The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-11-26
A THANKSGIVING DAY.

. In the winter of 1884, the Hon.
Julius Harley ably represented Bytown
and its surrounding country in the Ohio
Senate and was one of its Committee
on the Penitentiary. In his frequent
visits to the prison his attention was
often attracted by a young man. scarce
ly more than boy, with the rudy tints
and bOyish roundness not yet wholly
with the dumb usefulness of the large
blue eyes and the weary, hopeless
dro0p of the thin, flexible lips. He was
employed about one of the Railways,
and day by day stood aside to let them
pass, with a listless detection apparent
in every line of his firm, strong form
1t was figure that strongly impressed
Harley, but he was always in company,
always in hurry, and his interest
never came to more than fleeing feel
ing, and would no doubt have been
wholly forgotten had not business con-
nected with his law practice called him
to Columbus the following November.
and while there, making a visit to the
Penitentiary, he came upon this same
prisoner in his old accustomed place.
He was passing on as usual when,
stirred by a sudden impulse, touched,
perhaps, afresh by the worn lines on
the young face, he turned back and
spoke. The prisoner started at the
cordial, ringing tone, stammered, hest
tated: "Sir, he exclaimed, half in apol-
Ogy it seemed. half TO utter the pent-up
cry of his heart, 81 have been in this
prison three years, and except the off,
GERS, you are the first one that has ever
spoken to me, and it has seemed some
times that I was furnishing for the
sound of kind word"
If Mr.. Harley was touched before he
was deeply moved now. "Ten me
who you are and about yourself he
said. kindly.
"Who am Ie' answered the young
man, sadly, "that is Q question some
times ask myself. Once in Massachu-
sets there was . Harry Brainard,
whose father was q good man, deacon
in the church, who everv morning and
evening as long as he lived gathered
his children about him and prayed that
they might grow up to be good men
and women. He was taught to keep
the Sabbath, to speak the truth, to
shuu vice. Sometimes I think was
that Harry Brainard. but now I am
John Fuller, No. S42. sentenced for
horse stealing"
''Horse stealingr'
YES. They said my guilt was self
evident. and yet had no more thought
of taking the horse than you have. But
I will tell you the whole story. l was
the youngest child and my older broth
ers had all left home, and after father
died grew to thinking that farm work
was slow and farm life dull; in short to
fancying. as many q foolish boy has
done before, that I was little too
smart for q farmer. So grew restless
and discontinued. and at last when .
friend who had come to Ohio wrote me
that there was q chance for teachers in
the southern part of the State, 1 left the
old home and the old mother, God for
give me for It. found school in Bel
mont County, and in the spring got q
situation as clerk in . drugstore, where
/ could keep my hands white and my
boots BACKED all the time; 30 much
more genteel you know than blowing
or hoeing corn. Well like all drug
stores, We sold liquor. and like SO many
other drug clerks from handling I came
to tasting. I knew mother would not
approve, but she did not know the
ways of the world, and there was no
danger for me. I should always know
where to stop and not take too much.
But about this time made q new &C
auaintance, .. runner from Chicago. q
CAV, dashing fellow. He ridiculed my
church going. chaffed me for my inno-
cence, Knocked me for what true prin-
ciple / had, and in short, made light of
everything l had been taught to CON
slider sacred. was completely fasci-
mated BY him, proud Of his notice. and