The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-08-07

or cared anything about him. lie was
not able to keep up his dues in the vari-
Gus moral organizations to which he be
longed, and had to endure the sharp pain
Of seeing himself brought under the dis
grace of suspension.
But the faster Edward died out of
public knowledge and interest. the faster
George rose in them. He was found
lying, ragged and drunk in the gutter
one morning. A member of the Ladies'
Temperance Refuge tished him ont, got
up subscription for him, kept him sober
a whole week, then got situation for
him. An account of it was published.
General attention was thus drawn to
the poor fellow. and a great many people
came forward, and helped him toward re-
form with their countenance and encour-
agement. He did not drink drop for
two months. and meantime was the pet
of the good. Then he fell-in the gut
ter; and there was general sorrow and
lamentation. But the noble sisterhood
rescued him again. They cleaned him
up, they fed him, they listened to the
mournful music of his repentances, they
got him his situation again. An account
town was drowned i'll happy tears over
the re-restoration of the poor beset and
struggling victim of the fatal bowl. A
grand temperance revival was got up,
and after some rousing speeches had been
made the chairman said, ,impressively,
I'VE are now about to call for Signers:
for you which not many in this house
will be able to view with dry eyes. =
There was an eloquent pause, and then
George Benton. escorted by a red sashed
detachment of the Ladies of the Refuge,
stepped forward upon the platform and
signed the pledge. The air was rent
with applause, and everybody cried for
joy. Everybody wrung the hand of the
new convert when the meeting was over.
his salary was enlarged next day: he
was the talk of the town, and its hero
An account of it was published.
George Benton fell, regularly, every
three months, but was faithfully rescued
and wrought with every time and good
situations were found for him. Finally,
he was taken around the country lectur-
ing as a reformed drunkard. and he had
great houses and did an immense amount
of good.
He was SO popular at home. and so
trusted-during his sober intervals-that
he was enabled to use the name of
principal citizen, and get large sum of
money at the bank. A mighty pressure
was brought to bear to save him from
the consequences of his forgery, and it
was partially successful. he was ''Sent
up = for only two years. When, at the
end of a year, the tireless efforts of the
benevolent were crowned with success,
and he emerged from the penitentiary
with pardon i'll his pocket. the Prison
~ - iSii'i i'otiStN lllill tllC tlOol
with 4 situation and Il comfortable sal
AIRY, and all the other benevolent people
came forward and gave him advice, en-
and help. Edward Mills
had once applied to the Prisoners Friend
Society for q situation. when in dire
need, but the question, s. Have you been
~ Il,
case.
While all these things We're going on
Edward Mills had been quietly making
head against adversely. He was still
poor, but was in receipt of a steady and
sufficient salary, as the respected and
trusted cashier of bank. George Ben
ton never came near him, and was never
heard to inquire about linn. George got
to indulging in long absences from the
town; there were i'll reports about him,
hut nothing definite.
One Winters night some masked bur-
glars forced their way into the bank and
found Edward Mills there alone. They
him to reveal the combina-
ton, so that they could get into the
safe He refused. They threatened his
life. He said his employers trusted him,
and he could not be traitor to that trust
He could die, if he must, but Willie he
lived he would be faithful: he would not
yield up the combination. The bur-
glars killed him.
The detectives hunted down the crimi-
mails; the chief one proved to be George
Benton. y wide sympathy was felt for
the widow and orphans of the dead man,
and all the newspapers i'll the land
begged that all the banks in the land
would testify their appreciation Of the
fidelity and heroiSm of the murdered
cashier by coming forward with gener-
GUS contribution Of money in aid of his
family, now bereft of support. The re-
suit YVES a mass of solid cash amounting
to upwards of five hundred dollars-an
average of nearly three-eighths of Il cent
for each bank in the Union. The cash
ier's own bank testified it's gratitude by
endeavoring to show (but humiliatingly
failed in it) that the peerless servant
himself had knocked his brains out with
a bludgeon to escape detection and pun
ishment.
George Benton was arraigned for trial.
Then everybody seemed to forget the
widow and orphans in their solicitude for
poor George. Every thing that money
and influence could do was done to save
him, but it all failed: he was sentenced
to death. Straiyhtway the governor was
besieged with petitions for communication
or pardon; they were brought by tear
full young girls; by sorrowiul old maids:
by Populations of pathetic widows: by
shoals Of impressive orphans. But no,
the governor-for once-would not yield.
Now George Benton experienced re-
ligion. The glad news flew all around
From that time forth his cell was always
full of girls and women and fresh flow
ers: all the day long there was prayer
hymn singing, and thanksgivings, and
holnilies, and tears, with never an inter
ruption. except an occasional five minute
intcrmission for refreshments.
This sort of thing continued up to the
very gallows. and George Benton went
proudly home, i'll the black cap, before