Stories for the Young | Page 5

a
present to the man who brought it, he even tempted him to repeat the
fault.
One day poor Jack Weston, an honest fellow in the neighborhood,

whom Mr. Wilson had kindly visited and relieved in a long sickness,
from which he had but just recovered, was brought before him as he
was sitting on the justice's bench. Jack was accused of having knocked
down a hare; and of all the birds in the air, who should the informer be
but Black Giles the poacher. Mr. Wilson was grieved at the charge; he
had a great regard for Jack, but he had a still greater regard for the law.
The poor fellow pleaded guilty. He did not deny the fact, but said he
did not consider it a crime, for he did not think game was private
property, and he owned he had a strong temptation for doing what he
had done, which he hoped would plead in his excuse. The justice
desired to know what this temptation was.
"Sir," said the poor fellow, "you know I was given over this spring in a
bad fever. I had no friend in the world but you, sir. Under God, you
saved my life by your charitable relief; and I trust also you may have
helped to save my soul by your prayers and your good advice; for, by
the grace of God, I have turned over a new leaf since that sickness.
"I know I can never make you amends for all your goodness; but I
thought it would be some comfort to my full heart if I could but once
give you some little token of my gratitude. So I had trained a pair of
nice turtledoves for Madam Wilson; but they were stolen from me, sir,
and I do suspect Black Giles stole them. Yesterday morning, sir, as I
was crawling out to my work, for I am still but very weak, a fine hare
ran across my path. I did not stay to consider whether it was wrong to
kill a hare, but I felt it was right to show my gratitude; so, sir, without a
moment's thought, I did knock down the hare, which I was going to
carry to your worship, because I knew madam was fond of hare. I am
truly sorry for my fault, and will submit to whatever punishment your
worship may please to inflict."
Mr. Wilson was much moved with this honest confession, and touched
with the poor fellow's gratitude. What added to the effect of the story,
was the weak condition, and pale, sickly looks of the offender. But this
worthy magistrate never suffered his feelings to bias his integrity; he
knew that he did not sit on that bench to indulge pity, but to administer
justice. And while he was sorry for the offender, he would never justify

the offence.
"John," said he, "I am surprised that you could for a moment forget that
I never accept any gift which causes the giver to break a law. On
Sunday I teach you from the pulpit the laws of God, whose minister I
am. At present I fill the chair of the magistrate, to enforce and execute
the laws of the land. Between these and the others there is more
connection than you are aware. I thank you, John, for your affection to
me, and I admire your gratitude; but I must not allow either affection or
gratitude to be brought as a plea for a wrong action. It is not your
business nor mine, John, to settle whether the game-laws are good or
bad. Till they are repealed we must obey them. Many, I doubt not,
break these laws through ignorance, and many, I am certain, who
would not dare to steal a goose or a turkey, make no scruple of
knocking down a hare or a partridge. You will hereafter think yourself
happy that this your first attempt has proved unsuccessful, as I trust you
are too honest a fellow ever to intend to turn poacher. With poaching
much more evil is connected: a habit of nightly depredation, a custom
of prowling in the dark for prey, produces in time a disrelish for honest
labor. He whose first offence was committed without much thought or
evil intention, if he happens to succeed a few times in carrying off his
booty undiscovered, grows bolder and bolder; and when he fancies
there is no shame attending it, he very soon gets to persuade himself
that there is also no sin. While some people pretend a scruple about
stealing a sheep, they partly live by plundering of warrens. But
remember, that the warrener pays a high rent, and that therefore his
rabbits are as much his property as his sheep. Do not then deceive