The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-08-15

where parting cannot be considered hard:
as for example the boOdler who skips with
the Doodle, or the young man who stands
on the depot platform waving his mother
i'll law out Of sight. To them the parting
is not only not hard. but it is extremely
easy. But in the main, parting is hard
No proof is required to emphasize that fact
upon our minds Even way back in the
time of Eden when Adam and Eve parted
from the path of rectitude by partaking of
the forbidden fruit, they found it extremely
hard. udowidskowinoski whose life of
sufferings no doubt is familiar with the
majority OF the readers, shed bitter tears as
he cast back last glance of unutterable
OF his birth, while or his way to living
death in the far-away mines Of Siberia
Could any one imagine parting harder to
bear. and more pathetic. than was this Of
the condemned Russian nObleman? But
there are many other illustrations that can
be cited. Think for an instant of the DOOR,
lone mother parting from her only son who
is about to embark upon long voyage
across stormy seas. Or of the father whose
country calls him from the bosom OF his
family to the battlefield. Then, Just pict-
ure to yourself two lovers standing with
clasped hands in the moonlight at the gate
How hard the parting must be to them.
Or to the traveller who heaveS a heavy Sigh
AS he parts with his pocket book and valu-
ableS at the request of bandit. Or 10 the
whist player whose partners ace catches
his solitary king. Or to the office holder
parting from office. In word we cannot
otherwise but admit that parting as gen
eral thing is hard. And considering this |
am sure the reader will SyMpath!Ze and
cOndOle with the person whom Fate or Des-
tiny DEGREES shall part from old scenes and
familiar faces. Such a decree has been ut
tered. and in consequence. my dear local
readers. l will be obliged to do some part
ing shortly. | will endeavOr to see as
many of you as possibly can. But when
| call around to shake you by the hand and
bid you farewell, for Jupiter'S sake don't
begin crying like little schoolgirl. and say
amid your choking sObS that you're sorry
Im-that is to say. not but sorry you're
agOing. For, in parentheSs, l can state
right here, that l don't expect to leave
until my time is up, unless Governor Mer-
riam should happen to think that pardon
would be good thing for me. And when
you find yourself arrayeG in all the splen-
dor of your gorgeous veStment of Mack-
nav blue. all ready to start for your new
home up in the RefOrmatOry, by all means
don't lose your head. Act just as though
you had been accustomed to wear good
clothes all your life. It'll come hard for a
time, | know, but you must cultivate the
habit, and before long it will come quite
natural. Then, Oh arriving at the Reform
atory. just because it happens to be set be-
fore you. do not go to work and load up
your stomach as though you'd never had a
square meal before in your life. Go slowly
in everything. and even if in truth you can
not, at least let it appear that you can en-
JOY the good things of life as well as the
man born for them. By following this ad-
vice implicitly. you will not alone learn to
have confidence in yourself and better your
own condition, but you will also, to a de-
gree at least. mitigate the pain which
otherwise the parting would most certainly
occasion. | will be able to sleep in peace
knowing that you will make every effort to
adapt yourself TO the trying situation. In
the RefOrmatOry. let your conduct be nat
ural. That is all. Do not imagine that
anything extraordinary will be required of
you up there. Go along quietly, and do
your work in cheerful manner. Nothing
more will be required of you. By 50 doing
you will not only earn the good will of the
officers in charge. but you will at the same
time earn for yourself speedy discharge.
Could but think that my advice will bear
but little fruit. should feel that have
not lived altogether in vain. And now. dear
reader-you who are soon to depart-please
accept my adeus. We are all creatures of
the hour. None of us know what day
may bring forth. Tomorrow [ may die,
or some other disaster may befaH me. SO,
upon second thought, l think it the better