Smyrna times., 1880-07-28

rs ne cOuluj anu carried IulS system SO laF
and SO successfully that one morning the
sheriff took possession Of the establishment,
and the two cousins found themselves pen
niless.
Times were hard now, and they grew
worse. Edward moved his family into a
garret and walked tho street, day and
night, seeking work. lie begged for it, but
it was really not to be had. lie was aston
shed to soc how soon his face became un-
welcome; he was astonished and hurt to
see how quickly the ancient interest which
people had had in him faded out and disap,
peared Still, he must get work, so he
swallowed his chaSrin and toiled on i'll
search of it. At last he got a job OF carry
ing bricks up ladder in hod, and was |
grateful man i'll consequence; but after |
that uoJ0dy knew him or cared thing about |
him. lie was not able to keep up bis dues |
in the various moral organizations to which |
he belonged, and had to endure the sharp |
pain of seeing himself brought under the |
disgrace of suspension.
But the faster Edward died out OF public
knowledge and interest the faster George
rose in them lie was found lying, ragged
and drunk, in the gutter one morning. A
member of the Ladies' Temperance Refuge
iished him out, took him in hand, got up
a subscription for him, kept him sober a
whole week, then got q situation for him.
An account Of it was published.
General attention was thus drawn to the
poor fellow, and great many people came
forward and helped him toward reform
with their courtenance and encouragement.
He did not drink drop for two months,
and meantime was the pet of tho good.
Then he fell-in the gutter; and there was
general sorrow and lamentation. But the
noble sisterhood rescued lin again. They
cleaned him up, they fed him they listened
to the mournful music of his rppentances,
they got him situation again. An ac-
count of this also, was published, and the
town was drowned in happy tears over the
restoration Of the poor beset and struggling
victim Of the fatal bowl. 4 grand temper
ance revival was got up and after somo
rousing speeches had been made the chair.
man said impressivcly, We arc now about
TO call for sgnrrs, and think there Is
spectacle in store 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 red
sashed detachment of the Ladies OF the
| Refuge stepped forward upon the platform
and signed the pledge. Tho air was rent
with applause and everybody cried for JOY.
| Every body wrung the hand of the new con
vert when the meeting was over his
salary was enlarged next day he was the
talk of the town and its hero Account Of
it was published.
George Benton fell regularly every three
months, but was faithfully rescued and
wrought with every time, and good stua-
tons found for him. Finally, he was taken
around the country lecturing rs areformed
drunkard, and he had great houses and dld
an immenee amount OF good.
lie was so popular at home, and SC
trusted-during his sober intcrvals-tha
he was enabled to use the name of a princl
pal citizen, and get large sum OF money a.
the bank a mighty pressure was brought
+, to bear to save him from the consequences
| of his forgery, and it was partially success
ful-he was sent up for only two years
; When, st the end of year, the tireles
E efforts of the benevolent were crowned will
. success, and he emerged from the peniten
;, | tary with a pardon in his pocket, the Pris
r oner's Friend Society met him at the doc
d with a situation and u comfortable salary
n and all the other benevolent people cam
forward and gave him advice, encourage
|. ment and help. Edward Mills had ono
!. applied to the Prisoners Friend Society fo
II a situation, when in dire need, but tn
k question, Have you been prisoner
Is made brief work of his case.
,s While all thase things were going OF
IS Edward Mills had been quietly maxim
n head against adversely. He was still poo
d but was in receipt of steady add sufficier
le salary, as the respected and trusted cashit
!, of bank. George Benton never came ne,
It. him, and was never heard to INQUIRE abol
to him. George got to indulging in lor
Q. absences from the town there were i'll +
as ports about him, but nothing definite.
ID One Winters night some masked bu
Sc glars forced their way into the bank, AT
30 found Edward Mills there alone. The
it commanded him to reveal the combin
TO tion," so that they could get into the SAT
by He refused. They threateusd his life. |
re said his employers trusted him, and
nd could not be a traitor to the trust. |
tn could die, if he must but while he lived
mt would be faithful; be would not yield |
he the Coordination" The burglars killed hi
ar. The detectives hunted down the erin
IN. mails; the chief one proved to be Geor
Benton. A wide sympathy was felt for t
in widow and Orphans Of the dead man, al
RS all the newspapers in the land would test
he their appreciation of the fiddlity and he
ors ism of the murdered cashier by coming f
in. ward with generous contribution of mon
in. in aid of his family now bereft of suppo
in The result was a mass of solid cash amour
nv ing to upward of five hundred dollars
"a. average Of nearly three.eights of a cent
all each bank in the Union. The cashe
mt own bank testified its gratitude by ende
CHI. oring to show (but humiliatlngly failed
We it) that the peerless servants accounts W,
of not square, and that he himself b
ted knocked his brains out with hludgeon
raj escape detection and punishment.
George Benton was arraigned for tr
yill Then everybody seemed to forget the wild
md and orphans in their solicitude for p
use George. Everything that money and in
ence could do was done to save him, bu
the all failed; he was sentenced to dea
left Straightway the governor was beseiged "
out petitions for Communication or pard
60 They were brought by fearful young gi
'ris. by sorrowful old maids, by Populations
left pathetic widows, by shoals of impress
son orphans. But no the governor, for or
'ver would not yield.
hey Now George Benton experienced religi
sed, The glad news few all around. From I
usi. time forth his cell was always full of g
he and women and fresh flowers all the
he long there was prayer and hymn sing
low, and Thanksgiving and homilies and te
un. with never an interruption, except an o.
" O sional FIVE minute intermission for refr
ONE ments.
and This sort of thing continued up to
,gan very gallows, and George Benton "
and proudly home, in the black cap, befol
said wailing audience of the sweetest and
fore that the region could produce. His q
fish had fresh flowers on it every day f