The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-07-13

: reclining In my easy chair before the war
: fire. by the shreking winds. the besti,
] rain outside. along with dim recollection
] Of the reports one and another bad Of Ia
been bringing me.agaiusi Ralph. who W
favorito OF mine.
7 / thought !, all over minute. aud tho
. putting ona dread nsught overcoa., n
providing myself with dark.lantern.
slipped out Of side door OF my houi
which opened upon a narrow lane, whic
took me, bya short cut. TO the rear wall
our factory. The only enterance to th
side Of the building was by means Of
} small iron door, which was just the thin
in such an emergency AS this.
This door let me into the basement. An
from thence could ascend by q narro
and unfrequentei stairway, 10 the conn
ing room. My rubber boots made no nois,
and crept stealthily forward, guided b
the light from my dark-lantern.
Creeping up toa little window in th
partition wall between the counting. .roor
and one Of the wsrerooms which l had en-
tered from the stairway. on my way 10 til
entry door Of the counting room. looked
| in.
The sight sickened me. could scarce
ly believe my own eyes, for there was
group OF some twelve lads from all condit
ions Of society in our town. One was my
own nephew, who that very day had dined
at my house, and to whom ] had given
iive.dollar gold piece They we're all pale
and excited. None OF them looked very
desperate.
l hal stout cane in my hand, and l
knew that my nephew. at least was aware
that it was present to me from Spanish
gentleman, and that 10 il was sheathed a
long, yicious.looking dirk. blade. ! crept
noiselessly around to the counting-room
door, and, as the boys had left it unlock
ed, suddenly opened it upon them. Step.
ping inside, l quickly drew the key IA
false one that they somehow procured)
from the lock, closed the door behind me,
locked it with my own key, and, together
with the false one, put into my pocket.
The long, glittering rows of the samples
Of our wares, such as pocket knives, stilet
los, table.knives and forks, ivory and pear
goods remained as yet untouched on the
velvet background of their handsome
glass and mahogany cases, while the small
canvass bags ofsilver coin had been placed
n our safe, aud were, of course, unmolest.
ID by these young novices in burglary.
Good evening, boys! said l. What calls
'ou here at this rather untimely hour?
-iood evening, nephew Fred, hardly ex.
,ected to meet you again SO soon!
Such terrorstricken, abject- looking
et of boys were never seen before.
even "Ralph of the Bloody Key" was un-
ble to gain equanimity enough to speak.
ioing straightway to my desk, took pen
nd paper, and, addressing the lad nearest
Ne, asked him his name, aud the names
i his parents on guardian. After careful |
y noting them down, unlocked the door
nd told him to go out and then to 90 |
irectly to his home.
This programme l followed with them
II, keeping my nephew and Ralph to the
ist. After they had both gone ! closed
he office door. could imagine the fear
hey must have experienced in cropping
heir way through the long, dark corridor
D the outer door, to the street, and then to
heir homes, least at every step an officer
hould pounce upon them and arrest them
Or of course they could not believe was
n the spot to deal with them alone
During all these proceedings, but ON the
art OF the boys and myself, SO noiselessly
ad been our motions, and the light from
ur dark lanterns so imperceptible Il had
ecurel the one the boys carried before
heir departnre,l that the watchman
A the main building whom we employed
,orc as a. fire patrol than for anything
lse, was unaware Of our presence. soon
)und him, aud saying that it had been
ecessary for me to so to the counting
pom late that evening, and that wished
e would that night and in the future visit
nat room also in his rounds, went home.
! rose early in the morning, and was a.
le gate, where Ralph had promised to
leet me, long before the hour for his ar
wal. could find no traces OF the W ould
e burglars except some shreds OF cloth
ig caught in the framework OF the little
'okout window, and few spots OF blood
pom it. As l had coujectured every one
( those boys. had crawled through it both
, and from their burglarions exploit.
alph had given up the key OF the gate to
ie head book. k.keeper as usual that even.
lg, aud the boys had been unable to find
duplicate for the complicated paddock.
! kept my own counsel, and / kept my
res on every one OF those boys. con.
dered the matter well, and resolved not
expose them. I was determined TO ef.
ct their reform il possible, first by
eansing their minds and hearts from the {
rus OF corrupting books and periodicals,
I'd rescuing them from the fatal snares OF 0
leness. ! managed to obtain frequent 9
-iyate interviews with them all. pre-. q
nted each one with years subscription t
apnre, interesting, useful youths week. 4
paper and a magazine. d
As have intimated. did not immedi.
ely discharge Ralph, but kept him at his I
,st until could find suitable accessor, c
ben intended to give him other employ. Z
ent as ! eventually did Indeed. as fast =
| could find place for each one Of d
ose boys TO work | gave him employ. n
cnt Il
The most difficult thing on my hands in u