Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-04-19
.A-AG HIETTEILLL YEAN TIIRagl RL s N5l- - WHO'D M

tstorms of passion, and doomed to sin
lin disgrace. Oh what sad emetior
|are awakened in the mind, as y
,fI gaze upon its dark exterior, or al
its guarded doors. @ s.
= The fiendish cunning Of the mic
e night assassin andthe daring deedse
e the trained bandit, have been clothe
t with the graphic imagery and yiciop
b loveliness-ofg genius and romanee,untl
5 the heart has been spell. bound in tb
exciting perusal; but never ha
: the deep wretchedness--the bitter
$ blasting recollection of hope doreye
. fled; Of shame, dark ,rayless, chilling
) crushing out from the heart the yer,
light of life-never has this beer
s written, and dark, indeed would be th'
record.
.'Father Richmond, Iaskedo of The
! superintendent, ."what have ayoa
! done with the gang which arrived
I yesterday"
!. He was an aged man, with as warm
] heartas ever beat lin a human bosom.
! He has since gone to his reward. He
fell, like shock of corn, fully ripe,
lamented by the blessings Of lriendless
and poor. =
| "They are at work in the brick.
yard, he replied. s,s :. s..
/ The penitentiary had not long
been located at. Jefferson, and some
/ parts Of the interior were not quite
completed. .
1t was situated on an open space,
where the conyicts we're engaged
making bricks. We walked towards
the spot, and sat beneath the shade
erected for the guard.
Itwasa burning day;twenty or thirty
hands we're engaged at work; some Of
them had large iron rings about their
necks, others had log chains totheir
feet, SO that with the greatest diff
Guilty they could move from the place
where they worked. On most of
their countenances depravity was
written,and the inverted and sinister
glance showed the;r deep murderous
hatred to the whole human race.
But among that motley group,
there wasone that fixed my attention.
It was Flemming; but oh, how cham,
ged! His flowing hair had been shorn
to theroots, and on the other side
of bis head was shaved. His clothes
had been exchanged for the many
colored garments Of the prison, he
had been ordered to roll up his
sleeves and is bearing brick from the
moulders, and placing them on the
ground. The soft white skin Of his
arms is red and blistered, and ready
to bleed. He had been reared
in luxury and ease, look at him now:
His youth had been spent amid !
scenes Of domestic tranquility and
tenderness,ap the most endeariDg as
socations had thrown theirre6nements
around his life; but who were his COM
panions nowg Physical toll and OPP I
pressiye exposure, be had seldom |
known; but now with parched lips and
sinking exhaustion he performs bis
weary taskamid the tauntsand jeers
Of that brutalized gang, Once, in
spring hope, and lofty. ambition, +
and freedom and happiness were his;
but his follips, blackened into crime,
and crime has covered him with
ignominy and disgrace, and sunk binif
lower than the most AFFECTED slave T
Yet silently be tolls oD; he utters no
forsthe stern hand OF JUST
tice is upon him. Oh, God! IS itI
possible that the child Of innocenee,
Of hope, Of paternal piety and prayer
can sink SO low as this?
ssAnd is that Flemmiug 4 asked
the old man.
Yes, be replied, che is quite an
accomplished blackleg and is getting
his desert.
ou are mistaken, father Rich +
mond, 2 and ] stated to him the cir
cumstances of bis trial.
..See, be staggered beneath that
load Of brick; can you not relieve him
for short time, it is probably the
first time in his life that be has had
10 work IN the sum- "a
3 nYes, said the old gentleman
ssForeman, send that man Flemmitg |
here. -ss,-s.5 4
The order was obeyed, and thel
prisoner came slowly to the place 4