Year: 1868




The principal good thing about this story
IS, that 1t is not only founded on fact, but it
is actually true


Once upon time, not many million miles
distant from this hamlet there was Judge.
the first letter of whose name was Priestlv
The Judge was so far from being Danie.,
that there is reason to believe that if he had
been placed in den of lions he would iuev-
itaby have been masticated, if the monarchs
OF the brute creation had possessed that same
keen perception of merit that they did when
the great original Daniel was allowed to
slumber on unchawed.


When this judicial buster was on the
bench, he used to love to get a chance to
shy at some miserable criminal in the dock,
and If he could disgorge frightful sentence
at him for small offence, his bosom was
always filled with a tender joy, and he would
go home experiencing sense of happiness,
alloyed only by the reflection that he was
unable to give man sentence that would
last over few billion centuries into eternity


HIS peculiar forte was to smile bengnly
upon prisoner he was about to sentence,
and give him long lecture in a kind of par
entally afectlonate way, and express his
regret at the painful duty imposed upon him,
and the deep sympathy he felt for the unfor-
tunate wretch. and leave general impression
on the mans mind that he was an absolutely
benevolent old brick of Judge, who felt
like sitting down and crying like baby be-
cause he had to sentence him at all And
then, when the prisoner began to hope he
would get off easily, the Judge would sud
IDENTIFY jerk out terrific sentence, and souse
him into Jail for the longest term allowed by
law


Once upon time John Fitz Smith was
convicted OF absorbing seventy-fve cents
from the money-drawer Of his employer, who
sold buttons and tape on Blank street. 1t
was Fitz Smiths first offense, and as he was
only boy Of sixteen, the jury recommended
him to mercy.


The Judge with philanthropic express
sion on his frontispiece, drew breath and
began to swell up, SO as to sentence him
with due effect


Fitz Smith felt uttt rlv miserable.


John" said the Judge, 4 am very,
very sorry to see you here. and it grieves me
to my heart to have to fulfill the painful duty
imposed upon me by my Office Pause in
the commencement of your bad career, and
reflect upon what you are casting from YOU.
You are young man, in the morning of
your days; a bright and happy home is
yours, and around you are the kind parents
and friends who have made you the child of
their prayers who have guided your foot
steps from infancy, and nurtured and cher
ished you.


D." You have a mother'-here the Judges
voice faltered, and he wiped away tear
"a mother at whose knee you were taught
to lisp your first devotions, and who has
watched and tented you with the fervent
love that only mother can feel father
who looked upon you with pride and gave
YOU the heritage OF his honest name. Your
character had thus far been irreproachable,
and it seemed as if all the bright promises
of your youth were to be richly fulfilled
For you the vista of the future opened bright
ly and beautifully fine and noble man
hood seemed in store for you, and all the
pleasures gained by an unsulled character
BY persistent energy, and by devotion to the
right, were to be yours"


Here Fitz Smith began to feel about five
per cent better He thought that such
benoficent old brick as that would be certain
to have pity on him. - Not more than ninety
days. anyhow" said he.


The Judge took fresh chew of tobacco,
and resumed


L" How difficult it is, then, for me to decide
the measure of your punishment Knowing
that the quality of mercy is not strained, and
as we forgive, so shall we he forgiven how
painful 1t is for me to draw the line between
undue leniency and the demands of outraged
law. | say, considering all these things
which are SO much in your favor, your
youth, your bright and happy home, where
parental influence is shed around your path
where your loving mother lies stricken with
anguish at the sin of her only son; where
your aged father has his gray hairs brought
down in sorrow to the grave where you
have been nurtured and cherished and taught
to do right"


Certainly not more than two months at
the furthest," thought Fitz Smith.


Considering that this is your first offence
that your character has hitherto been that of
an honest young man and that the lesson
you will learn from this bitter experience
will sink deeply into your heart that you
have opening out to you in the vista of the
future bright and noble manhood. and
prospect of redeeming this fatal error, and
winning an honored name"


lie can't decently give me more than
thirty days after that,n thought Fitz Smith.


The Judge, after wiping the moisture
from his eyes, and taking another chaw of
tobacco, proceeded, while Fitz's heart grew
lighter every moment


" In view, then, of all these extenuating
circumstances In view of the fact that Jus
tice Is not revengful but exercises its highest
prerogative in leading to reformation and
moral lmprovement-in view. | saw of vour
being in the very morning of your davs. with
the vista of the future opening up bright and
alluring before you, and give promise Of holier
and better things-in view of those selfsaeri-
ticing parents, the child of whose PRAYERS
you are; of that mother, who taught your
infant lips their first devotions, and watched
over you in full tenderness of undying mater.
nal love; of that grayhaired father. who
looks upon you with affectionate pride-in
view, say. of the fact that this is your first
misstep from the path of duty"


Two weeks is all he'll do, I'll bet," said
Mr.. Fitz Smith


The path of duty" continued the Judge
=" and up to this time of committing the
deed your character was above suspicion and
above reproaeh. In view of all this,'' said