The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-03-21
REFORMING A THIEF.
Novel Method Put in Execution by n
Tennessee Merchant.

N
Tennessee Merchant.
A certain prominent grocery firm III
this city had been missing little articles
quite frequently of late, and suspicion
fixed upon a certain young man, who
visited the store often in passing, occa-
sionally making small purchases. They
agreed to watch him the next time he
came in, one partner outside and one in
side. They tried in vain for three weeks
or more still the articles disappeared
and the young man made his visits |;
though he had never been seen taking
anything. One day last week the part
ner who was watching from the outside,
pretended to be reading q newspaper,
aud by looking over it, caught him in
the act. The inside partner collared
him and led him back to the rear to
counsel him.
"Now," said the merchant, "you
have been stealing from me for several
weeks, and want to know how much
you think you owe me? Be honest
about it ; you have peen both clerk and
customer"
The young man stated the amount he
considered justly due, and was anxious to
pay it.
The merchant said "Well, sir, you
know the law doesn't allow a man to
steal, and you must take your choice,
I to pay me all you owe me and submit
to whipping, or go to the penitentiary.
Which will You do? You are young and
may be reformed, and I don't want to
disgrace you publicly, but feel that I
would do great wrong to let you go
without whipping to remind you of it. F"
The young man said he would receive
the whipping and pay up while he ap-
preciated the kind motives OF the mer.
chant he would like very much to have
the whipping omitted. The merchant
invited him to walk down in the cellar
and see what fine stock was stored
there. When they reached the bottom
and the door was closed, the young man
said:
"You won't whip me, will you ?"
The merchant said he certainly could
not do otherwise and satisfy his con-
science.
"What are you going TO whip me
| with %
"That piece of board" replied the
merchant, pointing to strip some three
inches wide.
"Buck yourself across that chicken
coop, and I'll 10 my solemn duty, young
man. It's serious matter, and + am
truly sorry to have to do it, but my con-
science requires it."
The customers heard noise for about
a minute that they mistook for some one
knocking the bung out of an empty
barrel, or splitting kindling. After ten
good, hearty strokes the merchant let
| him up.
Chow do you feel now, young man p
81 feel very bad, sir /; very sorry
81, too, feel sorry and bad, and
think you had better get down on your
knees, and ask God to forgive your
SINS"
The young man prayed a feeling
prayer, and shed copious tears OF repent
ance.
When he arose the merchant said;
Glow do you feel now"
"Awful," said the young man.
"Then, in order to impress this oc-
casion on your mind, and that you may
over that chicken-coop again minute. "
He bent over, and the sound of split.
ting stove-wood was heard again-ten
more.
Then when he got up he wanted tc
cry, but the merchant insisted that il
was too serious matter for that, and
suggested that he lead in prayer again.
The young man complied, and he ha6
so much improved in that style Of com
position that the merchant released him.
"Now," said he, "you are a young
man, you are respectable, and move in
respectable circles; you have kind and
honorable parents; this would disgrace
you and them if made public; you have
submitted to the chastisement and re.
pented; pay me what you owe and &C
your way as usual, leaving off dishonesty,
and I'll not modest you." He went, but
he hasn't paid the money yet. This
style of reformation for young men beats
the penitentiary. He did not live il
jackson. Jackson (Tenn.) Sun.