Daily globe., 1878-03-17
Reforming a Thief.

1
off his coat.-Burlington Haackeye.
Reforming a Thief.
A cetain prominent grocery firm in
this city had been missing little articles
quite frequently Of late, and suspicion
fixed upon certain yonng man who Wis
tied the store often in passing, &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 for three
weeks or more; still the articles disap-
pcared 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 out
side pretended to be reading newspap-
er, and, by looking over it, caught him in
| 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 tIink 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 thelaw 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 penitenitary.
Which will you do? You are young and
may be reformed, and I don't want to
disgrace you publicly; but I feel that l
would do great wrong to let you go
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 see what a fine stock was
stored there. When they reached the
bottom, and the door was closed, the
young man said:
sYou won't whip me, will your
The merchant said ne certainly could
not do otherwise and satisfy his con-
science.
What are going to whip me
with?"
s.That piece of board, y replied the mer-
chant, pointing to a strip some three in
eles wide. "Buckiyourself across that chick.
en-coop, and I'll do my solem duty
| young man. It's seri Gus matter, and ]
am truly sorry to have to do it, but my
conscience requires it."
The customers heard noise for about
minute that they mistook 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
ssHow do you feel now, young mani
II feel very bad, sir; very sorry
81, too, feel sorry and bad, and l think
you had better get down on your knees
and ask God to forgive your SINS"
The young man prayed feeling
prayer, and shed copious tears Of repent
ance.
When he arose the merchant said, ssHoN
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, and the sound of split.
ting stove-wood was heard again-ter
more.
Then when he got up he wanted to cry
but the merchant insisted that it was toe
serious case for that, and I suggested
that he lead in prayer again. The young
man complied, and he had so much i'm
proved in that style of composition tha
the merchant realeased him
: "Now," said he, "you are young man
:, you are respectable, and move in respect
3 able circles; you have kind and honor
g able parents; this would disgrace you AM
: them if made public, and you have sub
mitted to the chastisement and repented
pay me what you owe and go your wa
0 as usual, leaving off dishonesty, and II
not molest YOU" He went, but he hasn
paid the money yet. This style of re
! formation for young men beats the PEN
tentiary. He did not live in Jackson
I Jackson (Tenn.) San.