Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-16

|
CHAPTER II.
Time flies. While il writes its remorse-
less record on all things else il does not for.
get to write il in the lives Of men. Judge
Blair had turned his son away to become a
wanderer. For time he felt neither re.
morse nor pity. But when a whole year
had gone by and he heard nothing from Ed.
gar, he began to fear that he had perhaps
been hasty. But a few months after he
heard that Edgar had been seen in Califor.
mia. All effort to trace him from there
failed.
Year by year passed FIVE, ten, fifteen,
and no tidings came of the wandering SON.
Then still another five years passed, and
nothing was heard concerning him.
Twenty years had wrought great changes
in Judge Blair He had grown old, prema-
turely old. His head was white as snow.
His form, once erect, had become bowed his
step was less buoyant and elastic But he
was still able to hold the position of presid-
ing Judge in the district where he lived. For
more than twenty years he had presided
over the court. He had tried and passed
sentence on many guilty offenders. All he
had learned one sad and terrible lesson. He
had learned that nearly all the crimes CON-
mitted are caused by intemperance. He had
learned the fearful truth that few men who
acquire taste for intoxicating drinks can
ever reform He had come to know that a
power like his own to control the appetite
was not given to more than one man in many
thousands The terrible scenes he had wit
messed made deep impression on him. The
judicious course Of his wife in connection
with his own convictions had wrought a
great change. The wine had long been ban
ished from his table, aud Judge Blair had
become a total abstainer. His great pride
and power of self.control had saved him
from drunkenness While he was providen.
TALLY spared, others had gone down to de-
structon.
The anger Of twenty years ago had long
since vanished. He had come to realize
that he had trained his only son up to habits
Of iutemperance, and then disowned him and
turned him out a wanderer. He had come
to think tenderly Of the absent one. As
year by year went by he grew to feelings of
deep remorse, and longing desire to know
what had become of him. The childless old
man yearned for his child. The prayer of
his heart was that Edgar might return, that
he might repair the wrong and be forgiven
for his harsh treatment. Judge Blair was
already reaping his reward, and learning
that "the way Of the transgrsssor is hard"
William Ogle had been arrested for MUIR
der. The time had arrived for his trial.
Judge Blair presided over the court.
At the opening of the trial the prisoner
was called upon to plead guilty or not guilty,
but he refused to plead. He was dark.vis-
eyed, sulleu, and morose, and had every ap-
pearence of being desperate character.
The trial went on. The evidence was di.
rect and conclusive. William Ogle had
quarreled with comrade; in his drunken
frenzy he stabbed his companion, in the pres
ence Of several witnesses, and killed him on
the spot
During the trial, the prisoner sat with
his piercing eyes fixed upon the judge.
When the trial was finished, and the jury re-
turned the verdict, Guilty" he received it
with Indifference, and still continued sullen
and morose as before. He was taken to his
cell, and court adjourned. The next day
William Ogle was taken into court to re-
ceive his sentence. The trial aud strange
appearance Of the prisoner had excited great
curiosity. The court house was packed full
to overlooking. Judge Blair with grave
face and snow white beard arose and ad-
dressed the prisoner. The house was hushed
with breathless awe as he commenced -
Prisoner at the bar, what haye you to
say why sentence Of death should not be
passed upon your
A momcntary spasm Of pain seemed to
pass over the prisoners face as he replied
bitterly
The way Of the transgressor is hard"
1t was only for moment. Then the old
look of hatred and defiance returned, and he
continued THAT will bring down higher
heads than mine" If momentary feeling
of contrition had passed over him, it vanish.
ed as quickly, and he faced the judge, sui
len and impenitent, awaiting his sentence.
There was something so startling and
strange in the prisoners words and manner
that all eyes were fastened on him, but thorc
we're no further signs of contrition in his
countenance.
The prisoners words reused unpleasant
memories in Judge Blair's breast Had not
his only son transgrsssed2 Had he not be-
come wanderer and gone he knew not
whereof Judge Blair'S heart was full al
most to bursting. He could not help but
shudder as he thought of that son and the
temptations he was exposed to. But he
quickly recovered his sslf.possession and re-
piled -
Eyes, William Ogle, the way of the
transgressor is hard You can bear witness
to that, for you have transgressed. You
have taken the life Of fellow being, there
by FORGETTING your own. There is nothing
left to me but to pass the sentence of the law
upon you. William 0gle, your sentence is
that you shall be taken back to your cell,