Oxford eagle., 1889-10-31
ssslmpIv 10 WATT Won. sir y

These questions cut close. and Skiles
WINGED little as be answered:
None at all sir. / don't expect IL
to. except that inward consciousness Of
doing service ] though, you would
certainly not wish TO have a man
sleeping in your house whom you SEN
fenced yourself. and who served his
term in prison"
We'll. now. Mr.. Skiles. 10 be frank
with you, don't believe in always
putting the foot OF virtuous scorn on a
mans neck because he was once a
criminal. There's no reason why such
man shouldn't reform and lead an
honest life. I've sentenced many men
TO prison. but have never had good
chance 70 do one a kindness i hon
estiy believe that many n crimi al
would rise to rectitude II helpes. and
John i one OF them"
We generally try 10 ges rid OF
stumbling horse. Judge said Skiles
with a weak laugh III you doubt
my story call the man in and face him
with it,
This was exactly what Judge Parker
did not wish TO do. He believed the
story. but did not want to give Skiles
the expected satisfaction OF seeing
Johns disgrace laid bare A sincere
sorrow for him arose. and he said:
No. Mr.. Skiles. I'll not confront
him with il now"
The pettifogger thereupon bowed
himself out somewhat crestfallen. ss
be had confidently expected TO win
the Judges influence in an appoint
ment he aspired to. and TO have seen
the criminal ignominiously dismissed
Looking after him Judge Parker
mused: Il do wonder why some peo-
pie love so much more to fnd evil than
good in i person. A noble character
is 10 them as n whitewashed fence.
against which they delight 10 throw
mud hate TO tell John OF this. bu,
| suppose il must be done"
John promptly obeyed the summons.
entering respectfully and inquiringly.
A shade OF distrust on the Judges face
made him uneasy. but he calmly and
with manly dignity awaited the COM
munication-
''Sit down. john" the Judge began.
kindly; lit may be long interview ="
He complied. and began nervously
revolving his straw hat by shifting his
fingers along the edge of the brim. but
he looked firmly a; his employer.
'John-your surname. is it Dork-
err
A slight pallor swept over the hon
est face. as he replied:
1T is. sir. You have remembered
me at last"
You expected me tor
Il did; yes. sir"
No. didn't recognize you. John. ="
said the Judge. with note of disap-
POintment in his voice. but . lawyer
at the bar told me who you weren
Always some one TO give a fellow
n kick. no matter how hard he's try
ing to get up?'
Yes. it seems So Now. John. he
says sentenced you ten years ago to
the penitentiary. Is it trues-
1T l.. sir" was the humble reply.
And you served your full term OF
five years.
Lacking the time of Communication.
did"
What have you done since your
release7'
Nothing but try. sir; shifting about
from place to place. I've tried hard.
desperate hard. to lead a true. honest
life. but its uphill work. There's q
weight on 4 man like me. sir. The
opening penitentiary door is at the
very foot of a hill. and when a poor
fellow comes out and tries to walk up.
there's always some one who is glad to
push him down again"
Were you guilty of the BURGLAR 2
Il was. sir. II was my first crime.
The easy gain Rsece.sd tempting. and /
/ fell / needed money; but there is no
excuse-I deserved the punishment.
Those awful years. sir. gave me time
for reflection. and | determined that
when l got out with Gods help, to
pick myself up. It's been hard, cruel
ly. fearfully hard. but i haven't fallen
again rm an honest man in my heart.
sir. If the world won't acknowledge il. ~
But why didn't you tell me this
when you came? 1t would have been
better"
Il suppose it would. sir But was
too weak needed work so badly.
and if you had turned me away then.
Why
What John?"
..Never mind. If you please. sir. you
didn't turn me Of"
Very well. John. I'll not ask you
But you said you had a special pur-
pose in coming 10 me Can you tell
me ihat2T
John Dorker arose. laid his hat upon
the chair. and facing the Judge. said
impressively.
DO you remember. sir. what you
said when you sentenced me:-
mo. do not
We'll. sir, your words burnt them
selves into my heart as If they'd been
sparks i used 10 fancy / saw them
written in fiery letters at night upon
the back wall OF my cell You spoke
feelingly. sir. like you pitied me. and
that's what made them take such a
hold of me They were: Young
man. you have set your foot on dan