Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1860-09-27

thieving, she committed this crime, know
not. At all events, the penalty was hard
one. Surely The poor girl was too young to be
beyond the hope of reformation through milder
means. For all the diamonds in Victoria's
crown, would not deprive an unfortunate sis.
ter, so young, and but lately so innocent, OF
Gods free air and sunshine for two long years
compel her to meet her time of peril and of
pain, 10 bring forth her first baby in prison
cell.
| But little while ago, a noble lady of France
robbed a jeweler of set of costly diamonds,
that she might shine peerless at an imperial
fete--and the penalty she has suffered (from
society, not the law) is banishment-to her
chateau in the country. Here, though rage
and modification may gnaw at her proud
heart, her children will probably forget her
shame in their freedom, and bless the exchange
from the tiresome splendors of Partisan high
| lite.
Since the day of my visit, that great model
prison, that imposing carayansary of crime,
with its hundreds of unhappy inmates, repre-
sentatives ofalmost every conceivable offence
toward God and man, has for me no memory
SO pathetic as that of the baby born under lie
vast root. often think eff her, aud wonder,
and conjecture many things. Did she continue
10 droop and pine, with a strange, importunate
instinct for life and freedom, till one day sud.
den darkness swept across that narrow grated
window, and the little faint sunbeam ofjoy thai
lit the cell was Withdrawn forever! Had the
poor pfcciOtG wlthered among the prison stones
Had ever little coffin been carried through
that low, dark doorway, and down the long OIL
lent corridor, with no mourner following p
Had God 90 loosened his hold on the mothers
heart, or frightened it!
Or had delivsrance come otherwise! Had
she gone forth, led by her mothers hand
clinging closely to her mothers side, white
shy, startled little creaiure-out into ths
great, wide, bewildering world! Had natur,
mnlstered kindly to her new.found child
lightened her dull eyes with CLEANS of though
and Joy, kiRdled something like bloom in he
wan cheeks, FURNISHED her pale hair with sun
shine, and quickened her lsnquid pulses will
pure air! Had she grown familiar with th.
starry sky and the grassy earth Had sh,
learned to play. and 10 laugh aloud, unfearfu
, of prison echoes
Must the shadow of the prison follow mothe
and child through life, cloud of shame ant
suspicion Tor will the world prove mercitu
and forgetful? Will virtuous, Christian PEG
/, pie give them chance to live honestly an.
happily, and so redeem the past error! 80.
E Who can tell I! But in lie memory of tn
poor baby in the prison, let US pray that tn
fortunate, the happy, the innocent, may lear
to be wisely charitable toward the errors Q
youth, tendery helpful toward the frieadles
4 and unfortunate, hopefully toiling for tn
! bringing Of the time for which the great bur
: dened heart of the world yearns unceasingl
= the day of Cod Of the establishment of hi
8 kingdom for ever. Then human crime an
wretchedness shall cease, then chains an
= bolts shall grow rusty with disease, then Ma
z lure will il the unroofed prison cell with ez
: ulting sunshine, and vail the crumbling prison
, iurrets in green oblivion of ivy.
. Then every babe shall be born heir to th
. full wealth of human love and care-to III
. full joy and freedom Of life then none sha
= rob the least of Christs little ones of it's bel
4 inheritance, it's share in the blessing utters
ages ago in Judea, for all time, and for a
children OF every land and race.