The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-09-27
Se'erf Story.
THE POWER OF MERCY.


Quiet enough in general, is the
quaint old town o. Lamborough. Wi.y
all this hustle 10 day2 Along the
hedge bound roads which lead to il,
carts, chaises, vehicles of every de
scription are jogging along, filled with
countrynen, aud here and there the
scarlet cloak and raw bonnet of some
female occupying a chair, placed
somewhat unsteadily behind them,
contrasts gayly with the dark coats or
gray snock frocks of the front rw;
from every cottage of the suburb so,ie
individuals Joined the stream, vhich
rolls on Increasing through the streets
until it reaches lac Castle. The ancie,.t
moat teeus with idIers and the hill op-
p"site, usually the quiet domain of .
score or two OF peaceful sheep, par
takes of the surrounding agitation
The voice of the multitude which
surrounds the court house sounds like
the murmur of the sea, till suddei ly il
is raised to a sort of shout. Judgr.
West. the terror of the surrounding
country, the sheep dealer and burs lar.
had been found guilty.
'tWhat is the senteuce?' Is asked
by hundred voices.
The answer is, Transportation for
life."
But there was one standing aloof on
the hill, whose inquiring eye wandered
over the crowd with indescrible an
guish, whose pallid cheek grew more
ghastly at the very denuhciation of the
cuiprit, and who, when at last the sen
tence was pronounced. fell InsensibIe
Oh the greensward. 1t was the burg
lars son.
When the boy recovered from his
swooD, it was late in the afternoon; he
was alone; the faint tinkling Of the
sheep bell had again replaced the
sound OF the human chorus of exp. eta
tion, and dread, aud jesting; all was
peaceful. He could not understand
why he lay there feeling so weak and
sick.
He raised himself tremulously and
looked around; the turf was cut and
spoiled by the trampling of many feet.
All his life of the last few months
fioated before his memory, bis resi-
dence in his fathers hovel with ruff1an
ly comrades. desperate schemes he hal
heard as he pretended to sleep in his
lowly bed, their expeditions at night,
their hasty returns, the news of his
fathers capture, his own removal to
the house of some female in the town.
the court, the trial, the condemnatiop
The father had been a hars', AMI
brutal parent, but he had not positive
ly i'll used the boy. OF the great AMI
merciful Father of the fatherlass the
child knew nothing. He deemed him
self alone in the world. Yet grief was
not his peivading feeling, nor the
shame of being known as the son of a
transport. 1t was revenge that burned
within him. The thought of the crowd
who had come to feast upon his fathers
agony; he longed to tear them to
pieces, and he plucked savagely a
handful of the grass upon which he
lay. On, that he were a man! that
he could punish them all-all-the
spectators first, the constables, the
Judge, the jury, the witnesses-one OF
them especially, q clergyman uamed
Leyton, who had -iven his evidence
more positively, more clearly than all
the rest. Oh, that he could do that man
some injury-but for him his father
would not have been identified and
convicted.
Suddenly thought occurred to him
his eyes sparkled with fierce delight
81 know where he lives" he SAID to
himself; che has e. farm and parson
ago in Milwood. / will do as l once
heard father say he did to the Squire
I will set bis barn and house on fire
Yes, yes, he shall burn for it-he shall
get no more fathers transported.
To procure a box of matches was al
easy task, and that was all the prepar
alton the boy made.
The autumn was far advanced. 4
cold wind was beginning to mosr
among the almost leafless trees, AM
George Vests teeth chartered, and hi
) ill-clad limbs grew numb, as he walket
along the road leading to Milwood.
Lucky it's a dark night; this fin'
wind will fan the flames nicely" b.
repeated to himself.
The clock was striking nine, but 8
was quiet as midnight; not soul stir
ring, not light IN the parsonage win
dow that he could see. He dared no
), open the gate, least the click of tn
!. latch should betray him, 80 he softl.
/ climbed over. But scarcely had b,
q dropped on the other side of the wal
: before the loud barking of dog star
!. tied him. He covered down behinC
= !. the hayrack, scarcely daring to breath,
= expecting each instant that the do
% would spring upon him. 1t was som
4, time before the boy dared to move
:: and as his courage cooled, his thir.
8 for revenge somewhat subsided also
OIL till he almost determined to return {
= Lamborough, but he was too tired. to
NJ cold, too hungry; besides, the woma