The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17

before. He was not looking in the direc-
ton she had taken, and did not see her.
wonder when the visiting days are,
thought she. would like to go in and
see the rooms and the prisoners ; but Of
course 1 couldn't go-Im only girl. o
how l wish Austin was member of the
Christian Endeavor Society" Then
he would go Sundays and carry papers,
and talk to the prisoners, and maybe l
could go with him
Austin was quite surprised to hear his
sister ask him that evening if he would
join the Christian Endeavor Society"
What do you want me to join that
for P her brother asked
Well, 1 II tell you, she said. Dear
Austin, you are young man, and | am
only girl, and if YOU'D take books and
papers to the city prison, perhaps you'd
do great deal OF good, and perhaps l
could go with you, and we'd find out that
young mans name.
%, it's that prisoner that you are 30
little head about him. He might have
behaved himself, and then he wouldn't
have been shut up
But, Austin dear, perhaps he hasn't
such good father and mother as we have,
and such a pleasant home. Maybe he
never had any mothers prayers.
A classmate had come for the brother,
so Zoe had to dismiss the subject for that
night. The next day she met the very
policeman she had seen going up the steps
of the city prison. She was SO anxious to
know about his prisoner, that she went
up to him and timidly asked the name of
the young man she had seen with him on
that afternoon. The policeman stopped
moment to think, and then he said
James Milford was the name. But he
wont stay there long; he'll be sent up
for three years or five. He's forged.
And what do you mean by forgedY
she asked.
go he got into trouble, gambled away
his money, and forged his employer
name on check. He doesn't seem bad
fellow, though, and l guess it's his first
offence"
% what a lreadful thing it was to
gamble, and how wicked to get other
peoples money by signing wrong namer
thought the school girl, as the policeman
crossed the street. Pasted on the inside
of the cover of Zoe's reader, was little
poem about thinking gently of the erring,
and she opened the book and read:
Think gently of the errngl
We know not of the power
With which the dark temptation came
In come unguarded hour.
We may not know how earnestly
They struggled, or how we'll,
Until the hour OF weakness came,
And sadly thus they fell.
"Speak kindly to the erringl
Thou yet may ct lead them back
With holy words and tones of love,
From misery's thorny track;
Forget not thou hast often sinned,
And sinful may yet be;
Deal gently with the erring one,
AS God hath dealt with thee"
must visit that poor young man in
prison. cant go myself, though papa
and mamma would not think it proper
but | can send him that little Testament
[ have at home.
1t was happy thought, and Zoe went
home and wrote on the fy-leaf of the
book James Mulford. From Zoe Comp
ton" Then she wrote this verse under
meath her name: The blood of Jesus
Christ cleanseth from all sin.
The policeman was in the old place
when Zoe went to school the next day,
and she asked him how she could get the
little bundle she had in her hand to the
prisoner, James milford.
If it's nothing but book, can pass
it in he said.
The Winter passed away. The daily
papers had published under the head of
Police Reports the name of James Null
ford, sentenced to three years imprison-
ment for forgery. He had served out one
year of his sentence when the notice of
the death of Zoe, only daughter of Will
liam and Helen Compton, appeared one
night in the EUen1ng NeaU8 The little
girl who had been doing the Lord 8 work,
in her youth and loneliness, had been
called up higher. She rested from her
labors here, and had entered into the Joy
of her Lord.
At Christmas time all the prisoners
had permission to write letters to any
one they wished to, and James Milford
wrote one to Zoe. There was no street
and number on the envelope, and Austin
saw the letter advertised among the list
OF letters uucalled for. With fearful eyes
the father opened it and read
Mss hoe Compton II want to thank you for
sending me that Testament. | have read il
every day since you gave it to me- want to
tell you that / have learned to trust in the
Lord. am trying to do every thing the best
can, so / can get out sooner. BY good be