The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-04-25
The Old Han In Court.

~sS~S~
He was not only drunk, but ugly and
obstinate. All night long he had kicked
the door of his cell and raised high riot,
and he threatened to tear the fixtures
of the courtroom out as soon as he
came to trial. Bijah had sought to
soothe him in various ways, but he
would not be soothed. When the jani-
tor sat down on q nail.keg and sadly
sang the song of ''James Bird and
how he was shot to death ON Lake Erie's
distant shore, the old man began to
shout the lament of Captain Jinks'' in
his liveliest manner. When Biiah Of
fered him fried-cake, with the motto,
"What is Home without an Appetite"
carefully stamped on one end, the bad
old man flung it across the corridor and
came near doing great injury to mar
BILE bust of Sixteen-String Jack, exc
cuted ''by John Rogers.
His Honor was informed of the pres
ence of the old man, and of his ugli-
ness. and he said:
bring him out and let me see if he
has any one to care for, or any one to
be kind to him.
II can't be drivenr' exclaimed the
prisoner, as he came before the bar and
assumed q defiant look.
"When I am DID," softly replied His
Honor, "when 1 am old and broken
down and trembling, l shall hope to
have children to love me-"
"Eh? have no Children" muttered
the old man, seemingly greatly sur
prised.
"When my head is white with old
age" continued the Court, 'when my
voice is broken and the harsh words of
men cut my old heart, then shall love
to think of the children who, if not liv-
ing to tighten my burdens, sleep peace
fully in graves which the spring sun
and warm rains are clothing in green"
'Cbildren-dead-yes. have buried
children" unused the old man. his face
growing softer.
.'If am q poor old man." whispered
the Court, " if my wife is dead and my
children rest under the willOws-if
poverty, hunger and cold come to me
to make me hate the world and feel
desperate and look upon all men As my
enemies, will let drink alone-I will
fight back the bitterness creeping into
my heart-I will let prayers take the
place of curses"
The old man had no reply. He was
paler than before, and his chin quivered
little.
1.-THE world is careless and harsh and
sometimes cruel" said His Honor,
s'but the world is tender toward the
woman whose face is pinched by old
age and the man whose work in the
busy marts of life is done. Under the
wrinkles and gray locks we look for
goodness. We do not always find it,
and when we do not, we feel that the
world has been too harsh.''
"Folks haven't used me right!' said
the old man, as he brushed at his eyes.
.sThey should be ashamed to make
trouble for an old man like you. You
are not bad old man."
"N-no, l hope not"
''If you have been wronged, the Law
will aid you to secure your rights"
said the Court. "H you are in want,
you will find friends right here,''
"I-I-r' stammered the prisoner.
"You got drunk, but your old heart
was hardened. You were revengeful,
because you felt desperate. 1 shall let
you 90. See how the sunshine creeps
in! Imagine h0w the green grass is
springing and the birds praising God!
1 wouldn't send you to prison for all the
money in the worldr'
The old man tried to speak, but he
could not. Tears ran down his cheeks,
his chin quivered, and he CROPPED his
way out with all the tenderness in his
heart which q man can have.
1--WE have too much law and too
little charity" unused the Court, as he
watched the old man out, and he was
long in calling the next case.-Detroit
Free Ress.