Nebraska advertiser., 1876-11-09
THE POWER OF KINDNESS,

Joshua Newland was awakened on,
night by a strange noise In the room
occupied by him as sleeping apart
ment, He aroused himself, sat up In
bed, aud discovered a man in the &C
of ransacking the drawers of bureau
for plunder.
Friend said Joshua, this is an IN
seasonaole intrusion. and would be
justified In having you punished fol
IT; but first wish to talk with you 9
little. Come and sit by me while ]
ask you a few questions
The man was frightened, but his
amazement at such treatment from
the gentleman he was attempting to
rob. was beyond expression. His first
impulse pointed to flight. but the
benevolent countenance of Joshua re-
assured him, and he drew near the bed
side and seated himself.
Il wish to ask you,' began the wor-
thy gentleman, why you engage in
apursuit so hazardous as this, when
the rewards of honest labor are
so remunerative and SO well assur-
ed?'
Because replied the man, i can
find no honest employment
Tut, tut, sir; speak the truth or not
at all. There is plenty of work for
those who wish to labor, and every
man that Is blessed with health can
readily earn an honest living for him
self and family. Have you no
trade?'
Il served my time with gunsmith,
sir, but have not worked as a jour
neyman for several years, except
GO, on said Joshua, except
what?
You will think none the better of
me for the explanation
Perhaps not! but certainly none
the worse. You owe me little con-
fidence for the breech Of decorum in
which have this night detected you.
and you must tell me the truth. Tell
me all, and then If can do you fa-
voY I will
The words were spoken In kindness,
and the burglar responded by nerv-
ing himself for what he viewed an
important revelation.
well was going to say-except in
the penitentiary.'
so you have been there already?'
Yes
For burglary?
No SIR
Tell me all about It, man. What
crime did you commit that consigned |
you to prison?'
None whatever, sir
That is not the truth. 1t Is simply |
impossible that you were incarcerat-
ed If you had not offended against the
law?'
Il swear that 1 speak the truth. l
was sentenced to three years in the
penitentiary for crime I did not
commit, and that 1 did not know had
been committed by any one until l
was arrested for 1t. I was a decent
man then that 1 am no longer such
1 do not view as my own fault
Did an unjust charge and punish
ment necessarily make bad man of
you?'
Il will tell you the facts in my. case,
and then you can judge more under.
standingly. Thad finished my ap-
premiership according to agreement,
and was making arrangements to go
into business on my own account.
My means were limited, but L had
managed to save a few hundred dol
lars; and the girl l was engaged to
marry had the same amount. We CAL
culated very closely and found that
management would ena-
BILE US to commence business and
housekeeping in humble style with
out going in debt. / engaged small
shop, bought some tools, and had mat
tiers well arranged for business, when
we decided to marry. We INDUCED
IN little trip to Louisville, where we
stopped only three days, and returned
very happy; for we had no appre-
tensions of evil, and certainly did not
imagine what was in store for US on
ours arrival in Cincinnati. We had
scarcely reached home when 1 was
arrested for grand larceny. The sto-
len goods were found in my shop, but
how they came there / know not; and
l. uvUIato VOIVIS wv SuaS A. 40 a AHy-
terry to me yet.
The evidence was all circumstan-
tial, it was twisted and distorted into
what appeared perfect chain, and
I was convicted before L thoroughly
realized it. The last dollar of my saw
ings had been exhausted in efforts for
my defence, and my wife was forced
to labor for her own support. Her for
mer friends deserted her, because she
was the wife of a convict aud she was
often in distres for the necessaries of
life; but the climax Of her miseries
came when she found herself mother
Of baby boy. Lack of nonrishment
and nursing did the fatal work, and
and only few days after her confine-
ment she was borne to an humble
grave, with the little darling cold up
on that breast that should have given
1t life and strength
The man bowed his head upon his !,
hands and the tears trickled rapidly ..
his fingers while his strong .
frame was convulsed into sobbings. :
eyes were not dry, and sew i.
eral moments passed without word
from either. The would-be burglar at
length resumed: .
'Iserved out my full time, and it is !.
but just to say that 1 experienced bet
ter treatment in the penitentiary than