Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1875 — That Detroit Police Court. [ARTICLE]

That Detroit Police Court.

“ Snow balling farmers,” said Bijah, as he handed out a small boy. “ Bub,” said the Court, after a long look over the desk, “ suppose you had killed an honest, hard-working farmer by hitting him with a snow-ball?” “ I won’t never do it again,” sobbed the boy. “ Suppose, my son, you had killed him, and his body had been taken to the morgue and word of the terrible affliction sent to his family. Imagine, bub, the terrible grief of his gray-haired partner, the tears and sobs of his children! Picture the scene to yourself. It is dark; u happy family has gathered around a cheerful stove-hearth; they are waiting for husband and father to arrive. A sleigh drives up. They rush to the windows and doors, crying, ‘Father has come!’ but a strange knock is heard. The door is opened, thq man asks if Mr. Miller lives there andjhen, in a sad voice, goes on to say that Mr. Miller is no more, a Detroit boy named Patsey Hern having murdered him with a snow-ball! Gaze on the picture, my son—imagine the sorrow and woe and desolation!” “ Oh! boo-hoo-woo!” wailed the boy. “ You see, my son, this world is becoming crowded for room, and if each one of us goes through life kicking and striking and throwing, some one will get hurt. Let your mind dwell on these things, my boy, and see if you can’t get along after this without trouble. You may run home now, and if your father ever buys you a hatchet ana you cut his cherry-tree, don’t lie out of it when he asks who’s been hacking at his standing timber.”