Litchfield enquirer., 1880-07-22
A Tale by Mark Twain,

The new Atlantic contains the tale of Ed
ward Mills and George Benton by Mark Twain
whichFis as clever satire on the sentimental
ty over crime as that sort of gush has ever re-
ceived. Edward Mills minded from boyhood;
George Benton never did. Edward prosper
ed. George always had to be helped. III ey
had the same adopted parents, who left all the
property to George because Edward could take
care of himself So it went in all things, even
the girl that Edward was engaged to dropped
him, as it was her duty to save George. Hard
times threw Edward out of regular work, and
he relapsed to common labor a while; but
George became fourishing drunkard. We
give the last part of the story, leaving it TO
readers Of the Atlantic to get the full enjoy
Sment of the whole 60 &2s s
- A grand temperance revival was got up, and
after some rousing speeches had been made,
the chairman said impressivelY "We are now
about to call for signers and | think there is
a 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, step
ped forward upon the platform and signed the
pledge. The air was rent with applause, and
everybody cried for joy. Everybody wrnng
the hand of the new convert when the meeting
was over; his salary was enlarged neat 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, apd good situations
were found for him. Finally, he was taken
drunkard, and he had great houses and did an
immense amount of good. !
He was SO popular at home, and 30 trusted
during his sober intervals-that he was en-
abled to use the name of principal citizen,
and got large sum OF money at the bank. A,
mighty pressure was brought to bear to save
him from the consequences ofhis forgery, and
it was partially successful-he was ''sent up"
for only two years. When, at the end of
year, the tireless efforts of the benevolent were
crowned with success, and he emerged from the
pententiary with pardon in his pocket, the
Prisoners Friend society met him at the door
with situation aud comfortable salary, and
all the other benevolent people came forward
and gave him advice, encouragement and help.
Edward Mills had once applied to the Prison
er's Friend society for 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, Ed
ward Mills had been quietly making head
against adversely. He was still poor, but was
in receipt of steady and sufficient salary as
the respected and trusted cashier of bank.
George Benton never came near him, aud was
never heard to inquire about him. George
got to indulging in long absences from the
town /; there were i'll reports about him, but
nothing definite.
One winters night some masked burglars
forced their way into the bank, and found
Edward Mills there aloue. They commanded
him to reveal the "combln9tIon," 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 be lived he would be faithful; he would
not yield up the combination" The burglars
killed him. .-
The detectives hunted down the criminals
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 news
papers 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 generous contribu |
tian of money in aid of his family, now bereft |
of support. The result was a mass of solid |
cash, amounting to upwards Of $500-an av- |
erage of nearly three-eighths of cent for |
each bank in the Union. The cashiers own
bank testified its gratitude by endeavoring ID |
show (but humiliatingly failed in it, that the
peerless servants accounts were not square,
and that he himself had knocked his brains |
ont with bludgeon to escape detection and |
punishment. ..... .-.s .-.E- |
George Benton was arraigned for trial |
Then every body seemed to forget the widow |
and orphans in their solicitude for poor George.
Everything that money and influence could do |
was done TO save him, but it all failed; he |
was sentenced to death. Straightway the gov |
erner was besieged with petitions for commu-
tation or pardon they were brought by tear
full girls by sorrowful old maids; by deputa- |
tons of pathetic widows by shoals of impress |
sive orphans. But no, the governor-for once |
would not yield.
Now, George Benton experienced religion |
The glad news flew all around From that |
time forth his cell was always full of girls and
women and fresh flowers; all the day long |
there was prayer, and hymn-singing, and
thanksgiving, and homilies, and tears with |
never an interruption, except an occasional |
fve-minute intermission for refreshments.
This sort of thing continued up to the very |
gallows, and George Bel ton went proudly |
home, in the black cap before wailing au-
diencc of the sweetest and best that the region |
could produce. His grave had fresh flowers |
on it every day, for a while, and the head |
stone bore these words, under hand pointing |
aloft: "He has fought the good fight
The brave cashiers maidstone has this in |
scription: "Be pure, honest, sober, industri. |
Gus. considerable and you will never"
Nobody knows who gave the order to leave |
it that way, but it was so given.
The cashiers family are in stringent cir |
cumstances, now. it is said /; but no matter a |
lot of appreciative people, who were not will |
ling that an act so brave and true as his should
60 unrewarded have collected $42, 000-and |
built memorial church with it.
MARK TWAIN