Washington Telegraph

Beautiful and Affecting Incident.

The Paris correspondent of the St. Louis Republican, in a late letter, says:

A young man recently made his escape from the galleys at Toulouse. He was strong and vigorous, and soon made his way across the country and escaped pursuit. He arrived the next morning before a cottage in an open field, and stopped to beg something to eat and concealment while he reposed a little. But he found the inmates of the cottage in the greatest distress. Four little children sat trembling in a corner, their mother was weeping and tearing her hair and the father walking the floor in agony. The galley slave asked what was the matter, and the father replied that they were that morning to be turned out of doors because they could not pay their rent. "You see me driven to despair," said the father, "my wife and little children without food or shelter, and I without the means to provide any for them." The convict listened to this tale with tears and sympathy, and then said: "I will give you the means. I have but just escaped from the galleys; whoever secures and takes back an escaped prisoner is entitled to a reward of fifty francs. How much does your rent amount to?" "Forty francs," answered the father. "Well," said the other, "put a cord around my body. I will follow you to the city, they will recognize me, and you will get fifty francs for bringing me back." "No never!" Exclaimed the astonished listener, "my children should starve a dozen times before I would do so base a thing."

The generous young man insisted, and declared at last, that he would go and give himself up, if the father would not consent to take him. After a long struggle the latter yielded, and taking his preserver by the arm, led him to the city and to the mayor's office. Every body was surprised that a little man like the father had been able to capture such a strong young fellow, but the proof was before them; the fifty francs were paid and the prisoner sent back to the galleys. But after he was gone, the poor father felt so badly, that he asked a private interview of the mayor, to whom he told the whole story. The mayor was so much affected that he not only added fifty francs more to the father's purse, but wrote immediately to the minister of justice, begging the noble young prisoner's release. The minister examined into the affair, and finding that it was comparatively a small offence which had condemned the young man to the galleys, and that he had already served out half his time, he ordered his release. Is not the whole incident beautiful?