The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-09-16

efforts as his due to their duty, and did
not mend his ways. He added a vice
presently-that of secret gambling. He
got deeply in debt; he borrowed money
on the firms credit as quietly as he
could, and carried this system Sc far and
so successfully that one morning the
sheriff took possession of the establish
ment, and the two cousins found them
selves penniless.
Times we're hard now, and they grew
worse. Edward moved his family into a
garnet, and walked the streets day and
night seeking work. He begged for it,
but it was really not to be had. He was
aston1shed to see how soon his face be-
came unwelcome; he was astonished and
hurt to see how quickly the ancient in
terest which people had had in HIM fad
ed out and disappeared. Still, he must
get work so he swallowed his chagrin
and toiled on in search of it. At last he
got a job of carrying bricks up ladder
in nod, and was grateful man in con-
sequence; but after that nobody knew
him. He was not able to keep up his
dues in the various moral organizations
to which he belonged, and had to endure
the sharp pam of seeing himself brought
under the disgrace of suspension.
But the faster Edward died out OF in
terest and knowledge, the faster George
rose in them. He was found lying, rag
ged and drunk, in the gutter one morn
ing. A member of the Ladies' Temper
ance Refuge fished him out, took him in
hand, got up subscription for him, kept
him sober whole week and then got a
situation for him. An account Of it was
published. ... u:
General attention was thus drawn to
the poor fellow, and great many peo-
pie came forward and helped him toward
reform with their smiles and encourage
ment He did not drink drop for two
months, and meantime was the pet of the
good. Then he fell-in the gutter; and
then there was 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 repentance, they got him his situa-
ton again. This, also, was published,
and the town was drowned in happy
tears over the restoration OF the poor, be-
set and struggling victim Of the bowl.
A grand temperance revival was got up,
and after some rousing speeches had
been made, the chairman said, impress
lively: eve are now about to call for
signers; 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
detachmentS of the ladies of the Refuge,
stepped forward and signed the pledge.
The air was rent with applause, and ev-
erybody cried tor joy. Everybody wrung
the hand of the new convert when the
meeting was over, his salary was enlarged
next morning; 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 vvezv found for him. Finally,
he was taken around the country lectur-
ing, as 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 a
principal citizen, and get large sum of
money at the bank. A mi hty pressure
was brought to bear to save him from
the consequences OF his forgery, and it
was partially suecessful-he was 'sent
up" for only two years. When at the
end of year, the treless efforts of the
benevolent were crowned with success,
and he emerged from the penetentiary
with pardon in his pocket, the Prison
er's Friend Society met him at the door
with situation and comfortable sal
airy, and all the other benevolent people
came forward and gave him advice, en-
couragement, and help. Edward Mills
had once applied to the Prisoners
Friend Society for a situation, when in
dire need, but the question, ''Have you
been a prisoner?" made brief work of his
case.
While all these things were going on,
Edward Mills had been quietly making
head against adversely. He was still
poor, but in receipt of steady and suf-
fcient salary, as the respected and trusted
cashier of a bank. George Benton never
came near him, and was never heard to
inquire about HIM. George got to in
dulging in long absences from the town;
there were i'll reports about him, but
nothing definite. $50. .:... g..
One winters night some masked bur-
glars forced their way into the bank and
found Edward Mills there alone. They
commanded HIM to reveal the s'combina-
tom 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 while he lived
he would be faithful; he would not yield
up the Combination The burg liars
killed him. .e. s.. -..
The detectives hunted down the Grim
inals; the chief one proved to be George
Benton. A wide sympathy was felt for
the widow and orphans Of the dead man,
and all the newspapers in 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 a gener-
GUS contribution of money in aid Of his
family, now berett of support. The re-
suit was mass of solid cash amounting
to upwards of five hundred dollars