Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-11-09
MY BURGLAR FRIEND.
BY Fl. 6. KELLER.

BY Fl. E. KELLER.
AS boy, Harkens was advanced a
long way ahead of the rest of us in that
shady lore connected with life's career
in knickerbockers. He was at periodi-
cal intervals scout; and we never
failed to envy him the luxuriant switch
he wCre-borrowed in a surreptltious
manner, from his mothers toilet arrange
ments. We envied that boy the posses
sion of a mother who wore a switch;
and we followed his leadership to the
bloody fray, and rescued the victim
from the burning stake, or dragged the
pale-faced maiden from the lone wig
wan of the bloodthirsty aborigines of
the wildwood.
Then he became a Corsair, red
handed pirate 1t was an epoch of
glory in the life of each and every one
of us, when, in drawing lots, we were
allowed the advantage of sailing under
his fag-a veritable skull and cross
bones, proudly defiant from the apex of
the Harkens hen.house.
Then, after the piratical course had
spent its fury, and after we had doubly
dyed our hands in the poke berry blood
of our victims, Harkens went upon an
expedition right into the wilds of Gen.
tral Africa. How the gloomy forests of
that wondrous region loomed up before
us, as the brave leader led us into the
depths How we shot the fierce tiger,
and lured the gigantic elephant to his
DOOM How we snatched from the very
jaws of death and restored to happy
homes weak and defenceless maidens!
That was boy life; that life which pre-
sents itself to me, as l now sit here in
my library, like some sweet old dream of
happy days laid away in the past-the
past so freighted with Joys, and tinted
with sombre hues by the tears of disap-
pointment.
And Harkens2
''Hush Do not mention that name.
There is respectable old lady living but
two blocks away-his mother. BY her
side sits tonight my wife, Harkenss
sister. They are both highly honored.
The Harkenses are all highly honored-
ell but Jack, my school-boy friend.
He is in prison, serving six-year term
for burglary.
Two of the years have passed, and Jack
is still there; there tonight, and if kind
slumber has not sealed his eyelids, he is
gazing into the impenetrable darkness
which crowds, compresses, fills his little
cell like ten millions of invisible blank
cts, crushing the life out of him, and
rearing in his dreams sad phantoms,
which reproach him like visitors from
the fearful land of penitence and re-
morse.
hear a step-hers, the woman I love :;
the woman whose heart beats for me- and
for whom my heart throbs, as I lay aside
my pen, and rise and open the door.
1t is only little white face, half hid
in the furry hood, pair of brown eyes,
and lips cold with the kiss of the night
air-not warmed to red again by my
kisses
'Little woman, your hands are like
ice. Come to the fire and warm-no; /;
you cannot. The fire has gone out. Now
Iwant you to go right to your room and
thaw out, You-see here, Claire, what
is the matter2 Your teeth are chattering
like castanets, and you tremble from
head to foot"
"Dear, and she placed her chill hands
upon my lips, looked around as though
she feared that the familiar walls had
ears. 'JaCK Is OUT! j.
If she had told me Jack was dead I
couldn't have been more dumbfounded
Sing Sing is strong, and holds many a
laddie safe and sound from the encroach-
ments of the great, big, free world. Yet
men have escaped its iron doors and
walls of stone-but few have escaped to
live life of freedom in this great
world of ours for the law, like the
monster octopus of the Caribbean Sea,
reaches out its innumerable tentacles, one
after the other to draw its victim back
into its terrible embrace--terrible alone
to the evil doer, but safeguard to which
ell of good intent and lawful action look
to with emotions of protection.
"Jack escaped9 How did you learn Of
it2" asked, as drew the shivering little
woman to me, and wound heavy coat
about her.
81 rom his own lips"
"What And you have seen him2"
interrupted, more astonished than ever.
'1es, at mother's-but the officers
will soon have him back again, un
less"
"Well, unless what9"
sunless you help him."
Why, my dear, that Is fearful
thing to do. A man who holds the DO
sition that do in the business world,
assist an escaped convict"
"Don't say it, dear. Yes, I know
Jack is what you say. 1t has broken
mothers heart; and but for you, nv
dear, should die of shame Jack il
my brother. You used to like jolly Jack
Harkens, long, long ago."
1t was said so softly, sweetly, and ten
derly, that my heart melted as l looked
into the pleading eyes of my wife,
Jacks eyes, when Jack was boy, and
before the fires of sin and crime stole
away their softness. "Dear old Jack
the truest and bravest of us all in those
sweet old days long ago, away back in
the little country town. Ahl evil com
panions have worked i'll with Jack Har
kens. They led him astray from thu
narrow path into the great, wide channe