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Show A LAWYER'S CHARITY. The Brooklyn Eagle recently published an incident of practical philanthropy, which is worthy of extensive circulation. The chief actor in the case is a well known Long Island lawyer, the subject of his benevolence a vagabond boy, who had been indicted for grand larceny in the Court of ?? and ?? in Long Island City. This boy did not even know his own name, and never knew his father or mother or any relation or friend. He had drifted around for years among the farmers of Queens County, doing odd jobs and getting a meal and a night's rest were he could. His hair was long tangled and filthy. His feet were shoeless and sockless, and a few unseemly rags were his only covering. The crime of which he was accused was the theft of a horse and wagon, the fact apparently being that the lad saw the vehicle standing in the road, got inside and went off for a ride, imagining perhaps, for a while that he was a wealthy farmer driving to town to collect a hundred thousand dollars or two for produce. He was caught, taken to jail, and indicted for grand larceny. On Wednesday, when the poor little beggar was brought into court, lawyer Mott was there, and, when he saw the young prisoner his heart was touched. Under the patches of dirt on the boy's face the worthy man saw lines of intelligence. The eye was bright and the movements were quick. The boy said he was 16 years old, but it was plain that he was barely 12, and knew no more of his own age than he did of the reign of Ptolemy. Mr. Mott went up to the prosecuting attorney and said: "Downing, give me the boy." "Give him to you!" exclaimed Mr. Downing, "why, he's to be tried for grand larceny." "Never mind that," replied Mr. Mott; "I'll take him and make a man of him." "That won't do," Mr. Downing said; "he'll have to go to the House of Refuge." "Not until he has been tried and convicted," said Mr. Mott "if he is to be tried. I appear for him." The lad was remanded for the day, and again appeared in court on Thursday. Mr. Mott repeated his request to be allowed to take the boy. "Don't make any mistake," said Mr. Mott; "I'll take care of him. I've got eight of my own and another mouth won't make much difference." The matter was referred to the Judge, and he, satisfied that Mr. Mott would do as he said, allowed the boy to go on his own recognizance. The next morning Mr. Mott saw that the boy was thoroughly cleansed from head to foot and his hair cut. Then a complete suit of clothing transformed him into another being. Mr. Mott went to Mr. Downing's office, taking the boy with him. Mr. Mott has a son named John, and practiced a pious fraud on Mr. Downing. "Downing," said he, "this is my boy John." "Glad to see you, John," said Mr. Downing, adding aside to Mr. Mott, "He's a mighty smart-looking boy." "Ye-es," said Mr. Mott, "he is. Don't you remember seeing him before?" "No, I can't say that I do." Mr. Downing replied. "Well," said Mr. Mott, "this is the boy indicted for grand larceny and wanted to send to the House of Refuge." Mr. Downing was astonished and gratified as well. That evening Mr. Mott took the boy home with him. He behaved like a gentleman. When bedtime came Mr. Mott led him to a small room which he had prepared for him, and left him there. Soon afterward Mr. Mott went back to the boy's room and glanced in. The little fellow was kneeling by the bedside praying aloud. As Mr. Mott described this scene his eyes were filled with tears. I heard him praying for me and my wife and children," said Mr. Mott, "and I never felt so happy in my life." Next morning the boy was attending to the cow and the horses before any one else was up. Mr. Mott told him he had a man to do that, but the boy said he liked to do it, as he had done it often for the farmers. On Sunday morning the lad was around early again and attended to the cow and horses as before. After breakfast he dressed himself and went to church with the family. This morning he was up earlier than before, and long before nine o'clock had finished everything and dressed himself. "You have got through early," said Mr. Mott. "Yes'sir," the boy answered; "I'm going to Sunday-school with the boys." It may not be often that a homeless, dirty, ragged boy exhibits such characteristics of head and heart; it is certain that few such boys have the opportunity. We would for their sakes, that there were more practical benefactors like the Long Island lawyer |