The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-01-26

them. Friends are near to see them
off, and agents are buzzing about, en-
deavoring to sell tickets by some other
route to eternity. But the matter is
settled, and they start on the next
stage of their journey.
"I'll be man!' mutters Jim.
''I'll not be - crank" slobbers
Bill.
And they are off.
Five more years pass away, and the
great world moves along as though
there were no changing scenes In this
life, and humanity ran the same
course everywhere. In the gloom and
shadow of the wintry day, as we pass
along, great gray wall rises before
us like some sudden and insurmounta-
BILE barrier, destined to check human
progress and turn the world back.
And it would be we'll indeed if this
wall could succeed in turning the
world back, for this is the enclosure
of the great prison, intended to re-
form, but calculated to harden, man
kind As we near the entrance a
small crowd of men file out of the
gate, bearing a cheap casket. This
they set down, and in careless, and
seemingly cruel manner. one Of their
number removes the lid. 'Tis white
and haggard face, pinched by suffer-
ing, and bearing traces of great men
tai agony.
Can | see him, sir?' asks pale
woman with snowy hair, timidly ap-
preaching the officer in charge.
"This is no sight for lady!'' gruff-
ly responded the officer. "What in
terest can you take in suicide con-
vict?"~
But the good woman was persistent,
and the men stood aside At the first
glance, the mothers heart took in the
whole scene of horror. She had cone
to inquire after her poor, erring boy,
and to plead for his pardon through
statutory law, as she had often done
| through divine methods. And this
was what was given as her reward
She remembered the sad scene when
Jimmy Walters was found frozen to
death but short time previous. How
she had consoled the fond mother of
that boy with thoughts Of the infinite
mercy of the Father of ALL But now
the real, awful, horrible, crushing
truth, fell upon her with force never
suggested by human sympathy. All
stood out before that mothers vision
as plainly as the storm-cloud which
drifts before the heavens. The last
ticket had been purchased by the
Hadesville Route; the last stage of
the journey had been taken by the
two bright boys; the destination had
been reached!
Men said it was pity; the parents
should have taught their boys better
people oughtn't TO let their boys run
out at night; and the great, brawny
hulk who sold milk and lemonade in
his doggery had th-. Satanic insoence
TO suggest that If boys would only
Come t' my place, they would always
be safe; even Pfeiffensnawgle de-
clared that ''barents ought to keep
der poys from drinkin' anydings but
my goot peer"
Charlie Cummings was the one man
who, sober and sensible, could tell the
whole story of this short trip on the
Hadesville road He knew when and
where the start was made Tt was at
the doggery which they found open
on Sunday in the long ago, and where
the innocent drinks were held up to
the boys as-something manly and safe
Those two glasses Of lemonade were
the first steps-taken amid such sur
roundings, and the man who sold
them was, and is, the keeper Of the
first station on the Hadesville Route
At this station the danger signal is
always flying. Behind the fragrant
cigar" the harmless glass of milk, or
the mug of lemonade, on Sunday,
turks and waits the long line of dog
geries, the alms-house, the prison, the
gallows, hell itself. Beware, oh, be-
ware of the first step. The last
one will then take care of itself.
Never Heard of 'Em.
'There's yer old robe!'' exclaimed a
| farr,ao,. 4 to,.oI M.ol.on,, A