The Washington herald., 1911-12-23
LONELY LAD WILL
Be HOME AT XMAS
Judge De Lacy Makes Run
away Happy.
WILL BE A vAGRANT NO MORE
Harry Clarke, of
Bradford, Pa, Was Taken to His
Father and Mother by Probation
officer Dillon Last Night-Ler
His Home One Week Ago.

Judge De Lacy, in the Juvenile Court,
yesterday afternoon issued an order
which will bring happiness at the Christ,
mastide to lonely mother and father
bent with years of toll, at their home
in the mountains Of Pennsylvania Judge
De Lacy directed John R. Dillon, chief
probation officer, to accompany Harry
Clarke, fourteen years of age. Of Brad
ford, Pa, to the Union Station. and see
him off for his home village, from which
he ran away about a week ago.
Harry was arraigned before the tri-
bunal for vagrancy. He was found by
Policeman William ]. Rogers, OF the
Ninth precinct, Thursday night, emerg-
ing from the back yard of house near
Benning. The boy said that he had enter
ed the back yard and knocked at the
door in order to get something to eat
Harry said that a man answered the
knock, but refused to give him any food
He told the court that he did not steal
anything.
Left Home Week Ago.
Harry testified that he left his home
town about a week ago through shame at
having foolishly stolen a twenty-dollar
bill from his parents. He Travelled by
freight to Washington, stopping off at
Baltimore. His clothes were torn; his
hair was unkempt; his hands were grimy.
DO you want to go home my boy?'
asked the court.
Yes. sir" replied Harry. I'D like to
be home with mother on Christmas
Day"
Have you heard from your mother,
my boy?"
Yes, SIR" replied Harry, fumbling in
his trousers pocket. Harry took a dirty
piece of paper, which had been carefully
folded from his pocket and handed 1t to
the judge. The paper was smeared with
CRIME and tears. Judge De Lacy looked
at the scrap of paper and read:
Poor Foolish Harry: You had better
some work and earn money as man
should. How could you go off and leave
me all alone when you know 1 need
you so much?
so come back as soon as you can and
begin all over again. Your home and
place is waiting for you as ever. Try
and be honest and true and work for
what you have. Hoping to see you soon
again, and wishing you a merry Christ
mas, Lovingly,
MOTHER"
Sentence Suspended.
Harry" said the court, I'm going
to suspend sentence. You will be home
on Christmas Day. What is that book
in your pocket?"
The boy took out a little red notebook.
The court opened it, and there fell TO
the desk of the judge a little newspaper
clipping. Judge De Lacy picked it up.
1t was ragged and worn. There were
many dirty thumb prints upon it, 1t
had evidently been read and reread
many times. The court read the clip
ping. 1t was entitled The Gypsy's
Warning" 1t ran:
Do not trust him. gentle lady
Tho his voice be low and sweet;
Heed not that he kneels before you,
Gently pleading at thy feet.
Now thy life is in its morning:
Cloud not this. thy happy lott
Listen to the gypsy's warning:
Gentle lady, trust him not.
Do not turn 20 cnldy from me;
I would only griide thy youth
From stern impending sorrUw;
I would only tell the truth.
would shield thee from all danger;
Save thee from the temPter's snare.
Lady. shun the dark-eyed stranger;
] would warn, thee, now, beware!
Lady. once there lived a maiden
Young and pure, and like thee fair;
But he wOOed and wOoed and won her
Filled her gentle heart with care
Then he needed not her weeping;
Cared he not her life to save:
Soon she pcrished and she's sleeping
In the cold and silent grave.
Keep your gold. do not need it.;
Lady. have prayed for this;
For the honor that I might foil him,
Rob him of expected bliss
Gentle lady. do not wonder
At my word. fierce and wild.
Lady. in that green grave yonder
Lies the gyTsys only child.
Poem Impressed Court.
There is a pathos about the stanzas
which deeply impressed the court. If this
boy could appreciate such verse, he GER
tainly must have some deep-founded good
in him, reasoned Judge De Lacy.