The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-03-14
Reforming q Thief.

A certain prominent grocery ilrm III
this city had been missing little arti-
cles quite frequently of late, and sus-
picion fixed upon certain young man
who visited the store often in passing,
occasionally making small purchases.
They agreed to watch him the next
time he came in, one partner outside
and one inside. 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 partner who was watching
from the outside pretended to be read
ing newspaper, and, 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 l want to know how much
you think you owe me. Be honest about
it; you have been both clerk and GUS
TONER"
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 man to
steal, and you must take YOUR choice,
to pay me all you owe me and sub
nit to whipping, or 60 to the Peni-
Tertiary. Which will you do? You
are young and may be reformed, and l
don't want to disgrace you publicly;
but feel that would do a great wrong
to let you go without a whipping to re-
mind you Of it,
The young man said he would receive
the whipping and pay up; while he APP
preciated the kind motives of the mcr-
chant, he would like very much to
have the whipping omitted. The mer-
chant 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
conscience.
"What are you going to whip me
with?''
"That piece of board,'' replied the
merchant, pointing to strip some
three inches wide. g Buck yourself
across that chicken-coop, and I'll do
my solemn duty, young man. It's a
serious matter, and | am truly sorry to
have to do it, but my conscience re-
quires it,
The customers heard u noise for
about 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.
"How do you feel now, young man!'
Il feel very bad, sir; very sorry"
II, too. feel sorry and bel, and l
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 re-
pentance.
When he arose the merchant said,
How do you feel now?''
Awful" said the young man.
"Ther, in order to impress this &C.
casion on your mind, and that you may
never forget the cause of it, just bend
over that chicken-coop again min
ute"
He bent over, and 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
suggested that he lead in prayer again.
The young man complied, and he had
so much improved in that style Of COM
position that the merchant released
him.
"Now," said he, "you are 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, and you
have submitted to the chastisement and
repented; pay me what you owe and 60
your way as usual, leaving off dis
honesty, 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 in Jackson.-Jackson Tenn.)
Sun.