The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-01-20
Innocent and Guilty.


The oft-told story of the painter who
painted an ideal picture of 'Innocence"
from the face OF beautiful child who
sat as his model, and in his old age had
a Misunderstanding criminal sit to him
for the model of a picture named
Guilt" as the companion-piece to the
other. and discovered that the child and
the criminal we're the same person, has
received some startling illustrations IN
real life A convict discharged FROM
the old Charlestown State Prison told
the following history of himself to the
warden of that prison:
Some years ago gentleman, his wife
and their only child, boy then tive OF
six years old, visited the prison. They
were shown through the workshops
and prison by an officer, who pointed
out the different objects Of interest a.
they passed along. The gentleman
was inquiring about man who had re-
Gently been sent to prison for life fol-
murder. 90,
by the way. this is his room," said
the officer, stopping before one OF the
cells, the door OF which was open.
The little boy. with child's curiosi-
tv, stepped up and looked in. His faith
er came up behind the child and play
fully pushed him in, and closed the
door.
The little fellow shrieked TO be let out.
The door was Immediately opened. and
the child ran sobbing TO It's mother 5
arms. She, brushing back the light
curls from his forehead and kissing
him. said soothingly,-
No, no, they shan't shut my little
son up in prison.
The boy was terribly frightened; he
turned his eyes once more toward the
dreaded cell, and for the first time no.
ticed on the door the No.
The incident made deep impression
upon his mind.
Time passed. He grew TO manhood
His father and mother were both dead
He became q sailor, and good one,
rising step by step till he was second in
command of one OF the California
steamers sailing from New York,
But like many others, in consequence
of that vice which has dragged down Sc
many, even from high positions, he lost
his situation, came back to Boston, sank
lower and lower, and was finally arres
ted for breaking into store. He wa:
sentenced to the State Prison for foul
years.
When received at the prison, he wa
taken to the bath-room--the usual Gus
tom-and bathed. shaved and clipped
clothed in the prison dress and conduc
ted to the cell he was TO occupy.
Judge of his horror and consterna
ton when he found himself standing
before. and the officer unlocking, TIT
door of the same cell, MOI" int
which he, when q child, had beef
thrust for moment by his father
In relating the story to me (say
Warden Haynes), he said no one coul'
imagine his feelings when he found him
self an inmate of that cell. Every Incl
dent and scene from childhood rushe'
upon his mind the exclamation O
his mother. mo, no; they shan't shu
up my little son in prison. rang in hi
ears; and he threw himself upon a stoo
weeping, in utter despair and wretched
} ness.
But it is pleasant 10 see shinin!
through this strange story of circum
stantial retribution the truth of the fa
nous line. There's divinity tina
, shapes our ends" The convict becam
, n religious man in prison, and year
, after his discharge rose to be al office
| in the nayy