Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-23

When the sun came out clear and bright on
Sabbath morning, while the crystal drops yet
hung upon the tiny blades OF grass, now SO bust
" engaged In weaving carpet of green tor
mother earth. while all things animate aud maui
mate rcjoiced in the God Of nature, and while
church bells called the people.to rejoice in aud
worship the God of grace, and the Oft told but
new story Of the resurrection was again portrayed
aud all seemed peace, happiness and quiet content.
there in our city one family Of a score or
more of precious souls, all but two or three young
men III the prime and vigor of early manhood, 10
whom the glad cali to worship did not come.
Perhaps as the church bells pealed forth the joy
Gus announcement, The Lord is risen indeed"
some of these as the sound came to their ears
through the heavily grated windows, were in
thou ght, the ever shifting scenes in life's pano
rama passed before them, carried back to child
hoods days, and thought, may be, of the time
when in innocence and purity they sat at a moth
ers knee, and looking up with awe and almost
reverence in her face, listened to the oll-new
story Of Bethlehem, of Calvary, and of the scene
at Josephs new tomb and may be as the memo
ories came rushing over them, that the unbdden
glisteued in eyes unused to weep as they asked
themselves the question, Does no one care for
me now;" ION this glad Easter morn am |
left out :" "Does a risen Christ bring hope
or 10y or peace to me 7" The day drsgs YEARLY
on the sun sends his slantng rays through the
barred windows from the west, when the heavy
door swings lazy upon It's hinges, and some half
score Of christian ladies are ushered in, together
with Sheriff LIBBY and Jailor Page. The in
mates come at once from their cells, each bring
ing his chair, aud range themselves in rows across
the guard com. The first thing we notice Is that
each has done what be could to Elk up" for the
occ tsion. All clean, neatly and carefully
combed, and each evidently wishing to look his
best. All is quiet, As the ladies seat themselves
across the eud of the room and open their books
of sacred song, every eye is upon them. Hymns
are sung, some Of the inmates joining Scripture
read, prayer. are offered, kind words of sympa-
| thy, encouragement and hope are spoken, inter
spersed with songs aud prayers; and when such
as desire to live better lives asked to make il
| known, nearly every one rises to his feet.
They are then conversed with personally, the
interview closes and the iron door is again be-
tween the one patty and the other. But it does
not end here. They were in prison, but have
been visited poor but the gospel has been preach
| ed unto them. They are encouraged, stree 9Th
ened, comfolted and may be some of them bless
| ed, for blessed is he who is not offended. And
the blessing is not all on one side, for the noble
women who for months have made these weekly
visits comforted with the thought. Sin as
much We did it unto one Of the least Of these
| We did it unto me-"
! We wish publicly to thank the women who thus
cheerfully ard hopefully labor for the good o.
/ these fallen or falling ones, and to assure then
that they have the good wishes and sympathy o.
the county officials in all their efforts in behalf o.
the unfortunate class in which they are so much