Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-11-11


pals, because | belong to their
tribe, and know that they are re-
ally glad of my release from the
penitentiary,
! "Well, thieving is the only lie.
gitimate profession / have-it ]
may use the term. A few weeks
Iof dissipation serves to render
me forgetful of prison experience,
hard and bitter as it may have
been. If the hardships, the dan
ger, the necessary and never ceas.
ing anxiety of life of pillage were
thoroughly impressed upon the in
tant mind, | think there would be
no rogues. 1t is terrible; and yet
to one who has been initiated into
the wicked mysteries, there is a
fascination which can seldom be re-
sisted. 1t is all luck. / may run
a day, week, month, year; but,
sooner or later, | am sure to feel
cops accusing grip on my shoul.
der, and the haunting dread of
this one instant is what gives that
wandering glitter which you may
notice in the thief s eye, and
which renders his life torment of
restless fear.
swell, after awhile, | find my
self here again, and Immediately
pitch in, to drown my wretched-
ness in hard work. The magis-
trates know me, and treat meas an
old customer, and here, in the pris-
on, they regard me as an erratic
boarder permanent enough ao,o).
who will be sure to return again.
This is the routine Of my own life,
and may answer for the lives OF
many of my class.
The "lifer" paused for a mo-
ment, and then, probably remem-
bering gthat the allotted time OF
my visit must be drawing TO q
close, hastily resumed
Il will relate to you the circum-
stances of my last arrest, and my
final one-for I firmly believe that
| shall never quit this prison alive.
81 had Just finished term of
four years and, after praying to
God very earnestly, and reasoning
with myself very strongly, had
come to the determination TO lead !
an honest life, if within the scope |
of possibility. Fortune favored
me, and | obtained a subordinate
position in the office of a promi-
nens solicitor. The down-drag-
ging devils soon found me out
again, and renewed, first. their
Establishments, and lastly their
threats. This time, by a tremen-
dous conquest of both shame and |
pride (even thieves have both of |
these sometimes), l foiled them.
They threatened to tell the story |
of my past; | euchred them by |
telling it myself. did not con-
ceal a passage or varnish chapter. !
l threw myself upon bis generos-
ity. He had the angel-the spark !
of Jesus Christ's real essence-in |
him. He extended his hand no.
bly, toward me. For long time |
| did not repay his kindness with |
Something kept me
back; though sorely tempted, | ell
bowed the Tempter in my rear.
/ succeeded in doing so as long as
Miss Agnes lived. My employer
was an old bachelor, a very old
bachelor, and Miss Agnes was his
young ward. But-but : she has
got nothing to do with the story. I
: . $ What have angels to
do with thieves?"
Whatever the person alluded to
had to do with his story the "lifer"
paused, his lip quivered, his cheek
flushed, and his eyes were filled
with dull sdespair. He quickly
proceeded, speaking huskiIy, and
SO fast as to be for a moment al
most unintelligible
"After she died the Tempier
somehow made his visits more fre-
quent, and my elbow somehow lost
its vigor. My employers Office
was in the front part of his'dwell.