The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-08-29
The Convict. the Pick, and the Shovel,

knOcKS III lis Day. recllned near by against
a huge Boulder. The Suns rays beat down
upon the poor Convict until he would fan
rest his weary Frame in the Shade of the
Boulder. He glanced at the Guard stand
ing near at Hand. but that officials atten-
ton was engaged in a different direction.
SO the Convict sat down in the welcome
Shade, by the side of the old Pick: giving
his Shovel a vicious Dig into the Ground,
and muttering Curses upon his hard Lot.
He was aroused from his gloomy Thoughts
by seeing the Pick raise its we'll worn
Handle into the Air: and still more sur
prised when it balanced itself on it's best
Point and remarked:
~ on are nice Convict. you are: to so
maltreat poor Shovel, and one that has
never violated the Law. even if it is in
Prison. You are a Brute and deserve to be
here"
The Convict was about to answer, when
the Shovel, leanit g over little to get its
Handle out of the Sun, broke in:
You needn't be so hard on the poor Con-
Wet. MI Pick. you have been here so long
that You have become very MOrose. Let us
inquire of the Convict. and ascertain what
~'o'C OhSllIC ilC 10 pViilS III pi lSO1lt(l lOl.
ThereupOn the Pick. settling itself more
comfortably on its other Point. responded:
''Well. we will hear the COnvicts Story,
and then pass Judgment. 1t is a good
Thing for him. however. that it was not
me he treated SO harShly. | have slipped
and manned Mans Foot for less than
that And now 90 on with your Story"
continued the Pick. shaking his Point men
acingly at the Convict.
The Convict then beganhs Recital:
Il was sent here from Minneap-"
'1 on needn't tell us that. who doesn't
come from There" snarled the quarrelsome
Pick
oils" continued the Convict. paying no
Attention to the Interruption, for term
of two Years. for pawning ali OvercOat be-
longing to someone else
You mean you stole an Overcoat. don't
you?" Queried the Pick. ''And pray what
need had you to do that? You are big
enough and strong enough to earn an hon
est living.''
We'll" answered The Convict, Il had
no Money. and no Place to sleep. and moth
ing to eat"
Il suppose YOU were drunk when you
took it." said the Shovel, in a sympathizing
Voice.
''Oh. of course he was they will all tell
you that" broke in the Pick sarcasticaIly.
No" returned the Convict. with down
cast Eyes Il was not drunk that is, not so
drunk that did not know that | was doing
Wrong. But" continued the Convict,
speaking earnestly and rapidly, Il was
drunk when lost my first Place; and l
was drunk when ! lost many other Situa-
tons. l was drunk when | sold the Coat off
my Back for more Drink. Drink dragged
me down till would sell my Soul to get it,
No | was not drunk when | stole that Coat,
but it Was Drink that ruined me. Ah," eX-
claimed the Convict bitterly. ''wou.d to God
had never seen the accursed Stuff
The Shovel seemed profoundly affected
by the simple yet tragic Tale of the poor
Convict. and even the hard hearted Pick
sOftened his Voice little as he continued
his Examinations:
And how much did you receive for the
Overcoat?"
Ten Dollars"
Now" pursued the Pick, frightening
up. (for be it known that the Pick had a
fOndneSS for MathematicS) ''hOw many
Shovelfuls of Dirt do you take up. Oh al
average. in Minute?"
About four
THAT makes 24O an hour. and 24OO for
ten working Hours. Counting 80 working
Days in a Year, or 610 in the two Years.
you lift 1. 4SS. 900 ShOvelfuls of Minnesota
Dirt: and all this for ten Dollars. which
makes 1888 ShOvelfuis for one Cent. Now
you are brilliant Financier. aren't yOu?"
This array of Figures quite overcome the
poor Convict. and before he could frame a
Reply. he heard his Name called by the
Guard. and with guilty feeling he seized
the patient Shovel and went ploddingly to
work; thinking the while of the strange
Conversation he had just taken part in.
MORAL: Always count the Cost before
you undertake anything. or you may have
10 pay for your Whistle at the rate of Ass
ShOvelfals of Dirt for one Cent. REX.