The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-02-08

Feb FiveC3e

some enemy has seen the key and locked
me in, but as soon as my friends miss me
they will come and let me out. Twas little
worried, for l thought it might be few
days before they would think of looking for
me as had often remained away several
days at time without giving notice of my
intention of SO doing. | concluded to set
down and wait, for knew that there was no
use trying to get out without assistance from
the outside. Well, waited long time but
no one came to let me out. l often heard
voices near the door, but recognized them as
belonging to my enemies and knew it would
be useless to apply to them. Finally did
appeal to one of them. but he only chuckled
and said, 80. you're all right" Then they
all laughed. There was one on the outside
that wondered did not come to my assist
ance.
At last l became desperate and babe pride
be gone. rose up and cried for help;
called to all those / regarded as friends.
shouted long and loud, but received no an
swer save the mocking laugh of my enemies.
At last one day, as was walking too and fro
heard feeble tapping at the door, and a
familiar voice calling my name. | fastened
to answer. 1t was my only really true
friend in this world. She told me that she
had heard me calling. but had been sick and
had been unable to come to me; that she had
mplOred my friends to 20 to my assistance,
but they all excused themselves on one plea
or another. She Immediately went about
trying to open the door. but the mighty lock
refused to yield to her enfeebled strength.
When she realized how unavailng her
efforts were she gave way to the agony Of
her soul: and what l saw then, dear friends,
filled me with remorse, and brought me to
a realization of the awful error had made
in pursuing the course had.
My true friend, seeing she could do
nothing without assistance. said she would
go to those who had seemed to be my friends,
before the key was turned on me. and try
to persuade them to come to my rescue.
Bidding me not despair. she departed and
resumed my walking to and fro, burdened
with contrition for having been the canse of
SO much agony to kind and loving heart.
After many pleading tears she succeeded in
persuading few of my old friends to make
an effort toward releasing me. They came
at last, but OH trying to turn the key found
they could not move it. They then told me
they knew of an expert ''lOcksmitll" whom
they would go and see, and try to engage
to come and examine the lock. He came
and questioned me as to its construction.
After hearing my explanation he pronounced
it a very complicated affair. and thought it
would be very hard to open owing to its in
tricate make. He said he would make an
examination and see what could be done.
After careful examination he Informed me
that the only thing preventing his easily
opening the door was that some one, evil
IDENTIFY an enemy. had poured ''lye" into the
lock which had caused it to become very
rusty. but he thought by the liberal use of
''oil" he would be able to open it. He then
asked me if l had any OIL 1 told him
| had not; that my Oil-tank had bursted
some time before and the oil had all gone to
waste. He then asked if did not have
friends who would lend me some; and said
l thought had, and would send to them.
He then told me to collect all the oil could
and he would come again and try to liberate
me. So l sent my true friend around to
all my old acQuaintances to borrow all the
oil they could spare. Now the kind of oil
needed was very dear and my friends being
poor were not able to lend me but very small
quantity. When the lOcksmith returned to
make the trial he seemed to be much aston
ished at the small amount of oil l had
procured, and feared it was too little for the
purpose. | told him it was the best l could
do. but that if he would furnish what was
lacking would repay him as soon as the
door was open. He refused. saying he was
a poor man and could not take the risk. but
would do his best to make what we had
answer the purpose. He then prepared for
the trial. Both my friends and enemies
were there to watch the result. He had
previously poured the oil into the lock that
it might have time to act its part. and he