Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1860-09-27
THE BABY I'M THE PRISON.
By GRACE GREENWOOD.

corrldors-now and then entering one of the
cells, TO exchange word of human cheer with
It's lonely inmate--utterly lonely, but for the
mute companionship of his labor--that primal
penalty of sin, transformed into consolation
and a blessing. Occasionally we paused at a
cell, but did not enter, being invited by the
warden to look in upon the prisoner, through a
minute loop hole, n the heavy iron door. Thus
gszed upon some of the most hardened and
hopeless criminals iD the Penitentiary, as they
bent over lapstone or loom, or stood at the car
penter's bench, all unconscious that human
eye was dwelling on them-watching the dull,
gloomy face, the mechanical movements, with
sorrowtul awe, a sombre curiosity, shudder-
ing yet yearning pity. The women looked
thinner. paler, more haggard and Responding
than the men-though some seemed making a
desperate effort at defiance. II Is hard TO defy
solitude. silence; and that dismal humiliation
OF identity, where ones very name is merged
IN the number of PRISONS cell. Evidently
these things told more upon their spirits than
on those OF the male prisoners, and the more
monotonous nature of their occupations seemed
to weary and wear upon them. Their eyes
met ours with a dull and stony expression, or
reireated with shy, evasive gaDces. Yet the
most sad and sullen among them followed us
to the cell door, with, look of longing
and mournful envy more touching than the
widest appeal for freedom and human com.
panionship. ..
On the floor of one of these cells, we found
little chlld-a baby.girl, somewhat less than
year old. The sight surprised me, the appear.
ance Of La Povera piceiola, the poor little
: Hover, springlng up from between the flag
stsnes of his prison. yard, surprised the sad
captive of FeDestrello. pale and sickly bios.
T som this seemed, though not without a certa in
Plaintive beauty in her wan and wistful little
face. She was very fair--too fair; there
seemed no sunshine 10 her veins no stir of life
10 the pale golden hair which hung deiectedly
about her waxen forehead. The ewes were
bue-but of the dull, uncertain hue of yiolsts
} that have grown 10 deep shade. faneied they
might have caught all they lacked of lig bit and
color from the CLEAN Of running waters or the
rich depths of summer skies. They had, too,
a strange, blank lpok-from striking ever
against dull prison-walls, thought. They
certainly had not the eager, distant reaches OF
expression, flashing out from the eyes of hap
pier children. Was the infants sight dwarfed,
to suit the dimensions Of its mothers cell?
How strange and sad il seemed4 The earth
had almost made it's mighty revolutions around
the sun, passing through all the wonderful
changes of the seasons; through the countless
in the prison, and she knew nothing yet O
Springs fair bloom, of Summers glory, OF Au.
tumn's ripeness, of Winters splendor-nothinr
I OF winds, or waves, or woods, or birds-o
SKIES OF stars, or rain, or snow. fear hel
; little feet had never been set in the grass, be-
h little arms never been thrown round pet Of
q playtellow. l fear she had never looked int
4 the heart of q rose, nor the face of a it'll.
y child. Surely the sight of either would hay,
kIndled a faint momenisry blush in her pallit
a cheeks.
n 1t was cloudy, showery day, aud doubl
: gloom pervaded the prison. Suddenly the SUI
J. shone out, and sent glad beam through tn
is high, narrow, grated window, to fall on tn,
i prison floor, beside the child. For the frs
}. time | saw the little creature smile, as sh
bent forward and clutched eagerly at the dan
e chg ray. II was pretty yet piteous sight
> that instructive hungry grasp at her small ra
d ton of Gods tree sunshne-her crumb falle
y from the Masters table-while the whole out
y side world were feas.iug half unconscious, an
10 all too unthankful, on the rich, life-giVinI
10 bounty.
d 10 another instant. a pitiless cloud swep
70 over the sun, and the radiant stranger wa
u gone. Then the bereaved baby cried, in a 81
'r lent, odd way, which showed one that tea r
i
le mother took her up, and stroye to comfort he
d with few feeble love-words and languid ca
d ress. Then regarded the mother. She wa
D.. little more than child herself "going o
eighteen" she said; and looked weak, inoi
I, fensiee creature, with no muscle or libre--de
b. spending, listless, frhil and sorry thing f.
Of the law 10 wreak itself against The bah
bf ceased weeping presently, but began again q
Is we drew nearer, hiding her face against he
Iy chd-moher's breast. Don't mind her, Ia
In dies,'' said the mother, I. she is a puny, scar
lie thing. She amt used 10 straagers, aud don
Y seem to take kindly to prison-ife for all sh
,bf was born 10 H. hope she will be better whe
" we get out, but don't know. You see sh
10 didn't have fair chance Ut the start frette
ur so much fore she was born. and good bit a
AZ ter. She don't know what it is 10 be livel
III and CHEEKY, like other children. think Ii
en- tie of the fresh open air would do her GOO
d. and she ought to see raore folks, especial
d. young folks. l doubt | am poor hand ,
d, Frightening her up, | feel so old; and it's
We dismal here"
Ut |" Could not some friend take the child ava
nd and care for il till your term is out r. aske
ut a. haven't got any frsnds that know that
TX am here but one, and he's in ioov she replie
Ca with fush. "Some Of the prison yisito
ID have offered TO take care Other but can't Ii.
"a without her, ! should fret myself 10 death
I'd little while, aud ain, fit TO die. expe,
'al to have hard time, when get out, but il
IA don'tgo wrtnR sgsiu II will be because OF BABY
of pears 10 mo God has got hold Of me there.
re- Let Us trust that be has--sure. eternal hole
TO Let Us hope that this sorrowful Picciola--th
os- little dropping flower, springing from sinf
es- love, bedeved with tears of shame. nuriured
b. prison gloon, may yet instruct the mother
he simple heart Ia the divine lesson of virtue, al
ch breathe into it the balm of Gods peace
az This young mother. was afterwards toll
ose was sent hare for arcsnys for a term of ~
H. years. She had been servant girl, and b,
cir stolen from her mistress diamond brooch
ay Whether from the promptipgs OF evil counss
rs. or The sudden wild temptation Of grlish van
itY, or from an insane, inbora propensity