or faded
flower, that she had worn, were cher
ished by him as a miser cherishes his
gold. a.5s.f.s.l,.. -. ''
At last he told me in confidence
for her name was sacred and not to be
spoken before everyone-that they
were to be married. '.''
HAnd when / look back, SIR" said
he, and remember the miserable
years of my childhood, and think how
friendless and forlorn / was, nothing
before me but the prison and gallows,
and think that now I have everything |
to make mans life blessed-the pow
er to win respect of honest men, and
the love of such girl as Lucy-I can
never be too grateful to the kind |
friend who saved me from life dare |
not contemplate. God bless Mr.. Grin
byw said he, lifting his hat reverent-
ly as he might in church, and there |
was prayer in his dark eyes as he
looked upward. d3i3.7 5taas
Those were the last words 1 ever
heard him speak, except ''Good night
All. dear me, it should haYe been
good bye. Ten minutes after he went
one Way and the other. / took my |
way home, and he, as it seemed after
ward, walked just two blocks, and
then came back here. At twelve
O'Clock that night awoke Mrs.
Humphries. sa ~
"My DEAR" said /, " must have
had the night mare or something"
J" Goodness" said she, " it seems so.
Your hands are like ice. What gives
it to you, love? The lobster, Ill be
bound" sfil5ss4 I5gfls5 fs.3f,g fi ai
"Perhaps," said I. / admit I ate
a hearty supper. And nothing else
could make me fancy young Wade at
my bedside, white as a ghost, with
both hands on my breast ,sf-afI
g All, but the night mare is always
black, not white,n said my wife. And
then she went to cupboard and
brought me a. glass of wine. After
thatI went. to sleep again. risaabI
& did not rise early and was quite
behind my usual time. But when, /
reached our place found it in great
Clerks running hither
and thither, the heads of the firm
about in the most unbusiness
like manner, and three constables on
the premises. siTo939 a5,5 5dr
What is the matter, sir 2" said 1 l
addressing Mr.. Grinby. fa. ,sjzTtl
Matter enough said he, "we'ye
been very heavily robbed" Esi.4r
'I fancied that couldn't happen
here" said 81 really believed it
would be impossible for burglars to
break into Morris, Grinby & Sons
sir.'' raz s. re.-.- r ga - {
.tAh, said he, they did not break /
in. The door has been quietly opened
from the inside" sf1 6
{. And 1 believe, began Mr.. Nor
ris.
"Sir,n cried young Mr.. Grinby, out
Of breath, ST beg as gentleman, a {
man of principle, you will not give j
ltterance to, your untounded suspicion t
unfounded and unworthy of
vou." F5.al.ia es!qe 5 c.lfz5l9 | c
+" Prove them SO, sir" said Mr.. Nor /
is, cody, !" and I'll apologize" i
i looked an inquiry.
l"Don,t ask explanations, beg, Mr.. s
Humphries" said Mr.. GrinbY. Some '
hing has been said which the speaker '
will regret. Ah,j there comes !. my +
5sxGaad 94fi Aacda
And in ran one of our boys. igs b
f Well, Lom 2" said Mr.. Grinby.
81" MIR. Wade amt been home all v
hight, sir, said Tom. 80 lp
~" told you So" said Mr.. Morris. a
:" And i tell you even yet 1 will not v
lear my dear friend's-yes, my very t
lear frind's-character aspersed," said /
young Grinby. 8" Humphries, know v
you love Ben Wade as l do. Fancy v
him connected with this b
'obbery. AS well suspect my father, p
II myself, or yon." 9 =tiEs- !
" He is missing" said Mr.. Morris, q
shutting the door on us three. He
vas seen to return late in the evening. t,
He was one of gang of housebreak- y
,rs when we took him in, and many
declare the character to be formed at q
Xix years old. He was nine, l believe 9
la hae haov, rryoY, hooly 20 hsc n1I VIZ !,