Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1887 — THE CONVICTS CHRISTM AS EVE. [ARTICLE]

THE CONVICTS CHRISTM AS EVE.

Tbe term was. done; my penalty was pact; I saw the outside of the wall* at last. When I left that ttone punishment of sin, 'Twa* 'moet as hard as when I first went in. It seemed at once as though the swlft-roioed «it Told slanderous tale* about me every-where; As if the ground itself was shrinking back For fear 'twould get the Cain’s mark of my traek Women wonld edge away,with shrewd she-gnaaaee. As if my very glance would spoil their dresses; Men looked me over with close, cardies* g&as, Aud understood my downcast, jail-bred ways; My hands wereso grim-hardened and defiled, ,' I wouldn’t have had the cheek to pet a child: If I had spoken to a dog that day, He would hare tipped his nose.and walked away; And so I wandered In jail of doubt. Whence neither heaven nor earth wonid let me out. The world itself seemed to me every Wit As hard a prison as the one I’d quit. If you are made of anything but dirt; If you’ve a soul that other souls can hnrt. Turn to the right w hoever passes it’s death to drop among the lawless classes! -Men loHe. who lose the friendshi(> of .the law, A blessing from each breath of air they draw; They know the advantage of a good square lace. When then's has been disfigured by disgrace. So 1 trudged round appropriately slow For one with no particular place to go. The houses scowled and stared as if to say, “You jail-bird; we are honest, walk away!’’ The factory seemed to stream when 1 e tine near ‘Stand back! unsentenced men are working he^e!” And virtue had th’ appearance all the time Of trying hard to push me back to crime, It struck me strange, that stormy, snow-blenched day, To watch the different people ou the way, All carrying bundles, of all sorts of sizes, As carefully as gold and silver prizes. Well dressed or poor, I could not understand Why each one hugged a bundle iu his hand. I asked an old poli leman what it meant; He looked the over with eyes shreodlybeat. While muttering in a voice that fairly froze, “It’s cause to-morrow’s Christmas,T suppose.” And then the fact came crashing over me, ’ How horribly alone a man can be' ~ . I don’t pretend what tortures yet may wait For souls that have not run their reckonings straight; - __^ —__ It Isn’t for mortal ignorance to say What kind of night may follow any day; There may be pai 1 for sin some time found cat That sin on earth knows nothing yet about; But I don’t think there’s any harbor known Worse for a wrecked soul than to be alone. Alone I—there maybe never has occurred A word whose gloom is gloomier than that word! You who can brighten up your Christmas joys With all affection’s small but mighty toys, Who fancy that-yo .r gifts of love be rash, And presents are not worth their price in earh, Thank Goa, with love and thrift no more at war, That you’ve some one to speud your money (cr! A dollar plays a very dingy part, Till magnetized by some one’s grateful heart. So evening saw me straggling, up and down Within the gayly lighted, desolate town, , A hungry, sad heart-hermit all the while, My rou -h face begging for a friendly smile. Folks talked with folks in new-made -warmth and glee, - But no one had a word or look for me; Love flowed like water, but it could not make The world forgive me lor my one mistake. An open church some look of welceme wore; I crept in soft, aud sat down near the door. I’d.nevor seen 'mongst n.y unhappy race So many happy children in one place; I never knew how much a hymn could bring From heaven, until I heard those children sieg; I never saw such sweet-breathed gales of glee Aaswepl.around that fruitful-.. Christmas-tree, You who have tripped through, childhood's merry days With passionate love protecting All your ways, Who did not see a Christmas time go by Without some present for your sparkling eye, Thank God; whose goodness gave snoh joy its birth, And scattered heaven-seeds iu the dust of earth! In stone paved ground my thorny field was set; I never had a Christmas present yet. And so T sat and saw them, and confess Felt all the unliappier for their happiness; And when a man gets into such a state. He’s very proud-or very desolate. Just then a cry of fire amongst us came; The pretty Christinas tree was all aflame: And one sweet child there in our startled gnse Was screaming with her white olothes all ablaa#, The arowd seemed *razy-like, both old kasL young, And vary swift of speeeh, though slow as tonga*. But one knew what t r do and not to say, And he a aonvict, just let loose that day. I fought like one who deals in deadly strif*I wrapped my life around that ohild’s swaet ltia; I ohokad the flame* that choked her, with si*h • links Stol'n from some fcood but. very frightened f*lta; I gave the dear girl to her parent*' sight, Pnharm*d by anything nxeepting fright; I tore the blazing branches from th tree; And all was safe, and no one hurt but me. That night, of whieh I asked for sleep in vain | That night, tbattossed me round on prongs *ll pain, j That stabbed me with fi*roe tortures threnghand through,

Was still the happiest that I ever knew. I felt that I at last had earned a place Among my raee, by suffering for my rate; I fßlt the glorious facte wouldn’t let me mbs A mother’s thanks—perhaps a child's’sweet kirn That man’s warm gratitude would tnd a plan J r# lift we up, aud help me be a man. / Nekt'day thiyVomglrt a lette to my bed, I 1 opened It with tingling nerves and read’ I "Ton have upon my kindness certain claims 1 For rescuing my young child from the flames; Such deeds deserve a hand unstained by crime; I trust you will reform while yet there’s time. The blackest sinner may find mercy still, (Unclosed please find a thousand dollar bill.) Our paths, of course, on different roads mart He Don’t follow me for any more. Sood-by." Tscorehed the dirty rag till it was black; Enclosed it in a rag and sent it back. That very night I cracked a tradesman’s doer. Stole with my blistered hands ten thousand Which next day I took special pains to send To my good, distant, wealthy, high-toned friend And wrote upon it, in a steady hand, In words I hoped he wouldn’t mi-uaderstand; “Money is cheap, as l have shown you hem, But gratitudeand sympathy are dear. These rags are stolen—have been—may often b I trust the one wasn’t that you seut to me. Hoping ! our pride and you are reconciled— From the black, sinful rescuer of your child.” I crept to court—a .crashed, triumphant wown Confessed the theft, and took auother term: My life closed, atid began; and I am back Among the rogues that walk the broad-gang* track, I toil ’mid every sort of sin that’s known; j walk rongh roads—but do not Walk Alone. Will Carleton in Harper’s Magname. Anthony Com9to«k will soon imri upon it that only dressed beef shall aj pear in the market.