The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-09-10


saw Mr.. Carman take twenty dollars
that was not his own. felt shocked at
first IL seemed such wrong thing
But soon after he called me a simpleton
for handing back fifty dollar bill to
the teller of a bank, which he had over
paid me on check, and then"
"May ask the protection of the
court Yn said Mr.. Carman.
Is 1t true what the lad says 7" asked
the judge.
Mr.. Carman hesitated and looked
confused all eyes were ON his face; and
judges and jury, lawyers and spectators,
felt certain that he was guilty of leading
the unhappy young man astray.
"Not long afterwards" resumed the
young man, " in receiving my wages L
found that Mr.. Carman had paid me
fifty cents too much. 1 was about to
give 1t back to him, when L remember
ed his remark about letting people cor
rect their own mistakes, and said to
myself, let him correct his own er-
rors,' and dishonesty kept the money.
Again the thing happened, and again
kept the money that did not of right
belong to me. This was the beginning
of evil, and here L am. If he had
shown any mercy 1 might have kept
quiet and made no defense.'
The young man covered his face with
his hands and sat down overpowered
with his feelings. His mother, who was
near him, sobbed aloud, and bending
over, laid her hands on his head say
ing:
my poor boy my poor boy ~
There were few eyes in the courtroom
undimmed by tears. In the silence that
followed, Mr.. Carman spoke out
'' Is my character to be thus blasted
on the words of criminal, your hon
ors? Is this right Y''
Your solemn oath that this charge
is untrue" said the judge, twill set
you in the right"
1t was the unhappy boys only oppor-
tunity, and the court felt bound in hu-
manity to hear him.
James Lewis stood up again instantly
and turned his white face and dark
piercing eyes upon Mr.. Carman.
Let him take his oath if he dare 20
he exclaimed.
Mr.. Carman consulted with his coun-
sci and withdrew.
After brief conference with his as
sociates, the presiding Judge said, ad-
dressing the criminal
Ct In consideration of your youth and
the temptation to which in tender years
you were unhappily subjected, the court
gives you the slightest sentence, one
year imprisonment. But let me solemn
ly warn you against any further steps
in the way you have taken. Crime can
have no valid excuse. 1t is evil in the
sight of God and man, and leads only to
suffering. When you come forth again
after your brief incarceration, may it be
with the resolution to die rather than to
commit crime"
And the curtain fell on the sad scene
in the boys life. When it was lifted
again, and he came forth from prison,
year afterward, his mother was dead
From the day her pale face faded from
his vision as he passed from the court
room he never looked upon her again.
Ten years afterwards man was read
ing newspaper in far western town.
He had calm, serious face, and looked
like one who had known suffering and
trial.
&C Brought to justice at last ~ he said
to himself, as the blood came to his
face convicted on the charge of open
insolvency, and sent to State prison
So much for the man who gave me in
tender years the first lessons in ill-doing.
But, thank God, the first lessons have
been remembered. When you come
forth again, said the judge, may it be
with the resolution to die rather than to
commit a crime, and have kept this
injunction in my heart when there
seemed no way of escaping except
through crime; and God helping me,
will keep it to the end.