The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-11-07
A Dream and It's Awakening.

Some thirty-tWO months ago L retired at
the usual hour and, as was only natural.
expected to sleep soundly and awake the
next morning in the same place and under
the same conditions that attended my exit
into the Land of Nod. What was my sur
prise when the morning had apparently ar
rived to find myself in what appeared to be.
at first sight, large iron box; and in place
of the couch upon which had gone to my
rest l found myself reclining upon
a bare strip of canvas extending from wall
to wall and about eighteen inches in width.
These strange surroundings exerted such a
powerful influence upon my mind that
was in doubt as to my mental condition, was
awake or asleep? l was roughly aroused
a moment later by gruff voice exclaiming:
''Get up there cully,if you don't want your
punk tilched; there'Sa box man. here with
a great trap for duffers.'' started up has
tily, now fully alive to my surroundings.
l was in an apartment of iron some ten
feet square. and in the door way stood a
pretty hard looking citizen who was EVIL
IDENTITY enjoying the surprise and dismay at
tendant upon my awakening. SuppOSing
this to be he who had addressed the above
quoted words to me, l respectfully re-
quested him to repeat his remark as l did
not fully understand him. He did so, but
l understood him no better than before,
when. with a smile of contempt at my ig-
nOrance. he gave the following translation:
''Get up there if you don't want your bread
stolen, there is a safe blower out here who
has great mouth for biscuits" Such
briefly, was my introduction to what they
called a county Jail. l knew that l was
only dreaming. yet dreadful was the
reality of the vision. thought then arose
and stepped to the door of the cell, for such
it proved to be. and there seated along a
corridor about fifty feet long. are a dozen
OF more of men. each with piece of bread
in one hand and tin cup Of a steaming
fluid in the other. My portion was placed
on the iron bench and was told to sail in.
l declined. however, and the words were
scarcely spoken ere the unpalatable vands
disappeared. In my dream l thought |
became acquainted with these men who
were thus confined with me and found that
they were charged with various and sundry
crimes; and. to my horror, found that l.
too. had serious charge against me.
After thus living for several months the
scene of my dream changed and | found
mSScll Ill ClOWuCu COuII TOOul, strange
name was called. and was hustled to nv
feet and asked if had anything to say.
Of course l had good deal to say, but be-
fore could Say it. a gentleman (whom l
afterwards found out to be the judge) sit
ting on a raised platform said: The SEN
tence of this court is that you be taken to
prison and there confined at hard labor for
a period of five years." was then taken
back to my former quarters for few days
and then man, whom the men around
there called sheriff. came to me and in
vited me to ride. joyfully assented and
we soon started. We drove down to a rail-
road depot and thence by train to Still
water. Then my dream partook of the nature
of nightmare. dreamt l was taken into
large stone building. searched made to
undress and take bath; and was then Or
dered to put on suit of striped clothing.
did as was commanded. Then | was
conducted to very small cell with can
vas cot, an enormous straw mattrass and a
very hard stool in it. The next day was
taken to shop and given work to do.