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

How strange and sad it seemed! The eartl
had almost made its mighty revolution arount
the sun-passing through all the wonderful
changes of the seasons, through the counties
phenomena of nature, since this baby was borl
in the prison, and she knew nothing yet o
Springs fair bloom, of Summers glory, of An
tumn's ripeness, of Winters splendor-notbinf
of winds, or waves or woods, or birds-of skies
of stars, or rair, or snow. fear her little fee
had never been set in the grass, her little arm
never been thrown round pet or playtellow.-
fear she had never looked into the heart of 9
rose, or the face of a little child. Surely the
sight of either would have kindled faint mo.
mentary flush in her pallid cheek.
1t was cloudy, showery day, and double
gloom pervaded the prison. Suddenly, the eur
high, narrow, grated window, to fall on the
prison floor, beside the child. For the frs
time, saw the little creature smile, as she bent
forward and clutched eagerly at the dancing ray
1t was q pretty yet piteous sight-that instinc:
i've, hungry grasp at her small ration OF Gods
tree sunshine-her crumb fallen from the Mas
ter's table-while the whole outside world were
feasting half unconscious, and all too unthank
fnl on the rich, life giving bounty.
In another instant, a pitiless cloud swept ovel
the sun, and the radiant stranger was gone
Then the bereayed baby cried, in a silent, ole
way, which showed one that tears were more
native to her than smiles. The mother took
her up, and strove to comfort her with few
feeble love- words and languid caress. Then
regarded the mother. She was little more thar
child herself, ''going on eighteen" she said
and looked a weak, nofensive creature, witt
| no muscle or fibre--desponding lstless, frai
and sorry thing for the law to wreak itself a.
gainst. The babe ceased weeping presently, but
began again, as we drew nearer, hiding her face
against her chld-mother's breast.
'sDon't mind her ladies'" said the mother
"she is puny, scary thing. She amt used to
strangers, and don't seem to take kindly to pris-
on-lite, for all she was born to it. hope she
win be better when we get out, but don'l
know. You see she didn't have a fair chance
at the start fretted SO much fore she was
born, and good bit after. She don't know
what it is to be lively and CHEEKY, like other
children. | think little of the fresh open ali
would do her good, and she ought to see more
folks, especially young folks / doubt I am a
poor hand at Frightening her up, | feel so old
and it's SO dismal here"
"Could not some friend take the child away
and care for it till your term is out9" I asked
II haven't got any friends that know that ]
am here but one, and he's in too,n she replied
with faint blush. "Some of the prison visitors
have offered to take care of her, but can't live
without her. should fret myself to death in a
little while, and / amt fit to die. I expect to
have hard time to live, when get out, but il
| don't go wrong again it will be because of ba-
by; pears to me God has got hold of me there. y
Let US trust that he bas-a sure eternal hold
Let US hope that this sorrowful Piccioza-this
little dropping flower, springing from sinful
love, bedewed with tears of shame, nurtured 10
prison gloom, may yet instruct the mothers
simple heart in the divine lesson of virtue and
breathe into it the balm of Gods peace. '
This young mother, | was afterwards told.
was sent here for larceny, for term of two
years. She had been servant girl and had
stolen from her mistress diamond brooch
Whether from the promptings of evil counsel
or the sudden, wild temptation of girlish vanity.
or from an insane inborn propensity for thieving,
she committed this crime, know not. At ali
events, the penalty was hard one. Surely the