The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-11-16

gave way to a violent fit of weeping,
which elected the greatest sympathy
from the little ones, and, after a while,
they coaxed her into a more cheerful
frame of mind.
According to her promise, Miss Ster-
ling came next morning to stay with
the children while Mrs. Ramsay went 10
the prison. She took a basket of pro
visions with her, and a bouquet OF
flowers, and, what was better 20 the
prisoner, a cheerful face and hopeful
word, for Miss Sterling's presence had
again inspired her with new courage.
She found her husband troubled and
worn in his anxiety for her and his little
ones, and with his usual disregard for
his own comfort.
81 am going to keep n boarding
\ house, and want you, dear, 10 come and
board with me Miss Sterling is going 20
learn me to cook, and then L viii try TO
keep my house very tidy, in hopes i can
make pleasant home for q class of very
good, religious kind Of people, for Miss
Sterling is learning me 10 feel q great
/ interest in religion, and believe, dear,
| If we both put our trust in God, we will
come out all right in the end.
els II my wife who is speaking 10
me ?" asked the man behind the CRATE.
| "Is the vain, thoughtless little Ima.
whom 1 have and still love so dearly,
! speaking to me of the interests Of the
soul, as the Methodists say? All. IIma.
since 1 have been shut up in these walls
], too, have, for the first time, though
IN n feeble way, called on God 10 protect
you and our children. 1 have not sup
10 IN
have not asked it.
"Oh, then, my dear Burt, You have
| done wrong. Only ask and It shall be
given you, Miss Sterling says, and ]
know it is one Of our SaviOr's promises.
But L must go home now. / cannot
expect her to stay all the forenoon with
the children. She VIII come 10 see Won
tomorrow and bring YOU % Bible"
The greatest villains have q way Of
becoming very pious after getting m
here" said one of the keepers, who had
listened to "a portion of the conversation
between Ramsay and his wife; "but /
guess Ramsay was about as good ass two
thirds Of the Christians before he came
Say what they viii, he is "a boss fellow.
"Ihat's So he is a trump, said the
one addressed
When, one day later, Miss Sterling
went 10 visit the prisoner, she found him
very willing To- listen to all she had tu
say ON the subject that most interested
her, still he was 10th To believe there
was any hope for forgiveness i'm his case.
" ! beg that you viii not feel In this
way, she said. "fur
q" While tie lamp hollis ont o. burn
The yic-t sinner may return.
Study your Bible; pray for the Holy
Spirit to descend upon you, and you will
be brought TO believe in all Gods prom
ises. Meantime, you must repent of 40
your evil deeds, resolving to live % pure
and holy life hereafter; and, whether
mid prison walls or in the bosom OF the
family you love 80 well, yOu Will enjoy "a
peace of mind the world cannot take
nwav
"Is it really Burt Ramsay have been
talking to. =" asked Miss Sterling Of her
self, after leaving him "once the gay,
the fast, the fashionable, tho respected F.
man of influence and means, whom I.
dared hardly approach, now hunbly
listening with approval TO my discourse, |
through the iron gates Of his prison F.
cell? God grant that during his stay
there his heart may be wholly renewed.
and, when no again mingles with the
world, he may become known FOR his
good works"
Two months later he had his trial, and
was sentenced to State prison for ten
years at hard labor. This was fearful
sentence, but no one could say IL was
unjust, and from the prisoner it elected
not n mmmur.
81 deserve it." heSsaid, "and will
submit as patiently as can 10 my fate.
He had learned before this TO trust in I
a higher Power, and felt that God had |
forgiven the crime for which he was so I
eng to suffer. After he was taken on /.
to the State prison and his wife could I
not see him except at long intervals, .
she would, only for the cheerful SYM I
pathy of her friend, Miss Sterling, and /.
the trust she was also learning TO put In .
God, have become entirely disheartened /.
But she went to work with a will, before .
long finding herself capable of attend .
ing to the wants of three or four board .
ers that she was fortunate enough to .
procure, and at the end of six months .
found that her income considerably ex- \
ceeded her expenses. Nor had her toll .
been severe, as capable girl had .
performed the greater part of the drudg-
5fy. IueSe cheering IactS were COM
municated TO her husband, making his
burden of life a little easier to endure.
At the end of three years, through
.he intercession Of his wife and other
friends, the prisoner was set free, the
Governor of the State having so ordered,
md, when he came home 10 the little
cottage his wife had bought and
partly paid for by her industry and econ
,my, and saw what q thrifty housekeeper
jhe was, he resolved to profit by her ex-
lmple, and at once began the task Of
earning an honest living rs a mechanic,
~ working ut the trade he served an APP
at in prison. He and his
wife also became prominent workers in
he field Miss Sterling had so longed foI
hem to enter In those walks their old
associates were not found, but they be-
anne respected even by them, beloved
" the poor and friendless, and, as we
nay believe, smiled upon by God, for
heir lives were now pure, whereas they
nee trod the downward course, which,
ad it not been arrested, would have led
hem to endless ruin.
TDrar5-