Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-07-28
that hour to follow in the path of virtue and

that hour to follow in the path Of virtue and
integrity.
Would you have worked il you had found
some one to give you employmentP asked.
The prisoner looked with much earnestness
at me as he sat on the floor Of his cell, hay-
inr given me his only seat, and then said,
. When | was discharged, ! could not find
encouragement. The world brands the pri-
soner with infamy.'
But said the Warden, 'thee should have
been honest. fear thee did not attempt 10
get work.
The prisoner looked with great earnestness
upon his keeper, as if meditating some ex-
cuse, when he very archly said, How many
police officers do you think are honestf'
10 this, the keeper replied, Suppose there
were not one, that would be no excuse for
thee, Thee should have been honest and
have sought FOR work. And it thee had not
obtained employment, then thee might not
have starved, but have gone to the Aims
house.
The Almshousev exclaimed the prisoner;
the Almshouse! but ! could not go there.
| would not like to go to such a place. evil
IDENTIFY carrying the idea that that was worse
than the prison.
Yes said the Warden, but many honest
people have gone there; there is nothing so
very bad in going TO such an institution. 1t
would be far better than TO ommit crime
Yes, but then there are so many discour-
agements when we get out. The officers
know me, and then | always suspect people
are looking at me as a convict
But said the Warden, evidently wanting
10 encourage him to lead a better life, "a man
went out the other day, and he found work,
and was encouraged
The prisoners countenance frightened
with the story which the Warden feelingly
related, and he seemed resolved to lead a bet
ter life.
Now thee has been here seventeen months,
and thee has not given me a cross word.-
Thee has made trouble in other PRISONS
Thee has violated the rules there, thee has
shown that the lion can become a lamb. But
Just show these friends now how they talk in
Sing Sing
Here the prisoner gave a specimen of the
conversation there, and the manner of con-
versing without opening the mouth or NOV
ing the lips. This could be done without
detection. 1t was not exactly ventriloquism,
but 1t showed, at once, the ease with which
communication could be carried on between
man and man even under the most vigilani
eye Of a keeper.
Now continued the keeper, thee would
not wrong me. | would be willing to trust
thee with money, but then thee might wrong
Others
NO. said the prisoner, with great earnest
ness, j would never wrong a man who trust
ed me. A rogue's life is not so very pleasant
after ALL
why, Them l asked, did you continue a
life which you, yourself, say was so disagree
able and SO hard q
Il have had many computations of con-
science continued the prisoner, but then
what could ! do? l could not sometimes OBJ
tain work and should have starved
Would it not have been better to have
starved,' | asked, and died innocent, rather
than to live guiltyP
Starved! = said the prisoner, looking with
great eaTnesiness into my countenance, as il
trying to test my sincerity. And then as il
making his boldest effort for an excuse, he
said, did not Christ pluck The ears of corn
even on the Sabbath? =
| assured him that | would befriend any
discharged prisoner, and our time having
elapsed, we abruptly left the cell, leaving his
strange excuse unanswered.
Such was the substance of a conversation
with one who knew all about prison life; one
who had evidently weighed all the circum'
stances connected with crime; one who all
the while, believed in a state of eternal pun.
ishment one who confessed that = the way
of the ~transgressor is hard.' The narrative
was interesting, and trust it will show the
Importance of doing for the Discharged Phi.
soner. 1t is evident that thousands might
be saved, if proper means were taken. But the
community is dead to the subject, but the time
will come when such a Christian work will
be done, and then many crimes will cease.