The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-11-17
Zoe S Prisoner.
BY SUSAN TEALL PERRY.

groups of girls were walking off in differ
emit directions. One pupil, however,
fingered on the steps to explain an ex-
ample in arithmetic to classmate whose
mathematical genius was so often cloud
ed. After few moments of patient en-
deavor, she said Do you think now you
can explain the work if you are called on
to go to the board tomorrow, Emma?
20 yes, Zee, am sure can. thank
you so much for making the example so
plain. Goodnight
Goodnight, Emma, and the two girls
separated.
AS Zoe turned the corner, the brass
buttons of policeman's coat glimmered
in the distance, and crowd of men and
boys were following him.
Its Teller that's took up, said a
bootblack, as he saw the look of sur
prise and interest expressed in the young
girls face.
The cuatodian Of the law was soon in
plain vision, and he was leading young
man, with an afrighted face, toward the
city prison. 1t was with pleading look
that the prisoner gazed for moment into
the innocent girls face. Her sympathy
and pity were Immediately enlisted, and
before she was aware of it, she too had
Joined the crowd. In few moments
she was standing in front of the city
prison, and with fearful eyes watched
the policeman take the young man up the
steps; then the heavy door was swung
open, and they passed through and were
lost to her sight
Zoe looked at the gloomy outside walls,
and the windows with the iron gratings,
and thought what a dreadful thing it
must be to be shut up in such place.
1t seemed so strange to the child, who
had never been tempted, that any one
would break the laws when such a re-
tribution was almost sure to follow.
What very wicked people prisoners
must be. The twilight was growing
dusky, and Zoe retraced her steps, and
soon reached her home.
Seems to me you are later than u.s.
ual tonight, little Dorcas; more good
works ? spoke her brother Austin, the
university student, in bantering tone of
voice. How about that buttonhole?"
l think you are very unkind, Austin,
indeed do the sister rejoined, with con-
siderable show of feeling.
Don't take it to heart, Puss. was
only in fun; but that buttonhole was such
joke !
Zoe did wish Austin hadn't heard
about that buttonhole. Aunt Julia was
quite indiscreet to speak of her mistake
before that big brother, who loved to
tease 80 much. Only fortnight before,
the sister had been deeply interested in
making some garments for the Parker
family, who were members of the mission
school, and not being skilled in button
hole making, had cut the buttonhole in
old Mrs. Parker's new flannel skirt Just
as round and large as the button itself, on
the end of the baud. Aunt Julia was
greatly amused, and expressed herself in
such a manner, that it reused Austin
from his Greek verbs to Join In hearty
laugh at his sister expense. Since then
he had called her Dorcas 1t was good
name for the loving young girl, who was
always doing a good deed for somebody.
Zoe didn't feel communicative enough to
tell her brother about the prisoner. She
went up to her own pretty room, and sit
ting down in the low rockingham, she
gave herself up to thought.
I've done all the rest but that I've
fed the hungry in Porter's lane, and / We
helped clothe the Parker's, and I've
visited Minnie Mofhtt and old Mrs
Harper when they were sick, and carried
them Jelly. took those strangers into
the pew last Sunday. They were very
stability dressed, but they were the Lord 8
poor. found the hymns for them, and
the responsive readings. But there is
one thing Christ required that I've never
done. never went to anybody in pri-
son. " was in prison and ye came unto
Me-"
The tea. bell rang Just then, and Zoe
vent to the dining room. She was op-
pressed with the sorrow that filed her
heart for the poor prisoner who was shut
out from the world, perhaps for long
time She wanted to coDfde her trouble
to somebody, and when her father said
Ny little girl is unusually quiet to-
night / wonder if she received black
mark to-day, she burst into tears, and
said It's that poor prisoner, papa J and
then she told her story.
Probably he only received his Just
deserts her brother replied and her
father said Such things occur every day,
child.
The next morning Zoe started earlier
than usual for school, and passed by the