Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-09-12
HI received a tolernble ledneation

IL received tolerable education
and possessed small property. In
an evil hour married the object Of
my affection. say an EVIL hour,
for, alas, my husband became dissipa.
ted and squandered the means that
brought him, and left me to struggle
with poverty as best l could, while he
pursued his dissolate and vicious
course. His example has been the
ruin Of his children Edward follow.
ed the footsteps of his proaigate faith
er, rather than the council of his un-
fortunate mother, and strayed far,
far from the path of rccitude and hon
or. Charles was a gentle, amiable
disposition, but possessed less intellect
than his bold and desperate brother;
while Nicholas was rendered by dis
ease, an helpless object of pity, and
incapable of taking care of himself
Such, good sir, is the sad story of my
family. Such is brief picture of
my position and misfortunes. And
therefore, it is, that 1 implore your ell
emency and assistance in behalf of my
misguided child. i believe that he is
not naturally vicious, know that he
has always treated his mother with af-
lection, and for years has generously |
shared his scanty pittance with her.
| do not mean, sir. to attempt any
justification. of. his conduct, in. the |
matter for which he has been arrested
But it surely admits of some pallia-
ton, when all the facts are taken into
view. j hope, sir, that you, animated
by some consideration for the misguid-
ed and the needy, will regard him
rather as an object of commiseration
than of punishment. The article he
took was Of small value, and it was
the first time he ever appropriated to
his own use what belonged to another,
| am old, penniless and wretched
have no other dependence than this,
my unfortunate child. . If he, should
not be discharged from Imprisonment,
| have no alternate but the almshouse
Surely, sir, public Justice has already
been satisfied by the punishment that
Charles has endured, and you may in
terfere in Ills behalf, and with propri-
ETY.. Once released, and he may re-
form; and oh my dear sir, it is that
hope alone which renders life an object
worth possessing. Could / but see
my child restored--could l feel con-
WINGED that his feet were once more in
the path of recitude and virtue, 1
would thank God for his goodness and
look forward to death and the grave
with resignation"
Some further conversation took
place, and the gentleman, touched and
melted by the appeal of the mother,
promised to make due inquiry into all
he circumstances of the case, and if
lie should find them to correspond with
her statement, to exercise all his inhu-
,nce in behalf of her son. The result
vas favorable. The story of the poor
woman was fully verifed-Charles
vas discharged, and was restored to
he arms, the heart and the home of
he parent who had chung to him with
50 much tenacity. The meeting was
most cfccting. The mother wept
with excess Of joy; while tears also
'treamed profusely down the cheeks
Of her son.
"Charles, since his restoration, had
been steady, industrious and tempe
rate. He was, she hoped and believed,
fully reformed. He was not only able,
by rigid frugility, to support himself
md mother, but to minister to the
comforts and necessities of his afflict-
ed brother" And here she again
broke forth in thanks. "Mr. Thomp.
son had not only saved her boy from
life of infamy and wretchedness, but
had frightened, as with beam from
Heaven, house that was dark and
desolate."
A tear tremblcd in the eye of Mr..
Thompson, and shaking the hand of
the grateful mother, he mentally
thanked God for the happy result.
"speak kindly to the erring 1'fG.1 q
Thou may yet lead them back,
With holy words, and tones Of love,
From misery's thon,y track. - 81 }
Forget not thou has often sinned
And sinful yet must be-
Deal gently with the erring one,
As God hath delt with thee"
To be Remembered.
Three things to love-courage, gen.
tleness, and affection.