IN the spring of 184—, we chanced to be spending a few days in a beautiful inland country town in Pennsylvania. It was court-week, and to relieve us from the somewhat monotonous incidents of village life, we stepped into the room where the court had convened.
Among the prisoners in the box we saw a lad but ten years of age, whose sad countenance, and youthful appearance, made him look much out of place among the hardened criminals by whom he was surrounded. Close by the box, and manifesting a great interest in the proceedings, sat a tearful woman, whose anxious glance from the judge to the boy, left us no room to doubt that it was his mother. We turned to inquire of the offense of the prisoner, and learned that he was accused of stealing money.
The case was soon commenced, and by the interest manifested by that large crowd, we found that our heart was not the only one in which sympathy for the lad existed. The bright smile had vanished from his face, and now it more expressed the cares of the aged. His young sister—a bright-eyed girl—had gained admission to his side; but that sweet voice, which before caused his heart to bound with happiness, added only to the grief his shame had brought upon him.
The progress of the case acquainted us with the circumstances of the loss, the extent of which was but a penny—no more!
The lad’s employer, a wealthy, miserly, and unprincipled manufacturer, had made use of it, for the purpose of what he called “testing the boy’s honesty.” It was placed where, from its very position, the lad would oftenest see it, and least suspect the trap. A day passed, and the master found the coin untouched. Another day passed, and yet he let it remain.
This continued temptation was too much for the lad’s resistance. The penny was taken. A present for his sister was purchased with it. But while returning home he was arrested for theft! These circumstances were sustained by several of his employer’s workmen, who were also parties to the plot. An attorney urged upon the jury the necessity of making the “little rogue” an example to others, by punishment. His address had great effect upon all who heard it. We felt that there was but little hope for the boy; and the youthful appearance of the attorney who had volunteered his defense gave no encouragement, as we learned that it was the young man’s first address. He appeared greatly confused, and reached to a desk near him, from which he took the Bible that had been used to solemnize the testimony. This movement was received with general laughter, among which we heard a harsh fellow close by us cry out— “He forgets where he is. Thinking to take hold of some ponderous law-book, he has made a mistake and got the Bible.” The remark made the young attorney flush with indignation; and turning his flashing eye upon the audience, he assured them it was no mistake, saying, “Justice needs no other book.” His confusion was gone, and instantly he was as calm as the judge on the bench.
The Bible was opened, and every eye was upon him, as he quietly and leisurely turned over the leaves. Amidst a breathless silence, he read to the jury this sentence:
“LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION.”
We felt our heart throb at the sound of these words. The audience looked at each other without speaking—and the jurymen mutually exchanged glances, as the appropriate quotation carried its moral to their hearts. Then followed an address, the influence of which was irresistible. We saw the guilty accuser leave the room in fear of personal violence.
The little time that was necessary to transpire before the verdict of the jury could be learned was a period of great anxiety and suspense. But when their whispered consultation ceased, and those words, “Not guilty,” came from the foreman, they passed like a thrill of electricity from lip to lip—the austere dignity of the court was forgotten, and not a voice was there that did not join in the acclamation that hailed the lad’s release.