The jailer relying on his well-known character, and his intimacy with Robert Wharton, the mayor, did not hesitate to comply with his request.  At that moment, the mayor himself came in sight, and Friend Hopper said to the lad, “Step into the next room, and play some of thy best tunes till I come.”

“What’s this?” said Mr. Wharton.  “Have you got a hand-organ here!”

“Yes,” replied Friend Hopper; “and I will show it to thee.  It is quite curious.”

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 associates 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 nobody 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 compassion, 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 God and you too, the longest day I have to live.”