The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-08-01

Five Gents

ness of your soul. Others have curled their
lips in scOrn at your kindness to an out
cast and feIOn. but rejoice, crown of
glory awaits you when your life's race is
run. When you have waded through the
dark river of Death there is a gem spark
ling in that crown that will outshne the
sun-and that jewel is reclaimed soul,
who. but for your efforts. would have been
lost for eternity.
1t would be fitting could l describe her
as being beautiful in keeping with her no.
BILE nature, but l cannot. Beauty is
only skin deep" is all old saying, and it is
true. Beauty and callOusness of heart too
often go hand in hand. If you would look
for kindness, purity and noble thoughts
and deeds. look for them under common
features. There are no sparkling eyes, no
flowing tresses, no cherry lips, no alabas-
ter neck associated with her. But in her
eyes is reflected the beauty and nobleness
of her soul-the spirit that infuSeS into one
more than the elixir of life itself. Her lips
did not frame the words of saucy speech
nor the smart expressions we are wont to
admire in children; but they formed the
words of truth, hope and encouragement,
originating in kind and loving heart.
How her little pinched face lighted up with
happiness when she perceived that the
gloom and despair began to lift their veil
from me. To me it was face more beau
tiful than the countenance of Venus, more
sublime than Laura in the celebrated songs
of Petrarch.
There are many people in this world who
have millions in gold and spend the pre-
cous time in elegance and luxury. They
donate little of their surplus to churches
and to the reclaiming of fallen men and
women. But if you meet them and tell
them your deplOrable condition, and ask
helping hand it is not extended. They give
you no word Of encouragement. They tell
you they are sorry for you, and perhaps
point out to you charitable institution.
Their object is TO give in public, that the
columns of the newspapers may ring OF
their benevOlence, and serve them as step
ping stones to higher social position. Yet,
as they roll in wealth and luxury, pity
them-fOr their feelings toward errng and
suffering humanity are cold. and to ''shne"
is their only object. They may be courted
by friends, sit upon the throne of a mighty
empire and rule over millions, but they will
never have share of such gratitude. such
clear and cherished memory. such heartfelt
prayer for their welfare as that little child
can claim from me, because she came in
love and inspired me with better feeling,
a penitent feeling, a desire and resolution
to do better, to become a man and gain
what had lost; because she came to me in
confidence. when others Stunned and
avoided me as they would a poisonous rep
tile.
You who live in the bright sunshine of
comfort and liberty may think it strange
that criminal has such thing as graft
tude: that felon who has disregarded the
warning voice of conscience, and has no
desire or power to withstand temptation,
can have such feelings. 1t is not strange.
The power to feel the right and true value
of anything can only be obtained by being
deprived of it. We never prize the bright
summer skies until the cold. wintry blasts
chill us; we do not prize the green fields or
the sweet-sceDted flowers until they are
dead and covered with snow. So it is that
we do not prize our liberty. that we almost
rrample it under foot, until we are locked
behind prison bars. Our social standing
seems not half so dear to us as when we by
our vile deeds have made ourselves objects
of disgust and. adherence. If we could
have realized this when we were free and
happy, how few indeed would be the num-
ber of unhappy beings behind these walls!
How few mothers with broken hearts
brought to an early grave. But when we
have reached this stage, it one speaks
kind word to us, or gives us friendly
shake of the hand. such things are indeed
priceless. and the remembrance of them are
the only kind of sunbeams that can diSpel
the gloom, darkness and despair of prison
| life. F. o. l..