Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-05-15
A Touching Incident.

| AL O1u "oHdH< I'LL lOhS gray udll
stepped forward when her name wa
called, and confronted the police Judge
You are very old woman to be in
place of this kind" said the Judge
What is the charge against her? ?" turn
ing to an officer.
Stealing pot'of flowers, your hon
orr"
who made the eomplaint?"
Il did, replied man, stepping for
ward.
81 know that islooks hard to hsv,
an old woman arrested, but am a law
abiding citizen. judge, and don't in
tend 10 be imposes on. This is the way
the whole thing came about: l keep d
large flower depot. Day before yester
day this woman came into the store, and
when asked her II she wanted to buy
anything, she shook her head. Just
then customer came III and l paid nc
attention to her, but after she was gone
l discovered that pot containing 3
nice geranium, was missing. l knew
she took it, and what she wanted with
it is more than can tell. If she had
stolen something to eat or wear it would
have been different thing"
The old woman looked up aud said:
Judge, stole the flower"
Didn't you know it was wrong?
Yes"
"Was the temptation so great that
you could not withstand it?"
There was no temptation. 1t reQul-
red more of struggle to take it than il
would have required not to have taken
it,"
This is very singular occurrence
madam. Tell us all about it. Don't
think that we are among those who de-
sire TO see you punished, and rest assu-
red that [ will stand by you. Law OF
no law, it makes no difference. There
is court in the human heart, old wo
man. whose DEGREES go farther and are
nearer to justice than the written de-
clarations of any tribunal"
The old woman again looked up
Tears were in her eyes, but with CORN
er of The old black shawl drawn around
her shoulders, she wiped them away.
"Oh, sir" she said, "to make you un-
derstand why took the flower might
be story too long TO tell in d court, and
it might be out of place to tell it to
strangers, but as you have spoken 50
So kindly, will tell you. Years ago l
lived in this city. My parents were
well situated and was carefully reared
| married d man whom everybody re-
cogniZed as an elegant gentleman, but tO
me he proved to be drunken brute. AT
last he took our little boy and went
away, | know not where. leaving me
with BABY just two months old. My
parents had died and l went out into
the country and changed my name.
worked for living, heart-brOken as
was. Que day my little darling was ia
ken ill. l took her in my arms and
started toward town, where she might
have proper medical attention, but she
seemed to grow worse. At last l knew
she was dying and sat down under d
tree. | held her to my bosom for lou G
time, for she shivered, and when look
ed into her face again she was dead.
A man who lived near by made her a
coffin. and l buried my little girl under
the tree where she died. Then l went
away, l know not how, and be-
gan search for my husband, not that
wanted him, but that L wanted my son,
| must have gone crazy, for l was seized
OIlS udy duu G6hSu " udu uOuoC. 1lO"
long l remained there | don't know, but
| could see that was much older look
ing than when 1 went in. From time
to time implored the keeper to let me
out, but he refused. About month
ago saw an opportunity and escaped
| was not mad. and when again under
the blue sky, the memory of my trou-
bles was as fresh AS though but day
had passed. turned, after much in
quiry, to my native place. and few
days ago arrived here, but l did not
stop until had found my way to the
little grave under the tree. had Car
ried stones and built a little mound
around it, but briars and bushes had
grown up so thickly that could hardly
find the place. l cleared the briars
away and came to town. While passing
along the street l saw this mans flow>
ers. l stole geranium pot, and it now
sits on the little child's grave"
The flower dealer had sank upon q
bench Great God, Judgel' he exclaim
ed, springing up. 1.-The woman is my
motherI'- Traveller.