d him, and let him slip
off in that way," said Colwell.

"That may be; but he did one wise act of his life, in his treatment to
the borrower, and I dare say that man will never violate his vow,"
answered Fabens.

"I don't know about that," said Teezle. "I should be afraid on't, and
lock up my grainery olers after."

"The person did not lock his granary, and no borrower I dare say has
set foot in it since."

"_Thief_, why didn't ye say?" inquired Colwell.

"O, he did not mean to steal," answered Fabens. "His family were
hungry, and he was too bashful to ask for it, and was taking the wheat
only till after the next year's harvest. The exposure of his error
might have ruined him; and he might have been driven to a desperate
life of crime. Now I think he must be a better man than before
overtaken by temptation."

"Yes,--but--the scamp orto've been punished," rejoined Colwell. "I
don't b'lieve in lettin' such scamps off without their punishment."

By this time the company were enlisted in the discussion, and more than
one remarked that he ought to have been punished; yet no one surmised
that the culprit sat in their midst, and was tortured by their words.
Troffater knew not where to turn his little earthen eyes, for fear of
encountering accusers; and he fixed them on the moon, and whistled a
snatch or two of his addicted music; then bit his lips, and blowed, and
hitched around on his seat, and blushed like a jack-o'-lantern.

"Yes, the scamp orto've been punished, I say," repeated Colwell.

"Think he was not punished then?" asked Fabens. "I think he was a
little! If I had stood in his shoes, I am sure I should rather have
been basted, or anything else, than served as he was."

"But he got away from the law," said Colwell.

"Not the living law, let me tell you," answered Fabens. "Not away from
God's law written on his heart, and threading the bone and marrow of
his being. To get away from that law, he had first to escape the reach
of God's hand, and run away from his own body and spirit. That was not
so easy a feat, Mr. Colwell.

"For the sake of our good social law, it may have been the person's
duty to drag the poor man to light, and give him open justice; but he
probably judged in that case, that the social law was better served and
guarded in its spirit, if not in its letter, than if the offender had
been exposed and imprisoned, to be let loose again with vengeance
against the law, and against man