The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-01-29
MISCELLANY.
A THRILLING INCIDENT.

In the Winter of 1870 had occasion to go
from Green Bay to Chicago, on the N. w.
Railway At Oshkosh we were Joined by a
delegation of lawyers, on their way to Madi-
son, the capitol, to attend the Legislature,
thon in session. They were all men of more
than usual intellect, and of exceptional char
acter. Two were ex-judges of the Circuit
Court, and one l had seen Chairman of the
Young Mems Christian Association. The
party found seats near together, and after the
salutations were over, and the news duly dis
cussed, they began to look about for means to
while away the time. After awhile some one
proposed game of cards. No sooner said
than done. Two seats were turned apart so
as to face each other: a cushion improvised
for table, and three of our lawyers, includ-
ing the chairman of the Young Mems Christ
ian Association, and Chicago runner, on
good terms with them, were soon deep in the
mysteries of game of euchre.
| was surprised to see a Christian gentle
men and judges of law equity leaders of So
ciety. makers of public sentiment, law givers
X
supposed to be public exempars of all that is
good, and guides to the young, thus setting
publicly their seal of approval to most dan
gerous and evil practice. To be sure, they
played for stakes no higher than the cigars
for the party. But it seems to me that, in
change the act nor lessen tho danger of its
example, but rather hightens it as from the
less to the greater is the invariably course of
crime. But did not intend to moralize on
paper, but was about to say that while l was
filled nth such thoughts as these, one of the
naming judge was invited to take his place.
/ saw the blood mount in an honest blush of
disapproyal to his manly face, and he hesitat-
ed and drew back. But the game had become
interesting, and his excited companions urged
him, "Come judge, take a hand, they cried,
we can't go on without YOU" SO the judge
slowly rose from his seat, inwardly condemn
ing the act, as evidently saw, and stepping
forward took a seat among the players, and
the game went on.
the players, who had got on board at Men
asha, believe. Gray and bent with age she
had sat abashed, and, With eyes closed, SEEM
ed asleep most of the time, until the train,
stopping at Oshkosh took on board the COM
pany of lawyers. She then underwent
change, and became greatly interested in the
company, looking often from one to another,
as if she recognized them all, or was trying
to recall their faces. When the game of cards
was started she became very restless, would
hitch uneasily about in her seat, take up the
hem of her faded apron and nervously bite
the threads. Once or twice | thought she
wiped her eyes under her q Shaker bonnet"
but could not tell She acted so strange, that
| became more interested in her than in the
players and watched her closely. She got up
after time and tottere9 forward, holding on
to the seats as she passed. She brushed "a
come interested in the game and did not no.
tice her. Reaching the water tank at last,
she drank cup of water, and took seat
near the door, with her back to the players
But she did not long remain there rising a.
gain with difficulty, she tottered back to her
former seat, but reaching the players, she
paused directly in front Of them, aud now,
greatly excited, threw back her bonnet from
her face and looked around at the company.
Her action at once arrested their attention,
and pausing in their play, they all looked up
inquiringly.
Gazing directly in the face of Judge -,
she said in a tremulous voice Do you
know me judge"
No, mother, don't know you" said the
Judge, pleasantly. I" Where have we met
g My name is Smith, F." said she 8" was
with my poor boy three days. off and on, in
the court room in Oshkosh, when he was tri-
ed Notwithstanding somebody, and you
are the same man that sent him to prison for
ten years, and he died there last june"
All faces were now sober, and the passen-
gers began to gather around and stand up, all
over the car, to listen and see what was going
on. She did not give the judge time to ans
wer her, but becoming more and more exct-
ed, she went on /" He was good boy if you
did send him to Jail. He helped US clear the
farm, and when father was taken sick and
died he did all the work, and he was getting
along right smart, till he took to going to
town and took to playing keards and drink
ing, and then, somehow be didn't like to work