Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-05-09

fair or foul And l whispered to the Judge
my thoughts. He had been class mate
of mine in college, and was willing to
please me; and the sentence which few
moments before, had waited upon his lips,
was suspended, and the boy wns placed
under bonds in the sum Of Sj0-which
bond required that he should appear again
in court ut the expiration of one month.
1t was not my purpose TO bail him out ut
that time, and the little fellow seemed
slightly bewildered when the officer sent
him back into the dock: and he may have
been more bewildcred still when he found
himself consigned to jnl instead of being
sent to the penitentiary.
" On the following day l 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 if
he remembered me.
He remembered me very we'll as the
doctor who had been called to his mothers
dying bed.
Well said l, Il would have helped
your mother then had it been in my power;
and have come now to help you, if you
will let me-
He caught my hand, and looked up in
to my face, and asked me what l meant.
Of course said he will let you help
me-
"' But said |, will qOu help me"
t. He looked at me again in the same
wondering way.
asked.
lie caught my meaning. OH he
cried, will you give me II chancep
80 told you that WAS what had come
for
II have never had chance" he said.
Ever since can remember have been
down in the mud and dirt, and those that
wear fine clothes have summed me; The
officers have kicked me; and only thieves
and pckpuckets have been gond to me.
y, if could only have chance!'
go You have been punished for doing
wrong?' Iquered.
80 Yes SIR he said. : | was sent to the
penitcntiary.
60 But it don't seem to do any good
60 How could it?' he asked, with utter
simplicity. Il was treated like little
wretch while there, and when came out |
was kicked back into the oil path. What
chance was there for me to do better?
Give me Il chance ard see.'
After talking with the boy while,
and satisfying myself that his very soul
yeerned for better life, told him to
make himself comfortable and conlentcd
where lie WAS until he saw me again.
made him understand that if he came out
he must come out upon my responsibility,
and that wanted time to fad suitable
starting point for him in tie new sphere.
There was no wild bursts of thanks-no
gushing of sentiment or promise. He took
both hands, and looked up with Il solemn,
earnest look, and with tear starting
from either eye, he said:-
"'Give me chance, doctor, IA chance
where | can hold my own with honest
people,-and if fail | will never ask help
again
Il promised that would try, and then
left him.
II had n dear friend living away in the
country-a true Christian man, who
preached his Christianity by ArTng it, and
who prayed with strong hands and a tend
er heart. l wrote 10 my friend, and told
him the whole story; he wrote back for
me to send the boy to him. Then went
down 20 the Jail, and when Dick looked
up into my face, he clasped his hands over
his eyes and broke out into sobbing and
weeping. Ny first thought was to COM
fort him with the assurance of coming
good; but he stopped me.
"'I know! l knowH he cried; see it
in your face. | saw you smile, and |
knew you had come to help me, o, |
never never saw that smile beforer
"On that day took Dick Printle from
the Jail and carried him to my own house.
where gave him new clothes, and where
my wife and daughter were kind TO him.
On the day following, as | needed recrea-
tion, | went with him into the country,
where he was at once taken to comforta-
BILE home, and to tender, loving hearts
THAT was twelve years ago. To-day
the waif which rescued from the mael-
strOm of vice-the brand which | plucked
from the burning-iS in ornament to the
society in which he moves, and that
society is of the very best. He says it
was from reverence for me that the idea
came TO him of being physician; but no
matter whence came the thought, the
medical profession gained grand acces-
sion when he received his diploma, and
suffering humanity gained true and able
helper lie found wife in the daughter
of the man to whose care consigned him;
and he has found friends everywhere. In
this letter he tells me that II second child
has been born 10 him-the first was girl
this is IL boy-and he asks me if he may
give it my name; and asks further, that
will bring him my answer in person.
- Come, he wri es, and take peep
into heaven brighter still by the presence
of one whom we love so deeply and devot-
edly. Come
but never mind the rest. 1t was only
meant for my eye"
And you will goP" said 1. "Yes,"
said the doctor. ut always does me good
to see that man. My heart warns beneath
bis cheerful smile and my faith in humani
ly gains new strength from the grandeur
of his later life"