The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-04

got out, with Gods help to pick myself
ND. It's been hard. cruelty, fearfully
hard. but / haven't fallen again. I'm
an honest man in my heart, sir, II the
world won't acknowledge It,"
"But why didn't you tell me thiI
when YOU came? It would have beer
better"
Il suppose It would, sir. But was
too weak. / needed work so badly, and
If YOU had turned mo away then,
Why
"What, john?
"Never mind, IL you please, sir; you
didn't turn me OFF,"
Every well, John, I'll not ask you
But YOU said you had a special purpose
in coming to me. Can you tell me
that"
John Dorker arose, laid his hat upor
the chair. and facing the Judge said i'm
pressively:
"Do you remember, sir, what you said
when you sentenced me!"
"No, do not"
"WeH. sir, your words burnt them
selves into my heart as If they'd beer
sparks ! used to fancy ! saw them
written in fiery letters at night upon the
black wall Of my cell. You spoke feel
ingly, sir, like you pitied me, and that:
what made them take such hold OF
me- They were: Young man, You have
set your foot on n dangerous path. The
way Of crime never leads upward. always
down. down TO the unknown depths
The pure sunlightof heaven never smiles
upon it. IL il crowded with wrecks OF
noble lives. When you tread ii you leave
mother. true friends, light, peace, hcav
en- and God behind you. You are going
to prison. In the quiet years you shall
spend there look over this life of yours
and think if you can afford to spend tbs
smallest possible portion Of it on thi'
path. Come out a Islre man. You vii
still be young, with much Of your life
before you; many years to be useful ant
good in. and to retrieve this false step
Let me say from my heart, young man
don't blight your life. Y
He dashed the tears from his eyes and
proceeded:
"My mother sat weeping behind me
sir. as / stood Mt the rail. 1 was her only
support. God alone knew how she was
to live during those years. Your word
were knife thrusts, sir. | did have e
leave her, friends, peace, heaven and the
God she had so earnestly taught me {,
pray TO. And / did reflect, sir, in thos,
Quiet years. and came out a pure man
God knows how I've tried not TO let thai
false step blight my life. But wherever
went, some one spread tlse truth: I'm
blowing that man, that John Dorker
WIN. he's a convict
II became desperate; temptation
stared me in the face. l felt myself
weakening. Starvation, gloom, despair
n broken hearted mother were about me
and | wavered, sir, when a thought
came: Surely, surely, the judge who
smoke those words would help me; he
wouldn't turn me away And | came.
1t was my last chance. Too much de.
pended upon my getting work, sir. tc
risk telling my story. But now Tn
found ont, and Ina ready for your de-
cision. Can you trust convicted burg
lar in your house? VIII you give me q
trial? If not ] will go away and try il
again, sir, but don't know
Judge Parker sprang up and warmly
grasped the trembling hand.
"Irust You, John? Give You q trial
You have been tried, agam sentence
YOU, John Dorkes, to five years in my
service. in my most earnest help, in my
best effort to place you on the road 70
prosperity. God bless your
And when the sentence was served
John Dorker was an honest and useful
citizen.-Yankee Blade.