Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-05-14

the paths of happiness and virtue. And,
thoughts of everyone of this class to-
night, back to the time when, in the in
nocence and purity of childhood, they
played with the little brothers and sis
tiers about the old homestead, Joyous as
the birds to whose songs they listened,
and happy as the lambs whose gambols
they beheld. Let their minds wander
back to the pleasant schooldays, when
their parents looked with joy and pride
upon boyish attainments, and talked
together of the happiness which should
be theirs, when with the youthful mind
expanded by knowledge, and wisdom
bestowed with the years of maturity,
they should behold their sons holding
high and honorable positions, credit
to themselves and source of Joy and
pride to the parents who had SO tender
ly reared them. But, Father, thou
knowest of the temptations which beset
them, thou knowest that too often the
grasping avarice and unjust exactions
Of employers have driven them to the
verge Of despair, and, in moment of
discouragemeIlt, at failing to make a
comfortable living by honest toll, they
haYe yielded to the temptation to OBJ
tain by foul means what greed and craft
prevented them from acquiring by fair
means, and when the first downward
step was taken. and the strong arm Of
the law was raised against them, thy
plying eve has beheld the agony of
wives and mothers whose pillows were
~ x,,,tl, Zoo 20 cboI for f|o orri,,rr c,oc
who had not been strong enough to
stem the tide of temptation which set
against them. lt5N {. .
Father, have mercy on them, for
sometimes the prisoner at the bar
really possesses more startling manhood
and redeeming qualities of the heart
than the judge who passes sentence up
on him; only circumstances made On a
Judge and the other criminal.
"Teach us all to remember that we
are only human, and that the robber is
one of the children gone astray, only to
be brought back in thine own good
time; it may be through the intercession
of sainted mothers who look Down in
love and pity upon them; longing for
the time when they shall abandon their
tue. 0, Father, if this night any of
these errlng ones are abroad, plotting
evil against the innocent and unpro-
tected, lead them to reflect upon the
wrong which they are doing themselves,
and add not another crime to those
which already stain their souls; but let
them be led back to the path of virtue,
before another crime shall take them
farther away, and make it harder to re-
turn. Father of mercy, protect my
helpless children; and when they have
arrived at years of maturity, teach
them to be merciful to the erring."t
She arose and carried her children
into an adjoining room, and laid them
in the bed, and, suddenly remember
ing that her husband had left his revolt
yer at home, she took it from bureau
drawer and placed 1t where she could
reach it in an instant.
81 think will leave the lamp burn
ing" she said, aloud; "some homeless
wanderer may call for shelter before
morning"
She stepped back into the bedroom,
resolved to defend herself and children
desperately if the worst should come,
and, with the door nearly closed, stood
watching the table IN breathless sus-
pense, with one hand grasping the re-
volver. In a few moments man came
from under the table and stood looking
toward the room in which she stood.
The light shone full upon his face,
and che anxiously scanned his features.
He was apparently not more than thir-
ty years Of age, and certainly looked
more like a gentleman than robber.
His forehead was broad and white, eyes
and hair dark, features regular and in
telligent in their expression. He GER
tainly lacked the look of ferocity which
she had supposed belonged to robbers,
and she mentally decided that he was
not fallen too low to be reached through
his mental and moral nature.
He stood thoughtful and irresolute,
and sigh escaped his lips as he looked
around the room. Mrs. Adams opened
the door, and stood facing him, with
her hand still grasping the concealed
weapon.
"What is your business here?" she
asked, TREMENDOUSLY.
Madam" replied the man, respect
luIly,. USS 6At1I tOu WILL IOC SNO y Jul
self any needless alarm, for will harm
neither you nor your children. l came
for the purpose of robbing you, but my
right hand shall wither before l will
take one farthing from your possessions.
Your singing has completely subdued
me, and prepared my heart to receive
the good seed which your prayers has
sown, for I, at least, will be led back to
the path Of virtue, ere crime has made
it too late to return will not deny
that l am desperately wicked, but as yet
my soul is not stained by crime, and l
firmly believe that have been directed
to this spot to begin wicked and sin
full career, by some Providential power,
that my purpose my might be thwart-
ed, and my mind and consistence
aroused to a sense of my danger be-
fore it was too late. l have not listen
ed to that wise counsel, "My son,
if sinners entice three, consent thou
not" but have fallen in with evil COM
panions and become member of an
organized band of robbers, and tonight
II