Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
VOL. 77.--3923. NO. IL.

will become of me- foresight isn't as good
as hindsight, sir"
g am walking to Hartford take passage
with me-" said.
You won't care TO be seen in such com
pany," he replied, looking at me incredu.
lously. Perhaps you don't understand that
l have just worked out a sentence in the
states prison here"
VI understand" / said. ave are all way
farers come along and we will talk the
matter over, and decide as we go what can
be done for you"
1t was a lovely, warm day. We walked
slowly, and talked great deal, or rather my
companion talked, and encouraged him to
do so. He answered my questions frankly,
clutching hungrily at my ready sympathy.
He was very free to talk of himself, and
said at last, as | smiled at some unimportant
disclosure, "Reserve was never one of my
failings, sir. If ] tell anything, I tell all.
That is the way came to get into prison.
Had kept silent, 1 should have gone free
but by this time my heart, full Of pent-up
sin, would have been mass of corruption"
found that he had made shoes in prison.
never had trade BEFORE" he said. al
think II had had, would not have fallen
into error. Had had a legitimate way of
getting a living, | would not have been
tempted as was. l have a good trade to
begin on now, however. have brought
that away with me, as well as a bitter men,
ory and lasting disgrace"
"It is not the fact Of your being in prison,
but the crime that carried you there, wherein
lies the SIM said.
But those who are not found out escape
the disgrace" he replied bitterly, with a
1.aat. utf a,.l l.
81 think know man in the city who will
hire you. lie is large shoe manufacturer
and | am sure he will make place for you,
as a favor to me, even if he does not really
need a man." The more I thought about it,
the more confident / felt that my friend
would take him into his manufactory.
"If were in your place." said, as we
entered the city, ~ would not lisp word
about having been in prison."
The poor fellow stopped short and looked
at me. The hopeful look dropped out of
his face, his eyes filled with tears, and he
said, in a broken voice.
"You have been very kind, but had bet.
ter bid you goodbye, sir. cannot live a
lie. l promised my God last night, in my
cell that was so dark at first, but so light at
last, when Jesus came to me there, that
would be true, whatever befell me and
will keep my word"
Forgive me for tempting you at the out
set" l said. "come on
| saw my friend, and told him the whole
story. He had little talk with my man,
and made bargain with him. That night
just at the hour for the shop to close we
three went into the work-room.
"Here is poor fellow who was dis
charged this morning from the Connecticut
states prison" said the proprietor. al am
going to give him start in life by taking
him into the shop; he will begin work to-
morrow"
"There were indignant glances among
the men, and one spoke up hastily" l shall
leave if he stays. will not work with a
| jail-bird."
"Very WE'LL" said the employer "any one
who wishes to leave can bring in bill Of
his time in the morning" Only one man
the man who constituted himself spokesman
left.
Ten years later, that discharged convict
was owner of that manufactory, and the
man who would not work with "jail.bird, u
was one of the journeymen. AS l said to
begin with, that was thirty years ago. That
man whom met at the prison door is now
a senator in the legislature of one Of oul
New England states. He said to me this
day
al tremble when / think what the result
might have been had an evil instead of q
good friend met me outside the prison door
| Selected,