The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-12-02
SAVED.

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SAVED.
The design of wise and humane laws
is to save from crime, as well as to
punish ot1enses; and Tor this reason a
large number OF Glses that come before
the lower courts are lef to the discre-
ton of the presiding Judge.
A few Years ago there appeared one
morning in the throng of criminals that
crowded the dock OF one of our city
courts a young m IN who evidently did
not belong to the ordinary class of
criminals. Among the hardened and
brutal faces that surrounded him. his
downcast, melancholy, refined features
attracted the Judge attention. His
otfense was drunkenness; and it was not
the first time he had been brought into
court on the same humiliating charge.
His history was a common One-that of
the boy brought up by respectable pa
rents in the country, coming to the city
to earn his living, forming habits of
iirmed inebriate. He had been dealt
leniently with on previous occasions,
but now something decisive must be
done. After hearing his case the Judge
said to h m:
Il don't want to send you to the
House of Correction; but [ don't see
what else | can do What do you think
yourself? Is there any hope of your
reform?'
II don't know" the young man re-
piled, despondently, Il will try"
"You will try! So YOU have said be-
fore, and we see what your trying
amounts to. Is the reanybody who will
take charge of you, and be responsible
fer you, if let you OF on probation"
The young man burst into tears.
"My father" he said, in a broken
voice. Il don't know of anybody but
my father"
Well" said the Judge, "we will
send for your father and see what can
be done"
In two days time the father came -
kind, atfectionate, dee .,ly-agiiicted old
man-who gratefully accepted the
charge, and took his son away, with
the agreement that both should return
at a certain day and give a faithful ac-
count of the youth conduct during the
term of probation.
The fatEs: took his son home with
him to the country, and at the appoint
ed time promptly appeared in court,
hope III and happy. He reported that
his son had entirely left off his bad
habits, and become once more sober,
trustworthy and ambitious.
THAT is very gratifying" said the
Judge; "b t why didn't you bring him
to town with you?"
81 did," replied the father Il left
him to do a few errands. He will be
here in few minutes; he will certainly
be here he added, with cheerful CON
tidence.
An hour passed; still the son did not
come. A half-hour more; yet the father
firmly believed h S boy would redeem
his promise, and repeated: He will
surely be heren'
The son did, indeed, arrive in season,
but alas. at the wrong door, and sup
ported by two police-ofcers, who
thrust him into the dock-drunk again
The father was in despair. So was
likewise the son, when he realized his
situation. He had held out until the last
hour, when, meeting a former compan-
ion on the street, he hal yielded to the
temptation of taking lust one glass, "
which for him meant several glasses,
degradation and the police-court once
more!
Moved by the fathers entreaties, the
sons renewed pledges, and his own hui
name disposition, the Judge consented
to give the young man another trial. 1t
was an almost hopeless leniency, Did
he hold out? Yes, it is gratifying to
know that this time he held out, not only
until the last hour, but passed even that
safely, and is now a sober, upright man.
But this is one case out of scores who
never break away from the bondage of
their fatal vice. Youth'S Companion.