The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-10-25

il,liy upon tflt keeper OI the uetl WHeil
he promised to be a friend to the boy.
II thought of all this while the
prisoner stood at the bar. and before
the sentence had been pronounced |
stepped over ami touched the clerk OF
the court upon the arm, and told him
that would like to have that boy
placed in my charge tor month. 1he
clerk whispered to the judge, and the
Judge beckoned to me. went to him,
and he told me that he feared it would
be of no use. ''Ihe little rascal is ut
terly incorrigible, said he. This Is
the third time within the year that lie
has been up for stealing
~ looked at the little fellow. and
as | marked the finely clt lines of the
handsome face, now so defiantly SET,
thought to myself that II he were suf-
fered to grow up into a manhood OF
crime lie would give society trouble.
He would play no second part in the
drama OF life, were it to he fair or foul.
Aud | whispered to the Judge my
thoughts. lie had been q class-mate
OF minc in college, and was willing to
please me; and the sentence which, Il
few moments before. had waited upon
his lips. was suspended. and the boy
was placed under bonds in the sum of
fifty dollars--wllicll bond required that
he should appear again in court at the
expiration Of one month. 1t was not
my purpose to bail him out at that
time, and the little fellow seemed
slightly bewildered when the officer
sent him back into the dock and he
may have been more bewilIlered still
when he found himself consigned to
the Jail instead OF being sent to the
penitentiary.
"On the following day went down
to the Jail, with an order from the
sheriff, and was admitted to the boys
cell. His face Frightened when he
saw me, and in that instant | saw, as
by inspiration, the latent goodness Of
the poor waif. sat down, and called
him by name, and asked him ii he
remembered me.
"He remembered me very we'll as
the doctor who had been called to his
mothers dying-bed.
"'Well, said |, 'Iwonld have helped
voNr mother then had it been in my
power and have come now to help
you il you will let me-
"IIe caught my hand, and looked
up into my face; and he asked me
what | meant. 'Of course said he,
L will let You help me-
"'But, said |, will y0u help n,eP'
"IIe looked at me again in the same
wondering way.
"'Will you help me to help you"
I asked.
"IIe caught my meaning. 'OD
he cried, will you give me u clmnce?'
II told him that was What lmd
come for.
IL have never had a chance, he
said. Ever since can remember |
have been down IN the mld and the
dirt. and those that wear fine clothes
have Stunned me; the officers have
kicked me; and only thieves and pick
pockets have been good TO me. ., if
| could only have Il clAnee?
"'You have been punished for doing
wrong!' queried.
"'YeS sir, he said. Il was sent to
the pcnitentiary.'
"'But it didn't seem to do you any
good
"'lIow could it?' he asked, with
utter simplicity. i was treated like
little wretch while | was there, and
when | came out | was kicked back
into the old path. What chance was
there for me to be better. Give me Il
chance. and See
After talking with the boy n while.
and satisfying myself that his very
soul yeamed for n better life, told
him to make himself comfortable and
contentcd where he was until he saw
me again. | made him understand |
that if he came out he must come upon
my responsibility, and that only |
wanted time to find Il suitable starting |
point for him in the new sphere.
There was no wild burst Of thanks, -
no gushing OF sentiment or promise.
He took both my hands. and looked
up with q solemn, earnest look, and |
with tear starting from either eye,
he Said.--
"'Give me n chance, Doctor--a
chance where can hold my own with
people-and if fail yon will never
ask help again.
IL promised that would try, and
then left him.
II had u dear friend living away in
the country--a true Christian man,
who had 4 true Christian wife--a
couple who preached their Christianity
BY liring it, and who prayed with
strong hands and tender hearts.
wrote to my friend, and told him the
whole story, aud he wrote back for me
to send the boy to HIM. Then went
down to the jail, and when Dick look
cd up Into my face, he clasped his