New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-05
JIMMY WENDLE.
BY MARY MORGAN THOMAS.

BY MARY MORGAN THOMAS.
The great door of the State Prison swung
open at the sound of the magic rap of III,
pastor, and the grating of il big key in the
hands of .thc inside guard of the temple OF
exclusiveness.
1t was rather early to admit those no;
sanctitied by jails. station houses, district
attorneys, juries and Judges and. as we
were delayed by the turnkey. my pastor
commenced Il conversation with him. which
so occupied my thoughts that unconscious
ly placed a package of tracts under my
shawl, aud soon after looked about as though
[ had dropped them much to the amuse-
ment of the turnkey. who looked SO ro"llish
that at first wondered if he had not learned
the art of some of the inmates. and had
picked my hands before my eyes, lust us
they had the pockets of absorbed country
people, who We're ignorant OF the trickercs
Of the cities
But second look satisfied me that nv
suspicious were groundless, and WAS Just
about requesting him TO open the gate and
allow me to see if / had not dropped them
outside, when lie said in a rich broyue,
"And sure, if You would examine Your
heart, you would find many u good word
there And sure enough. to my chagrin,
there were the words OF hope, promise. be-
lief, justice, mercv. etc, which, when l
brought them forth. caused my pastor to
burst out with such 4 musical laugh that
the clerks and wardehs ran to the window $
and doors with as great expressions of sur
prise as though Gabriel had blown his
trumpet.
l was so much amused to see Pastor
Brown retreat back into dignity at such a
rapid rate rs he did, that laughed cunvul-
sively, just rs all people do laugh who have
seen much of jails. prisons, a>yluhs and
mlsfOrtunes generally. One can not yet ND
glorious laugh very often, but when they
do they very naturally astonsh everybody
in hearing, and especially those who are
always imposing prophecies on ministers
and women.
If God did not intend women to laugh
why did He give them voices of laughing
music, and if He did not intend ministers
to, either, why did He not take away the
power as soon as they put on their robes
As soon as We were AGAIN composed, the
turnkey complimented ne by saying | was
after his own heart (Which dcnE} in being
absent minded. and, while twring his mas
sive key i'll his hand, said: .Look here, Miss
Thomas, just have to keep this KEY ia my
hand all OF the blessed day as | am not al
lowed to lay it down Il moment, and so
have to hold an old key in my hand o.
nights to quiet my mind, and make me feel
that am kaplng up the great responsibility
that rests upon me"
But III kape ye no longer: We ken 60 in
now"
Pastor Brown was. one OF tho privileged
ones, and SO, with IL bow he passed hight
into the inner courts of the temple. CON
demned cells and all, an'! as We saw the
faces of a-hy agony, unconscicuSiE looked
about me, to see if could not lily INTO the
beautiful sunlight with them H. | would
"A i,r
elements.
All, thought I, people can't Sc made bet
ter without better air to make better
thought IN. ., how my heart sHcllrd with
the thought until found the clothes that
covered 1t actually oppressive 10 me.
l was glad when we left for The chapel of
the prison, where there seemed to he room
to breathe a little more OF the air that God
ave to all humanity
The services commenced with n. niuch
sOlemnity ami attention a. it has been INV
fortune 10 witness. even where many of the
people have been too dishonest To- ever be-
come the guest. of Is great State" There
were a number present who looked il tr:ou-
sandfold purer. with their striped clothes.
than some who are Tcarin. purple and
tine linen. over dark and st'cckled hearts,
IN the sanctuary If Gods b.au,i,ll sun
light. almost forgot was in /. prison so
nearly cntranced did become in the de
W. Hoti"hal s'n2ihS OF we fltii before me.
me voice Oh IL TAIL, hiuc-er"d Nonn: man
particularly attracted my attention. and rs
the charming strain 81 music reached my
ear; SurrI ahu surcr did l h''o!n" that
had htard mat voice before. ana ye' could
not tell when or where.
MY interest Increased, ana c"';ih not
longer resist 'he Inclination to in'.uirr of
tne suiiu near hie WHO ne was, an! now ne
ca ,n, 'hcrc' 81. -,
Aho S"i'" siliteu HIS 'iilc. a. II hr.itat-
III ana tlieh Saiu >,
Is 'hlmy Mchnie; OF -. D"n't You
Loiheihoer nis Id, her! ne ii'ed on 'hr Gor-
u ~, Ioad, anu, "htn young man. enchanted
on w. SiiiS WIN HIS Pceui'ilf 'o'' Oh The
si"is ia 'i'uSc'
Like magic the remembrance came, and
although wee little one when his father
was tall ana arstociaiic gentleman, his
tones OF voice while singing had made such
an impression ON my child brain thai it is
not at all surprising that, although twenty
years had elapsed, the voice seemed familiar
at once. L need not SAY, gentle iea'e". that
was profoundly astonlshcd t" learn that
the son OF man so honorable t'nd who
hnd also Wite OF The greatest integrity in
ali respecfs) was confined IN Il STATE prison.
4 a ~ 4 ! t.lf