The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-03-21
" RefOmIng u Thief.sE /

A cetain prominent grocery firm in
this city had been missing little articles
quite frequently of late, and suspicion
fixed upon a certain yonng man who WIS.,
tied the store often I'M spsssing, &C.
casionally making small purchases. They
agreed TO- watch him the, next time
he came in, one partner outside, and one
inside. They tried in vain tf,r three
| weeks or more; still the articles disap-
peared and the young man made bis
visits, though he had never been seen
taking anything. One day last week the
partner who was watching from the out
side pretended to be reading a newspap-
er, and, by looking over it, caught him in
the act. The inside partner collared
him and led him back to the rear t.
counsel HIM.
"Now," said said the merchant you
have been stealing from me for several
weeks, and want to know how much
you + ink you owe me. Be honest about
it; you have been both clerk and Gus
TONER"
Tho 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, to pay
me all you owe me and submit to a
whipping, or 60 to the penitcnitary.
Which will you do? You are young and
may be reformed, and I don't want to
disgrace you publicly; but l feel that
would do great wrong to let you 20
without whipping to remind you Of it.'
The young man said he would receive
the whipping and pay up; while he ap-
pleciated the kind motives of the mer
hant, he would very much like
to have the whipping omitted. The
merchant invited him to walk down in
the cellar and sec 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 ne certainly could
not do other than and satisfy his con-
science.
'What are you going to whip me
with2"
THAT piece of board," replied the mer-
chant, pointing to strip some three in
ches wide. ."Buckiyourself across that chick
en-coop, and I'll do my solem duty,
young man. It's serious matter. and I
am truly sorry to have to do it, but my
conscience requires it."
The customers heard noise for about
a minute that they mstook for some one
knocking the bung out OF an empty bar
rel, or splitting kindling. After ten good,
hearty strokes the merchant let him up.
"How do you feel now, young man!'
II feel very bad, sir; very sorry
II, too, feel sorry and bad, and 1 think
you had better get down on your knees
and ask God to forgive your SINS"
Tne young man prayed feeling
prayer, and shed copious tears of repent
ance.
When he arose the merchant said, ''How
do you feel now.'
''Awful," said the young man.
'Then, in order to impress this occasion
on your mind, and that you may never
forget the cause of it, just bend over that
chicken coop again minute"
He bent over, aid the sound of split
ting stove-wood was heard again-ten
more.
Then when he got up he wanted to cry,
but the merchant insisted that it was too
serious case for that, and l suggested
that he lead in prayer again. The young
man complied, and he had so much i'm
proved in that style Of com position that
the merchant realeased him
"Now,' said he, you are young man,
you are respectable, and move in respect
able circlesi you have kind and honor
able narents. this wor1d 6ispraca Won and
them if made public, and you have SUBJ
mitted to the chastisement and repented;
pay me what you owe and go your way
as usual, leaving off dishonesty, and I'll
not molest you" He went, but he hasn't
paid the money yet. This style of re-
formation for young men beats the Peni-
tentiary. Hc did not live in Jackson
Jackson (2ennl SM1l.