Little Falls transcript., 1886-04-02
HOW | BECAME A CONVICT.
A STORY.

in the north of England. My father
was one OF the under gardeners and
lived in one OF the lodges on the domain
As soon as l entered upon my teens, l
was taken into the great house as a
sort Of page, where / was treated with
much kindness and favor. In while
l outgrew my "buttons," and was
then sent to the stable as an under
groom. Before | had reached nv
eighteenth birthday, my noble master
died. Ths son who succeeded to the
title and estates was quite unlike his
father. A clean sweep was made in ths
establishment; the racing-stud was
done away with; the elder servants
discharged; a retrenchment was made
all round; and in the change I was one
OF the many who had to seek work
elsewhere.
My lot was next cast in the large
town Of B, whittier had gone to
seek employment. A successful shop
keeper, who advertised his wares by
sending around the town snowy van
drawn by two handsome horses.
driven by a good looking, well-dressed
coachmau, wanted suitable groomto
complete the show. Coming fresh and
ruddy from Lords stables, l OBJ
tained the post without any trouble
and added very much, think, to the
attraction of the shopkeeper's show
as long as the bloom OF youth and
country air remained on my cheeks.
But | found the new life very differ.
ent from the old one. Coachee and =
had more leisure than was good for
us in this perambulating busi-
ness. Hurry was no part of
our duty in the delivery
OF parcels, and SO our driver frequent
ly turned aside into some by-street to
indulge his weakness for drink. had
been accustomed to have my glass of
home-brew in the servants hall and
up to this time can truly say that
my habits were sober. But compan-
ionship with my van-:ellow led me to
join him i'll his tippling, until at length
was almost as bad as himself. One
evening" after the usual calling at our
favoite houses, we were both without q
copper to take g. parting glass for the
night. In the stable loft, at the back
OF our masters premises, q pier-glass
had been slowed. It lay there for sew
eral weeks. We were in doubt about
it's ownership, and in our need OF cash
the coachman suggested that we emight
raise few shillings upon it. At first
| hesitated to take any part in the
matter; but my scruples and tears were
overcome by my companion. "Nay,
lad, you have naught to fear. On
payday we'll get it out of pawn, and
no one will be any the wiser"
Thus persuaded, l joined in the first
dishonest act ofmy life. Asfate would
have it, the pier-glass was wanted be-
tore payday came round. The guilt
was brought home to our door, and
the coachman and myself had to
change our livery for a prison dress.
'"Three months hard labor" came
like q death-knell upon my ears; and
with a choking lump in my throat, I
was lodged in the borough prison.
After the expiration OF my sentence,
the shame OF my disgrace prevented
me from going back to my fathers cot
tage. All the people on the estate
must have heard ofmy crime, and how
could / dare to show myself there!
Much down hearted, walked back to
the town from which l had been i'm
prisoned. The only opening that oc-
Cured to me was to join the army. I
could hide myself there, I thought.
So l walked to the recruiting quarters,
took the Queen shilling and enlisted.
Twas then under twenty years OF
age and "a promising youngster," as
the sargent said. All in good time, 1
was sent to Aldershot. A few months
stay there made me homesick. I re-
pented Of the step had taken, and
made up my mind to give up soldier
ing as soon as I got chance. My
difficulty was to get the clothing OF a
civilian. Idare not buy clothes, for
my purpose would thus be made
known; neither could I take q COM
rade into my confidence. I resolved
at length to bolt and take my chance.
Passing through a Hampshire village,
saw countryman's smock and
'"The very thing" I thought; "all is
fair in war;" and with such notions
in my mind, stole the articles and
made off. But luck was against me.
The theft was soon discovered and
was pursued and arrested before had
gone far on the road. For this offense
was sent to Winchester Jail for
couple OF months. It also brought
about my dismissal from the army,
for the regiment was too respectable
to keep a felon in it's ranks. %
During nay imprisonment at Win
chester a circumstance took place
which, though trivial at the time, had
much to do with me some time after
ward. One day, as was taking exer-
else in the ring, visitor stepped on to
the ground. / Immediately recognized
in the stranger the chief superintend-
ent OF the prison where / had served
three months. 1t seems to me that
he had come from the north to prove
4 q conviction against 8 man then await
ing trial in Winchester. He recognized
u me as quickly as Irecognized him; but
I little thought that such q meeting
would affect my destiny. How? You
shall know in good time.
From Winchester / made my. way
4 back to the North to the town where
88l first fell into trouble, and was lucky
enough to get employment as s.
striker in some large iron works.
With wages at four shillings a day, i
managed very nicely and was comfort
ably of. After q while, ano ther la
& borer ID the same works, Joe Smith,
JAN lhe called himself, came to- lodge ii
tho same house as myself. Naturally
4 became somewhat familiar; but he
very silent about himself, 30 that
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