Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-07-12

! A%hi'iy WV" wy tA J
wife tried to do what she could in
making shoe lacings, while her i'm
prisoned husband would lend her the
helping hand by tagging the ends
These were sold for very little mon
ey. barely enough to buy the coarse
bread which they ate.
The little blind girl, in her faded
shawl and old bonnet, walking care
fully along the narrow alleys, watch
ing every step at the crossings, stop
ping to listen (for you know blind
people hear better than people with
good eyes,) until she reached the
prison, would carry her basket full of
la .ings to her fathers to tag. The
kind iailer, with his bunch of keys at
his side, would open the door of the
cell, for he had grown to be very fond
of the little girl, and in a moment
Mary would find herself in the arms
of her father, the key turned in the
lock, and she too was prisoner, for
the time being.
Whenever she was with him she
was delighted, for, if she could not
look into his face, she could hear his
loving voice, which made music to
the child's ears, and he always chat
ted so cheerfully with her that they
were happy even in that gloomy
place, and otter she had gone he often
said he wept and prayed more for her
than anything else in the world.
The pen was always dropped when
she came, for every moment was oc-
cupied in writing, except when the
lacings We're to be tagged.
While her father was thus occupied
Mary would amuse herself about the
cell One day, while waiting for her
basket. she discovered IA flower, rose,
in the corner of the cell, and exclaim-
ed over ITS perfume. 1t had just
bloomed, and although her father
had watched its unfolding with the
greatest care, and blessed God fort
cheer it had given and the lcsso'
had taught, he promised that 8"
should have it on her return hom
'and when it is gone" he said to her
You shall be my prison flower" He
might have said my sw eet forget
me-not."
Little Mary was wild with joy and
kissed her father again, not only for
the rose, but that he should call her
by such beautiful name as that.
Another companion that afforded
this good man great amusement,
whenever he could give it time, was
ii spider. A large corner of his one
window was devoted to curious lace
work The chill, though she had
never seen Il spider in her life, was
so interested in its welfare that she
would often inquire of her father
how his little friend was to day.
As she trudged home with her
basket of lacings, saying goodbye to
him (he always laid his hand lovingly
on her head, and blessed her as they
parted,) she would sometimes muir
mur because he could not accompany
her. He always reproved her. "lt
is Gods will that | am here, my
child we must all bear it bravely,
perhaps | can serve him here as well
us elsewhere.
After awhile Mary promised her
father that she would forgive the men
who put him in prison, and the sub
ject was never spoken of between
them again.
How often while the books, which
are so famous now, were beng writ.
ten in those long and weary years, as
this good man sat at his low pine ta-
BILE, with the sand-glass which mark
ed the hours, by his side, and which
he often forgot to turn, did he shut
his eyes upon his prison walls, and
imagine himself out once more in the
green fields, with natures sweet
voices all about him, and his precious
child, "his little prison hower,' at his
side.
There is scarcely a boy or girl who
reads this simple sketch, who has not
heard of, and possibly read, one OF
the books oy which told you, "Pjl-