My converse shall your cares beguile, མཐ LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THIRD. AN UPRIGHT PRISONER. Among the prisoners taken by the Americans at the battle of Hoosac, commonly called the battle of Bennington, was an inhabitant of Hancock, in the county of Berkshire, a plain farmer, named Richard Jackson. This man had conscientiously taken the British side in the revolutionary contest, and felt himself bound to seize the earliest opportunity of employing himself in the service of his sovereign. Hearing that Colonel Baum was advancing with a body of troops towards Bennington, he rose early, saddled his horse, and rode to Hoosac, intending to attach himself to the corps. Here he was taken, in such circumstances as proved his intention beyond every reasonable doubt. He was, besides, too honest to deny it. Accordingly, he was transmitted to Great Barrington, then the shire town of Berkshire, and placed in the hands of General Fellows, high sheriff of the county, who immediately confined him in the county gaol. This building was at that time so infirm that, without a guard, no prisoner could be kept in it who wished to escape. To escape, however, was in no degree consonant with Richard's idea of right; and he thought no more of seriously making an attempt of this nature, than he would have done, had he been in his own house. After he had lain quietly in gaol a few days, he told the sheriff that he was losing his time, and earning nothing, and wished that he would permit him to go out and work in the day-time, promising to return regularly at evening to his quarters in the prison. The sheriff had become acquainted with his character, and readily acceded to his proposal. Accordingly, Richard went out regularly during the remaining part of the autumn, and the following spring, until the beginning of May, and every night returned at the proper hour to the gaol. In this manner, he performed a day's work every day, with scarcely any exception but the Sabbath, through the whole period. In the month of May, he was to be tried for high treason. The sheriff accordingly made preparations to conduct him to Springfield, where his trial was to be held; but he told the sheriff that it was not worth his while to take this trouble, for he could just as well go alone, and it would save both the expense and trouble of the sheriff's journey. The sheriff, after a little reflection, assented to the proposal, and Richard commenced his journey-the only one, it is believed, which was ever undertaken in the same manner, for the same object. In the woods of Tyringham, he was overtaken by the Honourable T. Edwards, from whom I had this story. "Whither are you going?" said Mr Edwards. "To Springfield, sir," answered Richard, "to be tried for my life." Accordingly he proceeded directly to Springfield, surrendered himself to the sheriff of Hampshire, was tried, found guilty, and condemned to die. The council of Massachusetts was, at this time, the supreme executive of the state. Application was made to this board for a pardon. The facts, the evidence by which they were supported, and the sentence grounded on them, were stated. The question was then put by the president, "Shall a pardon be granted to Richard Jackson?" The gentleman who first spoke, observed that the case was perfectly clear; the act alleged against Jackson was unquestionably high treason; and the proof was complete. If a pardon should be granted in this case, he saw no reason why it should not be granted in every other. In the same manner answered those who followed him. When it came to the turn of Mr Edwards, he told this story, with those little circumstances of particularity, which, though they are easily lost from the memory, and have escaped mine, give light and shade a living reality, and a picturesque impressiveness to every tale which is fitted to enforce conviction, or to touch the heart. At the same time, he recited it without enhancement, without expatiation, without any attempt to be pathetic. As is always the case, this simplicity gave the narrative its full force. The council began to hesitate. One of the members at length observed, Certainly such a man as this ought not to be sent to the gallows." To his opinion the members unanimously assented. A pardon was immediately made out and transmitted to Springfield, and Richard returned to his family. 66 Never was a stronger proof exhibited, that honesty is wisdom. LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOURTH. ADDRESS TO THE BIBLE. Be thou my star in reason's night! Be thou my guide on error's sea! Be thou my friend in want or pain! Be thou, when other lights shall fade, My song through all eternity! LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY- BOSTON LIBERTY TREE. This tree was one of those majestic elms, of the American species, that form one of the greatest ornaments in the landscape of that country. It stood in front of a house opposite the Boylston market, on the edge of the street, which its spreading branches overshadowed. On the 14th of August, 1765, an effigy, representing Mr Oliver, who had been appointed to distribute stamps, and a boot (the emblem of Lord Bute), with the devil peeping out of it, having the stamp act in his hand, and various other satirical emblems, were suspended from its branches. Chief Justice Hutchinson directed the sheriff to remove the whole; but his deputies, from the indications of popular feeling, declined the task; and the council of the province thought, if they did not interfere, that the affair would subside without disturbance. In the evening, the figures were taken down, carried in procession through the streets, and through the town-house, to a small building in State Street, which Mr Oliver had erected for a stamp office; this was entirely demolished, and the procession then moved to Fort Hill, where his house was situated, to make a bonfire of the effigy and emblems. His family were alarmed; but some of his friends, who were very obnoxious to the populace, remained with a show of resistance. This provoked an attack, in which the windows were broken, and some injury done to the house and furniture. The next day, Mr Oliver announced, through his friends on the exchange, that he declined holding the office of stamp-distributor; but, it being intimated to him, that it would conduce to the quiet of the public, if he would come to this tree and resign it openly, he appeared there accordingly, and declared, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators, that he would not retain the place. It was thenceforth called Liberty Tree. In February of the succeeding year, the tree was carefully pruned, and the following inscription placed upon it:This tree was planted in the year 1614, and pruned by order of the sons of liberty, Feb. 14, 1766." On future occasions, there was seldom any excitement on political subjects, without some token of it appearing on this tree: all popular processions paid a salute to it. Whenever any obnoxious offices were to be resigned, or agreements for patriotic purposes entered into, the parties received notice clandestinely, that they would be expected at the Liberty Tree, at a particular time; where they always found pens and paper, and a numerous crowd of witnesses, though the genius of the tree was invisible. When the British army took possession of the town in 1774, it fell a victim to their vengeance, or to that of the individuals to whom its shade had been disagreeable. LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY- A TRUE FRIEND. Is he my friend who tells me so, 'Tis he who makes no loud pretence, In noiseless acts of kindness given. "Tis he who, through life's chequer'd ways, A heart unchanged, a soul sincere. |