The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-05-09

and its inmates as innocents. yet | claim
for them while there the consideration,
kindness. announcement, and helpful SYM
pathy their deprivatiOns, and even suffer
ngs demand: and when they leave there.
helping hand and chance in the world to
win back the good name lost. instead of be-
ing branded as many are, by those who. in
the eyes of Heaven. have far darker re-
cord. Yet never before were SO many earn
est hearts interested in the cure of these
diseased souls. But how? is the question.
Remove the cause and the result will follow.
AS your memory wanders back over the
past. toni ght nine out of ten of you must
admit that you are there either through evil
habits or bad company. Have you the
strength of purpose to quarantine both?
That will settle the reform question. The
power lies alone with you. aided by Him
who said, Il will not fail you nor forsake
YOU" Too many of you are your own
worst enemies. and the penalty is. indeed, a
bitter one! Yet suffering does not etface
from life'S record the black stains, even
though thoughtlessy or mpulsively com
mitted while the deliberate crimes stand
out in bold relief. and seem only to grow
larger and darker. RemOrse is not pen-
tence.
Nothing but repentance that actS--that
leads men to stop SHINING and repair wrongs.
will avail to atone for the past: and the
heart and motives rs we'll as the conduct
must be changed: for mo stream rises
higher than its source" A man that is
honest from fear of punishment instead of
from principle or hatred of evil. is trying to
build without foundation. No man is
stronger than his weakest point. Yet there
is hope for all: even for those whose wills
have been weakened by long indulgence in
sin, or those who, through repeated failures,
have lost faith in themselves and have sunk
into that indifference which believes it is
TOO late to mend" Thank God there are
few who belong to the don't care class
But how many are ''lOSt for want of a
wOrd."
Life's pitfalls are of various sizes and
depths: and to some they seem the very
abyss of despair with bottom of quick
sand. and not ray of hope penetrating its
depths. And as the eye measures the
height. the thought comes that it is useless
to scale wall that has seemingly not even
a foOthold. But He who came to earth on
a soul hunt. is still seeking the lost, and
down through the darkness comes an earn
est voice, IF you'll accept my offered hand.
I'll help You up again." But since He only
''helpS those who help themselves" our
part is to 'buiId the ladder" The two
long beams, patience and love. He reaches
down to us. and the rounds are fastened in
firmly and strong by our own hands-a task
requiring no small amount of determination
and earnestnesS.
1--WE rise by the things that under our feet.
BY what we have mastered of good and gain,
By the sin deposed and the passion slain.
And the vanquished ills which hourly meet
Most heartily do l echo the thought of one
of your writer's, that the very first round
must be self control: but fasten with an
equal amount of care the next one. truth
fulness. for falshood or deceit will insure
fall as surely as your weight tries it. Above
that one secure firmly the round of honor
and purity, asking the Helper who stands
at your side to clinch every nail. as one by
one you faSten each one in its place. Do
not look downward lest you become dizzy
and lose your fOOthOld; and remember YOU
are not alone. An unseen Hand sustains
and strengthens when WEAKNESS from build
ing and climbing would almost cause you
to lose your grasp. And when at last you
gain the top. the consciousness of having
conquered. and the Fathers 'Well DONE"
will more than repay you for the struggle.
Yours for reform. WHITE RIBBON.