West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1884-12-10
THANKSGIVING.
IN Our State PrisOn-W. C. T. G.
Women at Work.
4 most interesting account By one Of
the prisoners.
w. VA. PENITENTIARY, !
Dec. 3rd, 1884.
NRs, |. III. JOHNSON,

which you requested that / send
Won an account of the services held
IN this place on Thanksgiving Day
bv the Moundsville w. c. T. U.
The exercises were conducted by
Mrs. J. L. Parkinson, President of
Moundsville Union. She did our
Governor the compliment and
showed her own appreciation of
the "ftness of things" by reading
his Thanksgiving Proclamation as
an opening to the Programme of
the morning. l don't believe the
spirit of that Proclamation could
have been more beautifully carried
out than was shown by these wom-
en- in their mission of love. The
reading of this paper alone present
ed an edifying picture. Its recon-
mendations are truly good
works of love and deeds of chart
ty"-and where could these End
happier illustration than was here
presented?
An appropriate Scripture lesson
was then read showing forth the
providence of God and calling upon
the people to, praise the Lord for
all His goodness and His mercy to
the children of men," after which
an earnest, touching, pleading
prayer went up to the King of
kings for His blessing on all pres
ent, that His name might be glor
fled by the meeting in leading
some precious souls into better
lives now, and by yielding lncreas-
ed fruitage when the great garner
ing time comes, and the books are
opened con the other shore"
Mrs. Gordon was now introduced
and made happy talk" tmean
one Astounding in good things.
She tried to let us believe she new
er talked much," but she went at
it, a regular veteran. La order
to gain the attention of all, she
first touched upon the appetite by
going back into olden times and
bringing forth the luscious pump
kin pies and telling how their fame
was spread in "song and story"
And then she kept on talking
straight at the heart and making
her impressive words fall SO deep
ly that the influence will not soon
be forgotten.
Mrs. Hatcher next added interest
to the occasion by her very i'm
pressive reading of 'leafet read.
ing" We were engaged during
this time in distributing temper
a2ce tracts and missed the enjoy
ment here given, and we are assur-
ed we lost treat.
Next comes Mrs. Jackson. She
is veteran" She says they call
her fanatic" but she glories in
this fanaticism, and we might all
pray the Lord of the harvest to
send more such into His vineyard.
A man don't have 10 wear his heart
out On his coat sleeve for her to
reach it. If plain, stubborn truth
won't catch you, then she will
strike with tender weapons and
the first thing you know she is all
about you; and let me tell you
there are few who can hear her
talk and remain unmoved. Strong
men are melted in tears and be-
come as handle as little child.
True such results are mostly
ephemeral, but I believe it is good
for a man for all that. One is not
liable to much injury from weep
ing, and I believe most every one
can risk a little in that direction
without danger, any how.
Mrs. w. w. Echols was now pre-
sented and delighted the audience
with telling ode on the woes of
Drink. The beauty of its render
Ing added such charms, we might
forget the "Woeful Drink, "but new
er forget, "There's work to do--labor
OF love, For Home below, and for
God above"
We do not know what the real
title of the selection was but we do
know it was all heart touching and
makes one full of sympathy for the
distressed and sorrowing.
Miss Addie Hatcher and Miss
Williamson presided at the organ
and assisted Miss Lizzie Ogle, we
l.