The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-12-19
A True Heart.
mas time

A True Heart.
There is something pathetic in the life
of every man confined within prison walls
and this pathOs grows more intense when
all the free, outside world is glad with the
joy that comes in the Christmas time.
Remorse must weigh heavily on convicts
at this time. FOrgetfulness of all the past
would be a blessed boon to many of them,
but memory is keenest then, and we do not
know with what heartaches they recall the
time when they too were free and happy.
The warden of a state prison tells the fol-
lowing pathetic incident of life convict:
l was passing out of the prison yard
one bitterly cold Christmas morning.
Just outside the gate. and crOuching
close to the high stone wall. saw thnly-
clad little girl of about twelve years, her
face and hands blue with cold. She put
out one of her thin hands to detain me as
passed.
IF you please, SIR" she said. and stopped
lingering nervOusly at the fringe of her old
shawl and glancing timdly down.
what is it?" 1 asked.
''Well. if you please, sir. I'd like to
know if l can 60 inside. and see my-my
father? He's in there. and l've brung him
something for Christmas. 1t amt much,
and didn't s'pose you'd mind any if he
had it. His name is Mister John H-y."
l recognized the name as that of life
convict. man VIGOROUSLY bad. 1 went
back into the prison ground. the child fol.
lowing me eagerly.
He came sullen and detected; in his face
VIZ 10 of NIT ha 70
of prisoners for life so often wear.
The child sprang forward to meet him,
the hot tears streaming over her white face.
He stepped back. Sullen and seemingly
angry. No word of welcome came from
his lips for the ragged, trembling. little crea-
ture who stood crying before him with
something clasped close in her hand.
'I-I-came to-say Merry Christmas.
father" she faltered. ''I-I-thought
maybe you'd be glad to see me. Amt you
any glad. father?"
Christmas! Christ! What would that
man not have given for freedom of body
and soul!
The convict's head dropped. The hard
look was going out of his face, his eyes
were moistening. His little girl went on,
trembingly and tearfully-
"And I-l-brung you something.
father. 1t was all could think of. and all
l could get. l live to the poor house now"
Her trembling fingers began unwrapping
the bit of soft white paper in her hand.
and she held out a short. shining curl of
shining hair carefully tied with bit of old
ribbon.
II wouldn't give this to anybody on
earth but you. father. You used to really
and truly love little Johnnie; mother said
you did: and So"
The man fell to his knees with both hands
clasped over his face.
II did love him." he said hOarsely. 81
love him still; bad as am. love him still"
II knew it," said the child. going closer,
land knowed you'd like this, now that
JOhnnies dead"
Dead" cried the man, rocking to and
fro. still on his knees with his hands over
his face. my little boy"
YES" said the child, The died in the
poOr-house only last week. and there's no
one left but me, now; but 1 amt gon' to
fOrgit you, father. I'm going to stick right
by you. spite of what folks say, and maybe
some day l can get you out of here; Pm
going to try. I'll never forgit that you are
my father, and So"
He put out one arm. drew the child to-
wards him and kissed her again and again.
l silently left the room, and they were alone
together for half an hour. Then the child
came out, smiling through her tears.
Mind" she said. before closing the
door. "Pll never forgit you, father. never. -"
1t was the voice of a true heart. May
Christ give it the benediction of his peace!
Selected.