Newspapers / The Durham Recorder (Durham, … / Jan. 22, 1868, edition 1 / Page 1
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''':.-. f i tuft '."' ni a f i I 1 1 1 , ! . ! I ..(. r- ! !r.t ft vf .i.';.,tut ' --W - : - - ' , j ...... i ' t-"'"i ,).. , .. ' . ff ..-.,,;, I T 7.'; ".u.rfi nIu n.tIus . c (1 n jttft;sjc fejtj & uui. it t h s . ,; TT ' ; Vol. XLVil.V t l' j!l U t - , . . w a V T. TY a T A 1. T I T A 11C1 1 HAH .1 . V . No. 24023 i.,w i inn iini l ! ! ! !! iiiiin nn ii mir 'uial wi ji i ! i himiwiiihiiii i m iniwn i mniiii nn i i 1 1 n i iim hiwii hi hi i hi i mi TUB TABLES' TUltNteD. i lie icoundrel ! a.baie, heartless, ' Unprincipled scoundrel, and dierye tort iti jtttl. Don't talk to ue about pit aod nmercjKjwhQ he owed .rae, trle hundred ifullars, and.Lahnt beeii the niaci to pajr a tent it "jju iOugh' pitjrun J t Uumph !' tipnaking harthij l .Mr.Mu'Qn lie la tin furtuoite, it U tnie, but hviieat'. No ntin sinod higher u. thi soiujMttiiitjr than he I'diti; iW'o )ers ago.Vou certainly ahoald , louk nk'ie leoieiitljr upun the inUfurtune o! kind ueighbor aud brother in the church. , Ye, a j;rct oeighUur and church bruth ; if he ta, break down and cheat me nut of uijr pav, and after waiting vn htm o long tun. Don't talk to me about brother. I'll : have hiw turned out, tee if ( doii't.' , , T buppuHBg you er to hae bid fW tac, and Uecme pitr, wuld yuu lik tu be denounced as a tcoundrvl tjf jruor itegh .borr'; ' .. , - ... t .' ... , , ' I alwta paj my dobti. An honett iuia kltr;;; pj hik debt. Cn't trut M.'jMljf in Uie tune. 1 nnr will sign far man again at lob; a 1 live.' I a in thji Mtk. WiUii't p!e4il f with fcrr augrf hu.objud lur the uuiUiikte iVtl.ir. Sue adj bocd uver ucr Muia, -and he pscd ty hit.re. Wafumlliltuo liid failed, and the lit tie i!le h atir with Uiejut-w l the eent. fhuse w!tu werv Uelaiefiu friviiil lry rfiunitliered ll.at thrs !aVs aa Imurthin in the man which nut nglit- the lud uprcte.l omUuj vt ti.: kw.J be I ore I He wg C:rtiolv a lihin rit mm. And u hit 'J neighbor Ijiiird iu t give him a kick in his duwuhitt curr. . .. . " i A luuie houiKkble, Itighuulrd man thin WiSlum Miiion weer lieJ. lie w the a.l of tuuor, Ilu hiart, HahJ, ' 'WoiuVanJ j.urtc cre (tly lftn uJ nur ' wttt the g!i jIderU un rccrd in 'hi lar. Nvi 1)4.1 aII in hi nti-liborNwiuJ lurutten hi jjtMoli.fM. VVnifv bu4i:ie inrii tjri rX t-rei'd bun, there wre puwi epte wbu "i!e'ettd Vot. , 4 M.itu:i H ik a cru.rjtd mn. Mif..rtau li tkl CMine t uck upa hirti, and hi ntru fjnnt t lal ge r. Ih 1otlrwUe I J .'iel, and ( in htr g rare, with her yuu.-gMi (hiSd Un hr breai!. Ilia san, a ptuotiftiiig chiid f i'U iiHiirt, h.tl died a lew weeia ftr the muthcr. Um ahojt hd saugUt fire Uut the ne tnne unJ liuiiied up. 5ickns came, uii l ral) .e the itrog arm, ,tu4 hea MiStwa , aiii t..t mi h a lt, enrjthing wat 4. wreck. Ill Hc-Ilto du neigabmr .in,a'l it tit a thfJg'i tnere were conlagton in hu r eitce, and d Jt came upn Imu 14 Lnu'i what aitkiua Sud loaweepiugijr couiiuenc ed. ,fi,.." Un the moining of the caritemliun at the had el this, he had akcd euijly; merit M( jurujrinaa, and had been Uuiutugijr reluied. lie iiuw sat in hi, hoot?, hm grei heart aweSlmg with biUerftcs and dirk witH glootn. lie involuntaril cat "hi ejraabautas if looking JVra faiaitiarcouii aciori his lip rjyitered a moment, and a ter dropped Irom tua cheek. The wife and two loved onea had passed a?, and but one tf bis little flock was left him. Wh.le he was Mttiog, dreamily or hi. hearth, the dor opeoed.and a rj(sce4f-riM half, entered the-ruoiu; aud stooif looking tenitatixgl at bim. And. then bj a sad. a ipuiae, , :he br went as t where Milton wa, aud put a paper in Ins half t.pen palui, quicklt disappearing through Hie il oar it to the street. Mdu, opened ihe paper, and ft half 'dollar dr-pnd uima ir e tttfbi. " Milton lead t ' ' ; " luil hac clth. and lt d theoeed; u have been go d tuthe widuw and fatli ;as. Accept thejwisjgw'i nute-in the , I uir of your trouble' . '1'he tpcr trembled in Mdton hands, tifid he bowed his head and wept. Then lifting his form prnudljr, he arne and Hrixltf reatlesal backward and forward throighthe room. No! thank Uod.tltry in not caginst m not all. The. poor trtncmbrr me.'V, The banktupt was hap pier, and had again faith in humanity., j - The creditors made short work with Mil- ton's affairs 2 for DotertT ondlittleiio?r?y bis liausehold efl'ect did not .otar pay ofT the demandai against: him 1. AfUr all gouei under the hamaaer;' the rcrao'raeless debtor law came in: and attached. the body) and the high souled Milton was taken to thj: debtors tell. His daughter followed ;hi; aod as htr pale and wastiag featurei pwejl through the streets. . the, ligM ! word -was hushed, and the more feeling jieldedil tsar for the lite of the lamjly. u It. was si the iotigation of Wilson that Milton ha been arrested and imprisoned AVhit; his wife told hmi of the pale faced dtughttrl aod how ad she looked as ishe went to th cell, a aickeoing seasatioB crept into the merchant's heirt. Bathe was too proud ti ackuowlcdgc his wrong ; The law was .with bitn, and he would nut relax... ' uuai Six months wure away, and the case o MUton was seldata sphkeo ofji.lllis dtugh ler aickeued and died u aud, for ,h first lime aitce hi iinpnsumaent, he jwai aken out to attend her funeral., as Wil son looked upon hia old neighbor, st,,th(s grave, he hall made op his tatud, to forgiv his atbt. Hat he feared to retrace the atej he had uken. Milton hail not a5trd any U lira ol han, atd he bd iw reo:i t t l lice eleraene?! Had the debtor iitd for clemency, the. Merchant w ould have . :rrai credit in opcmni' hu cncti t.oir. 9 . bending his black eye upon. the merchant he slowly said: j :.j - t- " ".Vou once seat an . orphan , to. jil when he j was , guilUeif k of. wrong pr of crine. Again, you ant an ofd neighbor to jail for no crime but .poverty." ' TheV both stand befornyou. , And should misfortuaes ! ever come upon yoa,' Janie' WiUon, inay You find others more '' humane and 1 forgiving thrt yoo have been. ' This la world of thinges, und disease ' and bad luck may watte' you in sucll' an 1ibur"as -you know not'" " 1 j ':ti 1 1 vi M'i'.:ii". W.i- A paleness crptover', Wilson's face, and before he could reply, Douglass and Milton had passed from bts -store. -. ,!.'. i i Ten years later, and two ol the charac ter of our story are again. brought togeth el. j A change has ben. wrought 10 the, af fairs of James Wilson, the rich village mer chant. Unease has been in his house-hold, and hi store and dwelling have been laid in ashes'. Financial reverses followed in tjuick succession, untifaU'his'property was swept away, ariJ hu found himself several thousand dollars in debt. 1 Driven to des peration, and struggling to avt his falling fcrtaues, he attempted to secrete a portion of his means by the aid of a friend; The vc!.ee ws iletected, and ht was arrested ! chaei of swindling, and sent to prison. ifTwi' then toe ruioeti man learned the bit- i . .When ilihou first :ue iut the H.t;?;iteriis 01 povenj anu oeieruon---oi a ihe.-e wssanorpJum boy,' wiidiicred tor, Mritli w,'14, beliU bal1' .The fickle ppu and aiuguiarly vici i, th dread of all "the ! Je turned ai him as quickly as they .;,.,i.rhLui v., -",'..t. n uf.t ttihaJ aantAil!iam ililton years before. him, h wa ai.d hen Wnr vino t,!: irl laid tsi sent 10. j til. 1 Milton Wai jai: U complained, of this biutrly-je could or, ai.a oeiiis keen jtiitte l Uiiunn cv!"ul - - r" 1 I...-., V 1 i " ..'..1 iliim heui he rit. unhirtunite- surd v lure saun laumi luaiiueuu usii ucru morei " - smued kn:t than ginning. ; putting uio i fhst no ney into uio nrpuau s tuna, ui a .icr.er tufa Ir.cud in , New Orleans, il.ltoa un locked the Jul Uwor and bid his prisyner d bye. r'lueu yesra Jwd pawed "'$ t:ien. .., . t. ui ti 2 t ... Lite ott souunei sluibuua, MiU n s.t hi his cell, hi tice.baiud in hi UtrrJ.. tsd ni bifkn spirit rpj)cd , in fiUuin) i . , Ti.e door, was slowly o, eueJ sriii a straegtr atowl looii.g upon the pn- tiurr. 1 ne tfuzt? wa ut noliic (urns an J vaa uniartunate surely crime. Sj reasoned the'ou.u Milton to the drbtotVct-lt. His irttegnfy had not passed the ordeal as un tarnhed as did that of his early friend. Hark'aml gloomy were the days between the artes't and the trial. ' Wilson had little to liitpe from the magnanimity of the prose- tutinj: attorney, u thit official bad been rejr f.ed by oneol his daughters on account of' the atwne s povery. rrom the pnsoa ei't box. V i!nn lo ked in vain fur friends m the s-A ot uces. He had lust his proper k,. f.i,.r- ...rl:,w u.,.,1 - Itv anu Ha 10 irienj. and hU annate 1 uf fi.hr.t ,l.l'l T the iiiqairy of the Ctmrt who. would MUtoutmed not, sup.i. the jailor dHf,,d !,un' U T ncrei! 1,141 h hd stood before him. retained nane, his face bunacg as he an- William Mlton!" , ( ' je.eJ. for he had no uieana to ewploy The primer started at the s.und l tUi 0lif aBoiher tf lhc ,4r; ,tr-ogcSuice,amlloukedataHtlyop,it!iel , b:tr J'1' tr SaSe:ncnt. and ,u ' begged tube excused from acting as A il- : Via haMugm me, Milto 1 1" V'U C -f' l 7'. 'l'" m- l;kuw you nVMluniraUy answer- ,kcd reluctance to defend ui, e l Miitoa. ' 1 '''-a l5,e Pr,s0!"rr k'lyt Ro he bit his w.h .. t ....-... .... ..! hu ui.til it bled. An? one of the brood, a itepped forward ahJ kneeled uiin th and laped the prisoner' hands, kisin tnem again and agin. Don't know t)e ! and yet fir fifteen yesra no wkiug hour has passed that I hav- nut thought of yoo a ray earthly a viour. From this same, cell yoa once led me forth, and gave me money and yuor Ulessiog, 1 have tnme a long'joarcey to see aud bless my aavtourand weep upon his aeck. 1 atn rich ! Will 14 ra Milton'-doyou hear that r I am rich! As you belprd'the orphan, and opened his prison doors, ? shall the' orphan ow du bv you. I am U,rlv Mark" Mark DougUVl" " " Milton's eyei were streaming with ti-ars fur luch gratitude n sach words hadbrei stringers to hiiu for many a year. Hope, fih, ambiiion;ag.iiii sprung in the de spairiw de'jtor'a heart, and he flowed his head upon the bnod shou'der of the por orphan, km! soSbH tike a chil l. Awhile the two lingered and talked in the bjrim med cell, and then jtMed nut aim in arm. Th'ert wir as?ni,hioent in the villas when they resogniied the. forgotten Wil liam Milton leaning upon the arm of the distinguished lonking itrang-r. The pri sonet't hair had, grown gray in the last yeirsrof his iaipriaouraeut, and hU' manly form had lost some of its vigor and lull ness. " ' " '. " 1 Ma'rk'Dotiglass in' l Milton entered Wil son's store", and the former pulled his purse from his pocket, and threw the sera, as agreed upon befote he entered the jail, con teinptnouily upon 1 the t counter.. Then month before, would have mtHt esger!y pifurmcd any Vervice for the wealthy mer chant. At thin juncture, a tall and muscular gen tlemau xirode up to the bar and tendered hin service as counsel for the prisoner ai the bar. Tne Strang erS head was gray, but his presence was singularly noble and com manding, and his eye full and lustrous. The line I) chiseled mouth told its own sto ry til daring, firmness and iron w.ll. The pi osutiftg attorney looked a little blank as the riistiiixoi.e.d looking gentleman took his "eat within the br and answered for his client. ,The interest in the aadience bc ciuie iutease, fr ihey expected something from so fliie a Itokir man. And the pre euee of that peranuchis lofty bearing and eag'e eye was already making inte rest tor h aoiiiK'd client. 1 . Tho tnl proceeded. The coun.sel lor the defence asked lew qiteatiu.of the wit nesses.cofiti nnng him.elfwith pl.iying.with hi ptnkuife, now and then looking upon those who sworn " swift." There was a terror in his very eye, and the swift wit rieisssj quailed as "(hey read his scornful glance. The District Attorney indulged in fictjuent coarse d aggravating re. nark a aa the testimony proceeded. The plea of the stranger was a most fin ished speci nen of lrgic, irony and pathos. The tide of feeling in the people, re-acted under his eloquence, and ruh''il again ' to the merchant. A few words, calm, but most fesrfally wilherii g, crushed the pro locating attorne) attiw.'t ta'wouud the unfortunata.'VThe. testimony war picked and. torn in a thousand shrads, and strong men blushed tha they had aer doubted the honesty of the prisoner. Ji( i tj "'You are butmen.f'aaidhe to the jury, 'wUh the lame frail nalore.of bim whose honor you now have in your hands. You know not your own strength. In prospe rity it is no hard matter present a clean sheet to the word. It is adversity that teUsraen. 'The atrongesr among vou might fall, were" misfortune to come .upon, you. Misfortune or prosperity -is no virtue. Sum mer weather friend are they who bask in a man's favor to-day, and wlien a dark hour comes upon him, turn to heap opprobrium upon nis name, as men need mercy t the hands of Him who wept over and for gave the sins sf men, so let them remember mercy, when judging each other. Should ejther of you, gentlemen, by, any reverse .f fortune erer become porr and a subject lor tho debtoi?a cell, and see your professed friends desert or turn against yotv you will experience one of life' bitterest logons, and-Jlearn. how cruel is the hand which crushes and brands with shame, the name of the poor and unfortunate. God is the avowed friend of such, aud men should Le careful how they are less-firrgiyiDg than our common Father. , 9... The nunn?r of the stranger was intense ly thrilling, and carried jhe multitude for his client. The prosecuting attorney writh ed in his seat, and in hta plea blundered continually. 4le grew feverish and annoy ed under the full gaze of .his powerful an- tsoniit. I lie jury returned a ;verdic. of "not guilty" without leaving their seats, and tin aheritf wa ordered to release to prisoner from custody . And what a change in the mauner of the people! i All were eager to take him, by the hand ami to congratulate him upon hi acquittal, ...They were friii;ds againl. And yei JVilson.could uots'iutout theYeilection that, lud he been convicted, the same men would as heartily have ap proved the verdict as now. With a heart too full for utterance, Wil son attempted to thauk lm stranger friend. While he held that individual's hand, pour ing out hii .broken thanks, the sherift again arrested him for debt. The District At torney had been foiled on, the criminal suit, determined to have revenge ac a moment, said the ' How rauch is claimed of mv stranser ami now la't. " Ho'd counsel. client;" "Some three thousand dollars," Sfieer ingiy answered tha attorney. ' Make out ynar papers, sir, and you can have your money.'' j The abalie! f3cer proceeded to do s, while the crowd gathered and looked on. file stranger, from a heavy purse, counted out tne amount in bills and gold, and then handed the receipt! to the bewildered Wil son j afterwards lifting his hat politely to the people and passing away. But the overpowered Wilsan could not be left thus. He followed his deliverer and persisted in knowing who to bless. . "James Wilson !" replied the stranger, in a sad but thrilling tone, "you have fal len as others have fallen. This is a wurld of changes. While visiting the graves, where my loved ones are, I Irarnrd of your' reverses and the charge against you. "Fif teen years ago there was another poor deb tor sent to jail for no crime, and his child died there. Yeu sent him there. He was poor mid you oppressed him. He was sick and in prison and you visited him n-t. Never again, Mr. Wilson, forget the "gol den rule" of the Master yoa serve, or op press the pimr and unfortunate. The poor debtor of fifteen years ago, owed'yny. You now owe him. 'William Milton' has re turned good for evil. You will not hae him as you once did, will yot,Mr. Wil t on ? ami a sweet smile shorn through the tears on the stranger's face. William Milton! God forgive me. And you lire liimf , "Yes, the once poor debtor, but now rich man, is before yoo. Go Lome to your family, Mr. Wilson, and be kind h all.: We ulUced kindness aid forgiveness." f 1
The Durham Recorder (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 22, 1868, edition 1
1
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