Year: 1859




Joseph Petit was hard working man.
and bore the name of an honest man.-
He had been for some time warehouse man
in Messrs. c. & E. Rolling's store, and en-.
joyed the confidence Of his employers 4.
About week ago, Petit was entrusted
with 500, to make deposit in the bank;
on his way he met some old acquaintances;
they were on spree, and he was invited
to take a drink; they went into coffee
house, anI another drink followed the first,
then another and another His friends
were pressing, and Petit, like many other
men, was too weak to resist-it was early,
he had plenty of time before the bank clos
ed. In a short time the treacherous effect
of the liquor was felt by Petit--he was IN
toxlcated and forgot all about his duties,
the bank, and the money he had about
him. More drinking in this aud that
place, and o'clock found the party at
the gambling table; the crazei man hai
lost all control over his passions, all recol-
lection of his position. He drank and
gambled, and large portion of his EN-
ployers money was squanderel.


When gIimnering of light flashed on
the unfortunate mans miud and showed
him the yawning abyss before him. it was
too late; the deed was done and he plung-
ed into debauchery with renewed phrenzv,
to drown the voice of conscience Heidi
not think of escaping to some other place;
he had not courage to go forward, acknowl-
edge his fault and implore forgiveness
He loitereG in drinking places OF the low
est resort drinking, sill drinking, seeking
oblivion in the stupid, beastIy apathy of
the drunkard.


Petit had widowed mother, an indus
trious, respectable woman, sixty wears old:
her grief, her despair, may be better imag-
ined than described. She sought her son
everywhere, with no success. lie had
been living maritally with woman, and
there with woman's unerIing instinct
she knew he would return some day. She
had called on neighbor, tenant in the
same house, and begged him to watch and
let her know when her son would come,
whatever hour of the day or night it might
be On the night of the 17th, the neigh
Dor called on Mrs. Petit; her son had come
home, she had recognized his voice. The
poor woman went to him, and at her sight
the errIr g man wept like child; he con
tessed his fault, and told her how it all
happened. lie had not spent all the mon
ey $3.50 of it were left; this she took;
she told him he must abide the consequence
of his fault, and not attempt to escape; she
would inploie the pity Of man, as she i'm
plored the mercy of God. 1t was two
O'Clock in the morning when the aged
mother left her repentant and with totter-
ing step, but firm resolve. crossed the quiet
city, and reached Mr.. RolIing's residence,
out on Carondolet canal. She knocked
and was received by Mr.. Rolling: she had
found her son she brought back half the
amount he had taken, and she would pay
the balance herself; she was known as an
honest, industrious woman, and she would
earn the sum; but let not her grey hairs
be dshonored; spare her son the penalty
of his crime Nj Rolling is i kind heart
ed man he comtorted the poor woman,
who stood there before him, bitter tears
trinckling down her venerable face he
would not prosecute Petit; he would be
spared for his mothers sake Mr.. Rolling
would not hear Of Mrs. Petit returning
home at this late hour and had bed pre-
pared for her. lie would 90 in the morn
ing and see Petit, and take steps to with
daw the affidavit made against him.


Morning came and Petit was arrested.
An officer who hal been watching for him,
went to the house at an early hour and
found him there. When Mr.. Rolling ar
rived he was aIre dy prison. The story
of the embezzlement hal become public,
an affidavit had been made and it was
judged necessary to let a few days pass to
allow the guilty man reflection, after which
ne would be brought up for trial and dis
missed, after 4 severe ajmonitOn from the
recorder. This Was to have taken place
to-day. Yesterday, Petit, madened by re-
morse, by shame, knowing his name to be
dishonored, knowing that his fault had
stricken his Old mothers heart by one Of
those blows nothing can cure, committed
suicide in the parish prison The ffenzed
man struck his head against the walls of
his cell with such violence that the skull
was fractured, and Joseph Petit was found
dead, by the ililor, who came to bring his
meal. What lesson in this short story,
and how many men have been ruined for
ever, Ike Petit, by not knowing how to re-
sist the temptation Of the wine cup!