The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-02-24

this, with him. This was not that sud-
den transformation that had hoped, but
soon found that II opened up a good many
things that had never dreamed OF, One
of these seemed especially strange under
the circumstances. Ihad yet but slender
hope OF ever escaping from the prison ex-
cept by the way OF the scaffold. But in
spite OF the dark prospect the question
came as an absolute test Of my obedience,
"Nill yon, IL satisfied that il Is Gods
will, be ready TO give up the profession OF
law II you ever get home and 60 into the
mlnistrys'' The first and spontaneous re-
ply was, s'Noln / had studied law and
meant to practice 1t If ever got whore
law reigned But at once the self re-
sponse was clear, "What kind or
obedience Is thisY' ] saw that
was not sincere In proposing TO enlist
under Christ as my captain, unless
would really obey him. IL would be a
poor allegiance that stopped short with
the things wanted to do. For long
time l could not pass this point. The
difficulty when communicated to my
prison companions seemed utterly absurd.
ssIry to serve God I'm the prison, where
you are, they said with rough plausi-
bility, ''and don't bother about preaching,
being a lawyer, or anything else, when
you get out, for you never will get out. -
This seemed good advice, but it would
not bring q serene mind or the victory
over the fear of death which so much
desired. One after another of those in
the prison found the comfort / lacked;
and it was not till wearied and worn out
with the struggle that vowed IL God
would only give me his peace, would
serve him as sincerely in the prison or out
of it as had tried to serve my country,
and in any way that he might direct.
OIL that this VOW had been always more
faithfully keptl
From this time did have steady con-
Viction that was on the Lords side, and
that had a right to commit myself and
my life to his keeping. The prison did
not prove a palace; it's discomforts were
still felt keenly, and the prospect Of death
by the gallows did not appear more invit-
| ing. / would not have been the less ready
to make any desperate venture for escape
but had hope which went beyond the
prison and the scaffold-beyond any con
tingency Of earthly fortune, while it did
not take away any real earthly good.
We all remember with deepest graft
tude the Rev. George G. n. MacDonell
one of those who attended ON. cnI-a-"flH.
! OrI- the uay VI ueAGn. we dld not ses
either Of the clergymen then, or know
who they We're, OF, indeed, that there was
such attendance until long after. Whether
Rev. Mr.. Scott did visit us or not I am un
able to state with positiveness. A minis
ter came, and l was afterward told that
his name was Scott, but he may have beer
another person, as think this one was
| r.nft IF hn aif u no I'M
in this latter case was unpleasant. Tht
preacher had been brought in by oul
old jailer on the very natural presumption
that persons who prayed and sung 81
much would like to meet a clergyman
He promised the officer of the guard tina
he would talk only about religion. Blu
his first question built up an impassabl,
barrier between us. He asked how WI
could be so wicked as to come down ther'
and fight against the south and try II
overturn their government? We had beer
trying to repent of our sins, but had no
got so far as that particular one yet, anC
answered little tartly by asking how HI
and his friends could be so wicked as t.
rebel against a good government. HI
answered by reference to the north try
ing to overthrow slavery, and I askeC
him if it was possible that he, a minister
was an apologist for slavery 1t hap
pened that he was a Jealous defender O
the institution and very sensitive on thi
point; and so much noise was soon mad
in the discussion that the guard removed
him. He did not come again.
But our interview and subsequent &C
quaintance with Rev. Mr.. MacDonell wa
of very different character, though
also opened unpromisingly. In his frs
prayer he petitioned very earnestly tina
our lives might be spared if consisten
with the good of the Confederacy! Thi
offended some of us, but the better opinion
was that if sincere in his loyalty to tn
rebel authority, he could hardly hav
prayed differently. So kind was he to u
afterward that some thought he NIGH
possibly be a Union man in real sent
ments; but he has since assured me that h
was not in the slightest degree, and tina
all he did for us was at the dictates of hu
nan1ty and religion. We had a very pleas
ant interview. He gave us valuable coun
sci, and felt it great privilege to tai
over religious questions with one so intel
ligent and sympathetic When he left h
promised to send us some books, and di
not forget to promptly forward them
These we took good care of, read tho1
oughly to all in the room and then re
turned, asking for more. These he geneI
ally gave, and we thus continued till W
had read nearly his whole library. Thos
only who know what a dreadful wear
ness it is to pass days without any def
mite employment can realize the grea
boon these good books bestowed on US.
made the prison room a veritable school
and in view of our religious efforts tn
character of the books was just what W
would most have desired. did not care
as in Knoxville, for law books, but tn
fact that many, though not all, of tn
minister's books were of a theological an
religious cast only made them the NOR
welcome. This Atlanta jail was m
theological semfnaryI
Ito be Continued.