Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-12-25

Il
the Judges influence in an appoint
ment he aspired to, and TO have seen
the criminal ANONYMOUSLY dismissed.
Looking after him Judge Parker
unused: 81 do wonder why some peo-
pie love so much moro TO find evil than
! good in person. A noble character
is to them as a whitewashed fence,
against which they delight to throw
mud. l hate to tell John of this, but
/ suppose it 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 aud
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 at his employer.
'John-your surname, is it Dotlk-
erpn
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?'
~ did; yes, SIR"
mo. 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 WERE"
always some one to give fellow
n kick, no matter how hard he's try.
ing to get upp"
'Yes, it seems so. Now, John, he
says sentenced you ten years ago to
the penitentiary. Is it truep"
ut is, SIR" was the humble reply.
"And you served your full term OF
five yearsp"
Lacking the time Of communication,
/ did"
What have you done since your
released"
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 a
weight on man like me, sir. The
opening penitentiary door IS at the
very foot of o hill, and when 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 burglaryP"
Il was, sir. 1t was my first crime
The easy gain looked tempting, and ]
fell 1 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
ly, 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 cameP 1t would have been
better"
II suppose it would, sir. But was
too weak / needed work so badly,
and if you had turned me away then,
why
'Wbat, Johnp"
Never mind, y you please, sir, you
didn't turn me off,"
VERY we'll, John, I'll not ask you.
But you said you had special pur-
pose in coming to me. Can you tell
me thatp"
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 fhep"
mo, / do not"
"Well, sir, your words burnt them
selves into my heart as If they'd been
sparks. used to fancy 1 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 a dan
gerous path. The way of crime never
leads upward, always down, down to
the unknown depths. The pure sun
light of Heaven never smiles upon it.
1t 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 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 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. ]
did have to leave her, friends, peace,
Heaven and the God she had so earn
estly taught me to pray TO- And | did
reflect, sir, in those quiet years, and l
came out pure man. God knows how
I've tried not TO lot that false step
blight my life. But wherever l went,
some one spread the Employ
ing that man, that John Dorkerp
Why, he's u convict
II became desperate; temptation
stared me in the face. felt myself
weakening. Starvation, gloom, de-
spair. q broken-hearted mother, were
about me, and l wavered. sir, when
thought came: Surely, surely,
the judge who spoke those words
would help me-; he wouldn't
turn me away And l 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 Pm ready foryour decision.
Can you trust convicted burglar in