The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-10-31
THE IRON MAN,

A convict pressing his cheek against the iron
bars of his cell-did you ever see that sight? Did
you hear the dismal clank clank, ofrusty iron
against the Wondering wood, or the regular tramp
of SIX hundred men, all of them wearing the
badges of sin and disgrace Did you ever feel
the cold, damp touch of the great fagstones;
look up to the dim roof through the interstces OF
damp stairs feel that all that great space throbbed
with human woe, and were not ready to weep at
the thought Of the bitter tears that had been shed
beside the hard pallets? Some say that the most
of such congregation are given over to hardness
OF heart. Yes if one reads that stolid face and
thesdull eye, carelessly.
But this prisoner with his lantern jaws, he
fierce hollow, death-bright eye, his wide white
scanned forehead, the gray hair standing back If
the hand had often pressed it with some burning
feverish impulse-what do you think his age was?
"seventy"
A poor guess not yet forty-three. Oh, what a
hard stony face it was.
''The man had no feeling said the jailor: :
''neither shame nor grief. He dares any glance,
he sneers at sympathy; his heart is flint itself
Monsters are sometimes born-I think he is one."
''But his crjme?' p
''Wife murder; at least he caused he1 death.
s he was terrible woman, and neglected little
child, think, so that it died, 1 believe and
finally killed her.
A history to make one shudder.
HE has never expressed remorse, and our chap
lain sees him only for FORMS sake it is impossible
to keep up an interest in him.
Aud yet there were some remnants of nobility
about him. Even this man had been young and
innocent at his mothers knee he had known
sono w, he did feel remorse, perhaps. Who can
tell?
"Let her have it, said the jailor, my little
Minnie picked beautiful flower from the forbid.
den ground.
Little Minnie is naughty to-day Mamma, put
Minnie in Prison - Said the child with subdued
look.
Such horrible revulson passed over at
these words. Had not children:as beautiful grown
into-what Ny very soul shuddered. 1t was
with an effort that entered the gloomy halls with
some friends, the child still prattling. And yet L
thank God for that day of my existence. The
stony face was there; the great hollow eyes look
ed eagerly. Seldom wag child seen In that
deathy gloom. Man, do you want pretty fower?"
cried little Minnie. holding it up. She was lifted
up to his level. To my establishment he took is,
his lip quivercd
Man, you want kiss" chirruped the little
bird-voice sob that was almost terrific was
the answer. lie withdrew from sight as if he had
been shot. We all stood transfxed. chids
voice had stirred the locked up waters OF al soul,
and we ended our visit silently.
The next day the warden came to my house.
'Jenner hasn't been off his bed since yes erday''
he said: che begs you will see him" In less
than fifteen minutes I stood in the cell. The
mans face no longer defiant, has grown DEATH
like.
"Oh thank God-thank God - he cried fer
vently It'll yesterday, 1 thought my heart was
dead-but that child-that child" he choked
again.
"Would You like to see her 3!
He passed his hand over his face
mo; let me die with those sweet Ewords ringing
in my ears. Oh my own little one-my own lit
tie darling-your wicked father will never see you
-never-never." When the strong anguish had
passed he told me the history OF his life, and such
history Deep pity was in my heart long be-
fore he finished.
The Iron Man was flesh agar. H. only lived three
months after the defiant will was broken. Deep
y did he repent, humbly pray for mercy and when
his wasted face shone with divine light of for
giveness, he said to me, "You may bring her
only once"
Sonny darling frightened the dreary hours,
and so on his dying lips her futtering kiss fell
softly-the last lfc-throb that touched him as the
soul went out, leaving smile 5ehind.-selected.