Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-09-22

1 The next morDing he called me into the II
brary IL gave me another square talk and ad
| vised ME 10 study some every day Il he woult
help me every mite, ,& he gave me an arithmetic
spelling.book, geography, Il q wrting-book
and he hers me every mite. He lets me- come
into the house TO prayers every morning & go
me put into Bible-class Ia the Sunday-school
which likes very much, for it helps me to un
| derstand my Bible better.
Now Tom, the months on the square are
| up months ago, & as you said its the best job
1 ever did III my life, and commenced another
OF the same sort right away, only 1t is God help
Ing me to last lifetime, Tom. l wrote this
letter to t9ll you ! do think God has forgiven my
| sins, & herd your prayers for you told me you
should pray for me, now love ro read his word
e tell him all my troubles Il he helps me
know Tor | have plenty Of chances to STEAL but
don't feel to as | once did, and now | take
more pleasure in going to church on Sunday
than to the theatre, and that wasn't so one
time.
Our minister Il others often talk TO me IL a
month ago they wanted me to join the church,
but said no, not now, may be mistaken In
my feelings, | will wait awhile. But now feel
that God has called me, & on the first Sunday
In July will join the church-dear friend, /
wish could write to you as feel,but cant do
1t yet.
tThe comment by the editor ofthe Christian
Weekly is as follows:]
In another part Of our present issue will
be found q convlct's letter, which we are sure
our reader will peruse with the liveliest inter-
est.
1t furnishes one of The most striking illustra-
ti0ns which we have seen of the nature of real
prayer, and Of the manner in which, without
miraculous Intervention. God can answer pray
er. But II Is not for either of these that we re-
fer TO 1t here. We happen to know something
of the religious history Of the prisoner
to whom the letter is addressed and ii here Is In
that something so remarkable and stimulating
that we embrace this opportunity OF relating il
TO our readers.
A young girl of scarcely eleven summers old,
who had given her heart TO the Lord, and had
been received into the membership of the church
overheard her mother and some friends one day
speaking of n work In which they were engaged
among the female convicts In the prison Of the
city In which they resided. This set her to
think upon the question, What she could do for
the Lord; and she determined to 60 alone to
the prisoners on the male side Of the prison, and
see what she could accomplish.
There, she was drawn especially to one pris-
oner. He had received a college educaton,-
was agodless and regardless man, and was un-
der sentence for participation in very serious
crime. Yet she went and spoke with him.
frst asking God 10 help and bless her-and he
received her In very pleasant manner She
spoke TO him about Jesus and his salvation, in
The simple Language OF unquestioning faith and
lender affection, and In spite Of himself he list
ened and was affected Dy her words.
Why said he, Il cannot understand this If
grown up person should talk to me as you do,
'hink would insult them, repel them, but be-
'ause you are little girl, can take 1t from
vou.'
He asked her to come again and see him. She
went again, aud again, until very close bond
If union was formed between them, for she led
hin to the Lord. He was slow 70 admit his
conversion at the first, for he distrusted himself,
md he did not wish TO be numbered among
hose who Try to deceive the chaplain that they
nay make gain Of godliness. But he lived |
'ut the Christian life, and when, on the Occa- |
ion OF his father s paying visit TO him, he i'll
identaly and unconsciously let out the fact Of |
lis conversion, there was such weeping be- |
ween them as there was when Joseph mace |
IS the success With wGiG,bbi," 'hbe "nassarise'aU
east, his efforts were crowLed.
Is not the lesson from all this, Sow the seed |
10 matter by what hand, or in what soil, SOW
he seed? Cast thy bread upon the waters,
nd thou shalt find it afIer many days. A grain
# wheat dropped by an infants hand, VIII
row as readily as the handful scattered by the
rown. up-sower. Let each young reader ask,
What can do for Christ p and when more ex-
'erienced workers are apt 10 grow .desponding,
md cry, who hath believes. our reportT let
hem recall this Interesting letter ant its touch
ng history, and God will give them courage and
lope.