The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-17

''John-your surname, Is IL Dorherf
A slight pallor swept over the honest
face, as he replied:
"It is, sir. You have remembered me
at last"
"You expected me to-"
81 did, yes, sir"
"No, I didn't recognize you, john"
said the Judge, with note of disappolnt-
ment in his voice, "but a lawyer at the
bar told me who you were"
"Always some one to give a fellow
kick, no matter how hard he's trying to
get up"
eyes, it seems so. Now, John, he
says sentenced you ten years ago to the
penitentiary. Is it true2"
"It is, SIR" was the humble reply.
"And you served your full term of five
years2"
"Lacking the time of communication I
did"
"What have you done since your re-
Iease2"
"Nothing but try, sir; shifting about
from place to place. I've tried hard,
desperate hard to lead a true, honest life,
but it's uphill work. There's weight
on q man like me, sir. The opening
penitentiary door is at the very foot of
a hill, and when poor fellow comes out
and tries to walk up, there's always some
one glad to push him baclzagain."
"Were you guilty of the burglarya"
ssI was, sir. 1t was my first crime.
The easy gain looking tempting, and I
fell. needed money; but there is no ex-
cuse, T deserved the punishment. Those
awful years, sir, gave me time to refiec-
ton, and I determined that when I got
out, with Gods help to pick myself up.
It's been hard cruelty, fearfully hard, but
haven't fallen again. I'm an honest
man in my heart, sir, if the world won't
acknowledge it."
"But why didn't you tell me this when
you Cameo 1t would have been better"
II suppose it would, sir. But was
too weak. needed work so badly, and
# you had turned me away then, why
"What, John2"
'sNever mind, if you please, sir; you
didn't turn me off,"
every well, John, I'll not ask you.
But you said you had special purpose
in coming to me. Can you tell me that2"
John Dorker arose, laid his hat upon
;he chair, and facing the Judge said i'm
"Do you remember, sir, what you said
when you sentenced me2"
sNo, do not"
"Wcll, sir, your words burnt them
selves into my heart as if they'd been
sparks. used to fancy saw them writ
zen in fiery letters at night upon the black
wall of my cell. You spoke feelingly,
sir, like you pitied me, and that's what
made them take such u hold on me.
They we're: Young man, you have set
your foot on dangerous path. The way
Of crime never leads upward, always
Down, down to the unknown depths.
The pure sunlight of heaven never smiles
upon it. It is crowded with wrecks of
noble lives. When you tread it, you
cave mother, true friends, light, peace,
heaven 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 the smallest possible portion of it
On this path. Come out q pure man.
You will still be young, with much of
your life before you; many years to be
useful and good in, and to retrieve this
false step. Let me say from my heart,
young man, don't blight your life"
He dashed the tears from his eyes,
and proceeded:
"My mother sat weeping behind me,
sir, as I stood at the rail. was her
only support. God alone knew how she
was to live during those years. Your
words were knife-thrusts, sir. I did
have to leave her, friends, peace, heaven
and the God she had so earnestly taught
me to pray to. And I did reflect, sir, in
those quiet years, and came out pure
man. God knows, how I've tried not to
let that false step blight my life. But
wherever I went, some one spread the
truth: Employing that man, that John
Dorker; why, he's convict
81 became desperate; q temptation
stared me in the face. I felt myself
weakening. Starvation, gloom, despair,
q broken-hearted mother we're about me,
and + wavered, sir, when a thoug ght
came: Surely, surely, the Judge who
spoke those words would help me; he
wouldn't turn me away And I came.
It was my last chance. Too much de-
pended upon my getting work, sir, to
risk telling you my story. But now I'm
found out, and I'm ready for your de-
cision. Can you trust a convicted
burglar in your house? Will you give
me trial2 If not, I'll go away and try
it again, sir, but I don't know"
Judge Parker sprang up and warmly
graspcd the trembling hand.
"Trust you, John2 Give you trial2
You have been tried, and I again sentence
you, John Dorker. to five years in my
service, in my most earnest help, in my
best effort to place you on the road to
prosperity. God bless you"
And when the sentence was served,
John Dorker was an honest and useful
citizen. Yankee Blade.