Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1881 — Jim’s Heart Found. [ARTICLE]

Jim’s Heart Found.

In the paint shop of the Detroit house of correction, sayrf the Free Press, is a man whom we will Call Jim, and who is a territorial prisoner on a life sentence. Up to last spring he was regarded as a desperate! dangerous man, ready, for rebellion at any hoiir. He planed a general outbreak, and was “givfen away” by one of the conspirators. He planned a general mutiny or rebellion,and was again betrayed. He then kept his own counsel and while never refusing to obey orders, he obeyed them like a man who only needed backing to make him refuse. One day recently a party of strangers came to visit the Institution. One was an old gentleman, the others ladies, and two of the ladies had small children, The gtfide took one of the children on his aim and the other walked until the party began climbiug stairs. Jim was working near by, sulky and morose as ever, when the guide said to him: “Jim won’t you help this little girl up stairs?” The convict;hesitated, a scowl on his lace, and the little girl .held out her hands to him and said: “If you will I guess .I’ll kiss you.” His scowl vanquished in an instant, and he lifted the child as "tenderly as a father. Halfway up the stairs she kissed him. At thb head of the Stairs she'said: "Now Jrou’ve got to kis3 me, too.’ -1 He blushed ike a woman, looked ldto her intioCent face and then kissed her Cheek, and befoie he reached the foot ot the stairs again, be had tears in bis eyes. Ever since that day he has been a changed man, and no one in that place gives lees trouble. Maybe iu his far away western home he has a Katie of his own. No one knows, for he never reveals liis inner life, but the change so quickly wrought by a child proves Jhat he has a heart.