Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-07-31

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 sister, so young, and but
lately so innocent, of Gods free air end sun
shine for two long years-condemn her to meet
her time of peril and of pain, to bring forth her
first baby, in prison CELL
But little while ago, noble lady of France
robbed jeweler of q set of costly diamonds, that
she might shine peerless at an imperial fete-and
the penalty which she has suffered Qrom 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 own free
dom, and bless the exchange from the tiresome
splendors of Partisan high life.
Since the day of my visit, that great model
prison. that imposing caravansary of crime,
with it's hundreds of unhappy inmates, repre-
sentatives of almost every conceivable offense
toward God and man, has for me no memory so
pathetic as that of the baby born under its vast
roof. often think of her, and wonder, and
conjecture many things. Did she continue to
droop and pine, with strange, importunate in
stinct for life and freedom, till one day sudden
darkness swept acrsss that narrow grated win
dow, and the little faint sunbeam of joy that lit
the cell was withdrawn torever2 Had the poor
picc;o10 withered among the prison-stones -
Had ever little coffin been carried through that
low, dark doorway, and down the long silent
corridor, with no mourner following2 Had
God so loosened his hold on the mothers heart,
or frightened it2
Or had deliverance come otherwisea Had
she gone forth, led by her mothers hand, cling
ing closely to her mothers side, white, shy,
startled little creature, out into the great, wide,
bewildering worlda Had nature ministered
kindly to her new found child, lighted her dull
eyes with CLEANS of thought and joy, kindled
something like bloom in her wan cheeks bur
nished her pale hair with sunshine, and quick.
ened her languid pulses with pure air? Had
she grown familiar with the starry sky and the
grassy eartha Had she learned to play, and to
laugh aloud, unfearful of prison echoess
Must the shadow of that prison follow mother
and child through lite, cloud of shame and
suspicions-or will the world prove merciful
and forgetful? Will virtuous. Christian people
give them chance to live honestly and happi-
ly, and so redeem the past error2
Who can tell2 But in the memory of the
poor baby in the prison, let Us pray that the
fortunate, the happy, the innocent, may learn to
be wisely charitable toward the errors of youth,
tendery helpful toward the friendless and un-
fortunate, hopefully toiling for the bringing of
the time for which the great burdened heart of
the world yearns unceasipgly-the day of God
of the establishment Of his kingdom forever
Then human crime and wretchedness shall cease,
then chains and bolts shall grow rusty with dis
use, then nature will fill the unroofed prison
cell with exultipg sunshine and vail the crumb-
ling prison turrets in green oblivion of ivy.
Then every babe shall be born heir to the full
wealth of human love and care-to the full Joy
and freedom Of life; then none shall rob the
least of Christ's little ones of its best Inheritance
its share in the blessing uttered ages ago in Ju-
dea, for all time, and for all children Of every
land and race.