The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-24

was filled with anxiety. 1t didn't last long
however. for soon my name was called. and
| was ushered up to the little railing. be-
hind which sat the Judge with face so
grave and digntied that ii seemed painful.
AS stood there shivering with expectancy,
ne told me in slow, solemn, and. thought.
measured tones, that L had violated the
laws Of God and man alike. and that he
was there to see justice done to me as well
as society. He said that it was very pain
full for him to pass prison sentence on so
young man as myself. For" says he, Il
have boys of my own. and. moreover, was
a young man once myself. and know boys
will sometimes do things that are not eX-
actly honorable. and on that account | will
be very lenient with you. He very kindly
told me L would have to pass my next ten
months at Saltwater. and that ii | behaved
myself would soon be out again. He
spoke very fatherly to me and | shall re-
member him for some time.
Since my residence here | have fallen
still farther from grace. by being punished
again, not only once but twice. Think of
that, We men of a dozen years residence
here. and for nothing more nor less than
SNlIIS lily lClloN -NOIkllldll d lltlC duNlct
upon the wickedness of the world. A very
small otfense. l thought. but it seems | AIN
mistaken. Now | do not pretend to say
how it is with other people, but as for my
self, talking comes as natural to me as
sleeping, and | like to vent my pentup
feelings in that ''particulOr' way some
times. even in here. | can well remember
the time when | made my expenses and
fifty dollars per month by talking and the
simple twist of the wrist
There are some people in this world and
not few of them are in here who don't
do much talking. Some because they can
nOt,speak our language. and Others because
they think it best to keep what they know
to themselves. rather than benefit some
poor unfortunate by simply speaking. But
| don't think the last named will ever be
missed. Now, I've been told that | will be
disgraced still further by having to serve
twelve extra days more and suffer the loss
of $40 of my gOOd-time money. for simply
trying to reform a fellow unfortunate on
my own hook. when | thought my keeper
was looking the other way. But L see |
have failed as | always do. but | am III
hopes our Friend and Master will over
look such small OtfenSeS in us and grant us
our liberty, for liberty is sweet, even if the
snow is two feet deep (Which. no doubt. it
will be when | leave) and only 500 in
my ''jeans;' for that is the exact amount |
will get if lose those. now. precious days
| heard on coming here that | would get
something from the state when discharged
if the good time money didn't amount to
twenty five dollars. but [ find by personal
observation that |. as well as many others
now in here, have been laboring under a
delusiOn: for a person only gets his good
{iy,n o,,I fIn TOT,
So at the expiration of my sentence. which
is now only four weeks. | will be as bad off
as was on entering here. if not worse. |
join in with the Others in saying Pay the
convict for his labor" even though it be a
mite. and you will do more toward reform
ing him and lettering yourselves. than YOU
do by working the life out of him. and
turning him loose in the world pennless
and half dead. with his eyes wide open to
to purlOin the first thing he can lay his
hands upon.
1t will not be long before one of just this
kind will be cast adritt Oh the world. a
stranger in a strange land. with the brand
of eX-cOnvict indelbly stamped on his
brow. without home. without a friend,
without helping hand or kindly word to
guide him Alright, away from his old ways
to higher and purer life; with less than
ten dollars in his pocket to pay the eX-
pense of living until employment can be
procured. Perhaps you are not aware
good people OF the outside, moral world,
that a seven dollar suit of clothes and no
overcOat is the assistance given the re-
deemed when he is told to "be good boy
and sin no more" at the door of this hos
pital. Such is the case and it is SO strange
that the morally made-right young man
should go wrong" No doubt there is such
thing as the incOrrgible. [ have heard
so and | believe it from what | have seen
here, but who is responsible. he for making
the first mistake. or society for forcing him
to continue in the path of evil doing? |
hope may not be forced to satisfy the