The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-21


panion, aud then led me to nm upper
room, which he told me was mine,
pushed me in and then closed and
locked the doorafterme. was very
much surprised ut this conduct, but
pretty soon heard footsteps CON-
ing along the hall, and Mr.. Hodkins
entered, bringing me my supper. He
then sat down and questioned me us
to my previous history, and then
told me what was to do for him.
My work for each day was to
stay at home. nor venture out of
doors, as he and the other fellow
would be about all day. Well, the
first few days thought it was very
strange when they brought home all
kinds of portable articles, but after
II while it was nothing new to me,
AMI gradually the truth dawned
upon me that the men were thieves.
Calling me aside one evening Mr..
llodkins told me that | was to
accompany him the next day. and |
was then given my first lesson in
the art of stealing.
"Whcn was 20 years old, the vel
low fever broke out, and, after IL
long illness. my companion succum-
bed to thp awful m,ll,dy and died.
Yes, my friends, stayed at the Job
until | was 81 years old, and would
have no doubt, still been at it,
when Il curious incident happened,
which will now n:,rrate:
IL was wandering aimlcsly along
the woods, about five miles from my
house. 1t was II hot, sultry day in
July. when felt drops OF ruin
falling on my face, and, seeing IL hut
some distance from where stood,
and knowing that we were going to
have IL shower, started onu run
for il. hoping | could receive shelter
until the storm was over.
"Wilcm | arrived at the hut l
Rocked ut the door, and i'm answer to
my summons an old woman opened
the door, and asked her to allow
me to stay until the storm abate,l.
| noticed MS she pcered over her
glnsses to look ut me she started as
ii surprise,l, but quickly recovering
her composure, she said with hospi-
tnlity that it il customary with the
French: Walk in and make YOUR
self comfortable l took u chair
near the fire, and observing that the
old woman was continuously look
ing ut me so u,leccrly, | said: Say,
old woman. | beg your pardon, but
will you he kind enough to tell me il
You see in me some chance acquaint-
ancc"! We'll Ill tell YOU something,
said she. Il had IL dear brother who
ran away from his guardian when he
was II years old, never having seen
him since, and it appears to me that
You must resemble him somewhat,
because you look exactly like my fu-
thrr and he did Also She then wen.
on to describe her family, and YOU
can imagine my surprise when
found out that this was my sister.
She had married very poor. and her
husband died of heart disease when
they were two months married. She
then supported herself by working at
sewing and embroidery, mt which she
was very skillfml. and she had saved
enough money To keep her in her old
age without working.
"Our sisters and brothers were all
we'll the last she heard OF them. three
being married and still residing i'm
Munich. then gave her nm account
of my life since left them twenty-one
years ago, and she expressed great
SORROW that had turned from the
path of Righteousness i'm which | had
been brought up. After the storm
cleared up left the house, though
not before she had cxncted promise
from me to givcup my wrong. -doings
and to visit her every day. Weeks
aud months passed, and, strange to
say. felt no inclination to go back
To my former vices.
1.-TWO years after Twas called to the
ieds,le OF my dying sister, aud she
made me take II solemn oath never
again to enter into any business that
would not be right OF God and man.
Ever since have been a reformed
man. l visited my sisters and
brothers. who were doing very well,
and then went to the house OF my
guardian but to my great