Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-11-22

only fickered little, and went out. In
great trepidation, young West once more
| grasped the whole of the remaining
matches in his hand and ignited them,
but at the same instant the dog barked.
He hears the gate open, a step is close
/ to him, the matches are extinguished,
| the lad makes a desperate. effort to
| escape, but q strong hand was laid on his
shoulder, and deep, calm voice in
ouired, "What can have urged you to
such a crime ?' Then calling loudly, the
gentleman, without relinquishing his
| mold, soor obtained the help of some
| farming men, who commenced search
l with their lanterns ell about the farm.
Of course they found no aecompiees,
nothing at all but the handful Of half
| consumed matches the lad had dropped,
and he all that time stood trembling,
and occasionally struggling, beneath the
firm but not rough grasp Of the master
Who held him.
At last the men were tod to return to
the house, and thither, by a different
path, was George led, till they entered
4 small, poorly Furnished room. The
walls were covered with books, as the
| bright fame of the fire revealed to the
anxious gaze of the little culprit. The
clergyman Lit lamp, and surveyed his
| prisoner attentively. The lads eyes
were fixed on the ground, while Mr..
Le;ghton's wandered from his pale,
pinched features to his scanty, ragged
attire, through the tatteYs of which he
could discern the thin limbs quiVering
| from cold or fear; and when at last i'm
PEELED by curiosity at the long silence,
George looked up, there was something
so sadly compassionate in the strangers
gentle look, that the boy could scarcely
believe that he was really the man whose
evidence had mainly contributed to
transport his father. At the trial he
had been unable to see his face, and
nothing so kind had ever gazeG upon
him. His proud bad feelings were
already nothing.
'You look half-starved," said Mr. Ley
| ton; "draw near to the fire you can sit
down on that stool while question you;
and mind you answer me the truth. l
am not magistrate, but of course can
easily hand you over to justice if you
will not allow me to benefit you in my
Own way"
George still stood twisting his ragged
cap in his trembling fingers, and with
so much emotion depicted on his face
that the good clergyman resumed, in
still NOSE soothing accents: 81 have no
wish to do you anything but good, my
poor boy; look up at me, and see if you
can not trust me; you need not be thus
frightened. / only desire to hear the
tale Of misery your appearance indicates.
to relieve it, if l can"
Here the young culprit's heart smote
him. Was this the man whose house
he tried to burn? On whom he had
wished to bring ruin and perhaps death?
Was it snare spread for him to lead to
a confession? But when he looked on
that grave compassionate eountenance,
he felt that it was not.
"Come, my lad, tell me all.
George had for years heard little but
oaths, and eurses, and ribald jests, or the
thief's iargon of his fathers associates,
and had been constantly cuffed and pun
ished; but the better part of his nature
was not extingmshed and at those
words from the mouth of his enemy, he
dropped on his knee. and clasping his
hands, tried to speak, but could only
sob. He had not wept before during
that day of anguish, and now his tears
gushed forth so freely. his grief was SO
passionate as he half knelt, half rested
On the floor, that the good questioner
saw that sorrow must have its course ere
calm could be restored.
The young penitent still wept, when
knock was heard at the door, and a lady
entered. It was the clergyman's wife.
he kissed her as she asked how he had
succeeded with the wicked man in the
Jail?
"He told me-" replied Mr.. Layton,
that he had a son whose fate tormented
kim more than his punishment Indeed,
his mind was so distracted respecting
the youth, that he was scarcely able to
understand my exhortations. He en-
treated me with agonizing energy to
save his son from such a life as he had
led, and gave me the address of woman
in whose house he lodged. was, how
ever, unable to find the boy in spite of
many earnest inquiries"
"Bid you hear his name% asked the
wife
George West, was the reply.
At the mention of his name, the boy
ceased to sob. Breathlessly he heard
of the benevolent clergyman's wish to
fulfill it! He started up, ran toward the
door, and endeayered to open it. Mr..
Layton calmly restrained him. "YOu
must not escape" he said.
u can not stop here. 1 can not bear
to look at you. Let me go% The lad
said this wildly and shook himself
away.
"Why, 1 intend you nothing but kind
ness"
49, al or -, ..I,oa ell,
and George West said, between his sobs.
while you were searching for me to
help me, l was trying to burn you IN
your house. l can not bear 1t" He
sunk on his knees, and covered his face
with both hands. -a
There was long silence, for Mr.. and
Mrs. Leyton were as much moved as the
boy, who was bowed down with shame
and penitence, to which hitherto ne had
been stranger
AT last the clergyman asked, what
could have induced you to commit such
a crime"
Rising suddenly in the excitement Of
remorse, gratitude, and many feelings
new to him, he hesitated for moment,
and then told his story he related his
trials, his sins, his sorrows, his supposed
wrongs, his burning anger at the terrible
fate of his. only parent, and his rage at
the exultation of the crowd; his desola-
lion on recovering from his swoon, his
thirst torvengeance, the attempt to sat
sly it. He spoke with untaught, child
Ike simplicity, without attempting to
suppress the emotions which successfully
0vercame him.
When he ceased, the lady hastened to
the crouching boy, and soothed him with
gentle words. The very tones of her
voice were new to him. They pierced
his heart more acutely than the fiercest
of the upbraidings and denunciations of
his old companions. He looked on his
merclful bcnefactors with beWildered
tenderness. He kissed Mrs. Leyton's
hand, then gently laid on his shoulder.
He gazed about like one in a dream who /
dreaded to wake. He became faint and
staggered. He was laid gently on sofa,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Leyton left him.
kood was shortly administered to him,
and after time, when his senses had
become sufficiently collected, Mr.. Ley
ton returned to the study, and explained
holy and beautiful things, which were
new to the neglected boy; of the great
yet loving Father; ofHim who loved the
poor, forlorn wretch equally with the
richest and noblest and happiest; oS the
force and efficacy of the sweet beatitude,
BLESSED are the Merciful, for they shall !
see Mercy"
1 heard this story from Mr.. Leyton
during a visit to him in May. George |
West was then head ploughman to