The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-10-09
A MINUTE IN A DARK CELL.
Tho Experience OF n Lady Who Re-
Gently Visited Newgatc.

'And suppose woman is unbear-
ably aggravating, kicks and shrioks,
etc. c., suppose you put her in small,
dark cellP" l query. That we do
after all other measures arc tried in
Vain,' replies my host. "Well, please
put mo in one and go away for five
minutes" requested. On this T am
led toward tho cell 'most politely" as
is sung in Princess Ida. please, Mr..
Jailer, want q now sensation; / want
to struggle and bo forced in, and hear
the key click in tho lock with u spite
full snap; olso how can l writo of tho
dark cell roalisticallyP"
On this proceed to throw my arms
about and behave otherwise in most
rebellious manner. With quiet smile
/ am humored in my littlo "crank,"
and in a second find my hands PIN
Toned in firm grip, and am pushed
into the dark cell, hearing the koy
click in tho lock, and over the ono wee
bar at the top seeing tho last of the
light. | know it was silly, but, over
como with terror, was spccchless for
one brief second, and it seemed to mo
as if an icy cold hand held my temples
in cruel pressure. Then from my
dumb lips came piercing Shrek, that
echoed throughout those deserted halls
with horrible distinctness. Five min
utcs! 1t was hours before they re-
turned with the lanterns. ooh, dear"
l groaned. twill 1 be hero alwaysp
Have they forgotten which ono | am
locked imp" / felt that much longer of
solitary confinement would turn NV
brain, and began to gasp for breath.
AT last they come; the CLEAN of tho
light Increases; tho stops sound moro
distinctly on my ear returning to rc-
lease me. l hear the jailcrs keys lin
gle with joyful sounds of freedom from
my sclf-impoScd torture and the door
flies open. can not speak, and, wo-
manlikc, choke down and sob instead.
AT this my friend shows mo his
watch. 'How long have | been thcro?"
faltcrcd out. Exactly ono minute"
he replies. Suro enough, this is true;
yet III that ono minute all my life
seemed to come up before my mental
vision, just rs it is said ones life comes
up to the drowning man or woman
L am told that usually one dose of
the dark cell suilices the culprit, and |
can not Danish the impression that it is
haunted with iicndish spirits | know
1T was silly of me to be so unncrved. l.
who have gone about London'S slums.
and know no fear of living thieves in
London's streets, met at III uIGuuy hours.
Well, call me sentimental if YOU like,
for, all the same, L 5olcmnly assure
you that had rathor die on tho in
slant, be shot down in the twinklino of
an eye, than be locked and bolted for
one night in the dark cell at Ncwnatc
with no moro tangible terror than those
born OF my tcrror-strickcn apDrchcn-
sions.
1t is such Il little place, only bio
enough to sit in-a little dark closet,
III fact Some inhuman mothers shut
up their refractory children in q dark
clothcS-preSs as q punishment. AT all
times L believe the woman who strikes a
child to be human monster, unfit to
hold tho sacred Office of "mothcr.n After
this L shall more loathc the woman who
shuts her mischieyous little child III q
closet for five minutes, or even Il min
ute, rs punishment, for | know now
by experience the awful fright entailcd.
Oh, mothers! don't tcrrjfy tho Httlo
folks. Perhaps their vcxinm littlo
pranks are only an overflow of animal
spirits. Learn to curb your own tenn
per, and be gentle with the mites.
Take Sho hot, frctful little girl in YOUR
arms, undo the pinafore and wee frock,
and, slipping her out of the burden
some clothes, place her in warm bath
daintily pcrfumcd, and my word for it,
the nervous little one will soon bo
splashing about the water in mcrri-
mcnt. Don't forget that children have
nerves as well ~, grown folks, and
that they have their troubles in child
land. But implorc you do not put
children i'll dark closets as u punish
ment. -BOStOn UeruM.