New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-31
HOW | BECAME A CONVICT.
A STORY.

l was born on the estate of Lord,
III the north of England. My father
was one OF the undergraduates and
lived in one of the lodges on the domain
As soon as entered upon my teens,
was taken into the great house as a
sort OF page, where was treated with
much kindness and favor. In while
/ outgrew my buttons" and was
then sent to the stable as an under.
groom. Before I had reached my
eighteenth birthday, my noble master
died. The son who succeeded to the
title and estates was quite unlike his
father. A clean sweep was made in the
establishment; the -racing-stud was
done away with; the elder servants
discharged; retrenchment was made
all round; and in the change l 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 a snowy van
drawn by two handsome horses,
driven by good-looking, well-dressed
>coachman, wanted suitable groom to
complete the show. Coming fresh and
ruddy from Lords stables, l OBJ
tanned the post without any trouble
and added very much, I 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 I
had more leisure than was good for
us in this perambulating bust
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. I 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 we're sober. But compan-
ionship with my van-sellow led me to
join him in his tippling, until at length
I was almost as bad as himself. One
evening, after the usual calling at our
favoite houses, we were both without a
copper to take a parting glass for the
NIGHT In the stable loft, at the back
OF our masters premises, a pier glass
had been slowed. 1t 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 might
raise a. few shillings upon it. At first
I hesitated to take any part in the
matter; but my scruples and tears were
overcome by my companion. "Nay,
had, you have naught to fear. On
payday we'll get it out OF pawn, and
no one will be any the WISER
Thus persuaded, joined in the first
dishonest act Of my life. AS fate would
shave it, the pier-glass was wanted be-
store 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.
tThree months hard labor came
like death-knell upon my ears; and
with q choking lump in my throat, ]
was lodged in the borough prison.
After the expiration OF my sentence,
the shame OF my disgrace prevented
nae from going back to my father cot.
tage. All the people on the estate
must have heard ofmy crime, and how
could I dare to show myself there
Much down hearted, I walked back tic
sthe town from which had been i'm
prisoned. The only opening that oc
CURED to me was to join the army.
could hide myself there, thought
SO walked to the recruiting quarters
took the Queens shilling and. enlisted
j was then under twenty years o.
age, and "a promising youngster," as
the sargent said. All i'll good time,
was sent to Aldershot. Afew months
stay there made me homesick. / re
pented OF the step had taken, anc
made up my mind to give up soldier
ing as soon as [ got a chance. My
difficulty was to get the clothing OF {
civilian. dare not buy clothes, fol
my purpose would thus be mad,
knewn; neither could l take com
rade into my confidence. resolved
at length to bolt and take my chance
Passing through Hampshire village
saw q countryman's smock ant
trousers drying on a cottage hedge
<*Fhe very thing" l thought; call il
fair in war" and with such notions
in my mind, stole the articles ant
made off. But luck was against me
The theft was soon discovered and
was pursued and arrested before [ hal
gone far on the road For this ofens,
was sent to Winchester Jail for
couple of months. 1t also brough
about my dismissal from the army
for the regiment was too respectable
4 to keep a felon in it's ranks.
During my imprisonment at Win
chester a circumstance took plac
which, though trivial at the time, ha,
nuch to do with me some time after
ward. One day, as ! was taking exel
else in the ring, a visitor stepped on t,
the ground Immediately recognizes
In the stranger the chief superlntend
eat Of the prison where I had serve
three months. 1t seems to me tina
he had come from the north to prov
a conviction against aman then await
ing trial in Winchester. He recognizes