River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-11-07

fingers along the edge OF the brim, but
he looked firmly at his employer.
''JOhn-yOur surname, is it Dork-
err"
A slight pallor swept over the hon
est face, as he replied:
at is. sir. You have remembered
me at last"
You expected me to-"
81 did; yes, sir. .
No. l didn't recognize you, John, "
said the Judge. with note OF disap-
pointment in his voice, '.but a lawyer
at the bar told me who YOU were"
Always some one to give fellow
kick. no matter how hard he's try
ing TO get up"
Yes, it seems so. Now, John. he
says l sentenced you ten years ago &c
the penitentiary. Is it true?"
1T IS, sir" was the humble reply.
"And you served your full term OF
five years."
Lacking the time of Communication.
l did.
what have you done since your
release?n
Nothing but try, sir; shifting about
from place to place. I've tried hard.
desperate hard, to lead true, honest
life, but its uphill work. There's q
weight on a man like me, sir The
opening penitentiary door is at the
very foot of 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 burglary ?'
Il was, sir. II was my first crime
The easy gain looked 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 / got out with Gods help. to
pick myself up. It's been hard, cruel
~, 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 came? II 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, III not ask you.
But you said you had "a special pur.
pose In coming 10 me. Can you tell
me that?"
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?n
NO. l 40 not"
well, sir, your words burnt them
selves into my heart as if they'd been
sparks. used TO 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
hbAU VI HI L ne hCIt- Il OuAiH
man, you have set your foot on dan.
gerOus path. The way Of crime never
leads upward, always down, down tc
the unknown depths The pure sun
light of Heaven never smiles upon 1t.
II Is crowded with wrecks Of noble
lives. When you tread il you leave
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 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. y
He dashed the tears from his eyes
and proceeded:
My mother sat weeping behind me,
sir, as stood at the rail was her
only support. Tod alone knew how
she was TO live during those years.
Your words were knife thrusts, sir /
did have TO leave her. friends. peace,
Heaven ana the God she had so earn
estly taught me to pray to. And did
reflect sir. in those quiet years. and
came out a pure man. God knows how
I've tried not to let that false step
fgrlR Rt,F 4, 1
some one spread the truth" Employ
ing that man, that John Dorller?
Why, he's a convict
Il became desperate; a temptation
stared me in the face | felt myself
weakening. Starvation, gloom, de-
spain. a broken-hearted mother, were
about me, and | wavered, sir when
a thought came: Surely surely,
the judge who spoke those words
would help me; he wouldn't
turn me away. And | came. 1t was
my last chance. Too much depended
upon my getting work, sir, to risk
telling YOU my story. But now I'm
found out, I'm ready foryour decision.
SeltA AON Il Lt7b a N0lAh lClCu pulE lar III
your house? VIII you give me a trial?
If not, I'll go away and try it again,
sir. but | don't know"
Judge Parker sprang up and warm
iy grasped the trembling hand.
Trust you, John? Give you
trial? You have been tried, and /
again sentence you, John DorIer. 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 your
And when the sentence was served,
John Dorker was an honest and useful
citizen. Boston Budget.
Pretty Gowns for House Wear.
Now that winter is approaching,