Part 15 (1/2)
At first, the mayor could not believe that the sounds he had heard were produced by a lad merely whistling through his fingers. He thought them highly agreeable, and asked to have the tunes repeated.
”The lad was committed to prison for no other offence than making that noise, which seems to thee so pleasant,” said Friend Hopper. ”I dare say thou wouldst like to make it thyself, if thou couldst. I have taken the liberty to discharge him.”
”Very well,” rejoined the mayor, with a smile. ”You have done quite right, Friend Isaac. You may go, my lad. I shall not trouble you. But try not to collect crowds about the streets.”
”That I cannot help,” replied the youth. ”The crowds _will_ come, when I whistle for them; and I get coppers by collecting crowds. But I promise you I will try to avoid their making any riot or confusion.”
MARY NORRIS.
A stout healthy woman, named Mary Norris was continually taken up as a vagrant, or committed for petty larceny. As soon as she was discharged from the penalty of one misdemeanor, she was committed for another. One day, Friend Hopper, who was then inspector, said to her, ”Well, Mary, thy time is out next week. Dost thou think thou shalt come back again?”
”Yes,” she replied sullenly.
”Dost thou _like_ to come back?” inquired he.
”No, to be sure I don't,” rejoined the prisoner. ”But I've no doubt I _shall_ come back before the month is out.”
”Why dost thou not make a resolution to behave better?” said the kindly inspector.
”What use would it be?” she replied. ”You wouldn't take me into your family. The doctor wouldn't take me into his family. No respectable person would have anything to do with me. My a.s.sociates _must_ be such acquaintances as I make here. If they steal, I am taken up for it; no matter whether I am guilty or not. I am an old convict, and n.o.body believes what I say. O, yes, I shall come back again. To be sure I shall come back,” she repeated bitterly.
Her voice and manner excited Friend Hopper's compa.s.sion, and he thus addressed her: ”If I will get a place for thee in some respectable family where they will be kind to thee, wilt thou give me thy word that thou wilt be honest and steady, and try to do thy duty.”
Her countenance brightened, and she eagerly answered, ”Yes I _will_! And thank G.o.d and you too, the longest day I have to live.”
He exerted his influence in her behalf, and procured a situation for her as head-nurse at the alms-house. She was well contented there, and behaved with great propriety. Seventeen years afterward, when Friend Hopper had not seen her for a long time, he called to inquire about her, and was informed that during all those years, she had been an honest, sober, and useful woman. She was rejoiced to see him again, and expressed lively grat.i.tude, for the quiet and comfortable life she enjoyed through his agency.
THE MAGDALEN.
Upon one occasion, Friend Hopper entered a complaint against an old woman, who had presided over an infamous house for many years. She was tried, and sentenced to several months imprisonment. He went to see her several times, and talked very seriously with her concerning the errors of her life. Finding that his expostulations made some impression, he asked if she felt willing to amend her ways. ”Oh, I should be thankful to do it!” she exclaimed. ”But who would trust me? What can I do to earn an honest living? Everybody curses me, or makes game of me. How _can_ I be a better woman, if I try ever so hard?”
”I will give thee a chance to amend thy life,” he replied; ”and if thou dost not, it shall be thy own fault.”
He went round among the wealthy Quakers, and by dint of great persuasion he induced one to let her a small tenement at very low rent. A few others agreed to purchase some humble furniture, and a quant.i.ty of thread, needles, tape, and b.u.t.tons, to furnish a small shop. The poor old creature's heart overflowed with grat.i.tude, and it was her pride to keep everything very neat and orderly. There she lived contented and comfortable the remainder of her days, and became much respected in the neighborhood. The tears often came to her eyes when she saw Friend Hopper. ”G.o.d bless that good man!” she would say. ”He has been the salvation of me.”
THE UNCOMPLIMENTARY INVITATION.
A preacher of the Society of Friends felt impressed with the duty of calling a meeting for vicious people; and Isaac T. Hopper was appointed to collect an audience. In the course of this mission, he knocked at the door of a very infamous house. A gentleman who was acquainted with him was pa.s.sing by, and he stopped to say, ”Friend Hopper, you have mistaken the house.”
”No, I have not,” he replied.