The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-09-26


Can you picture to yourself the intense
blackness that envelOped and penetrated
into the innermOst recesses OF his soul!
Can you wonder at his taking his life in
despair, when the last spark of hope had
vanished within him and that life was now
dreary blank to him? No amount Of deeds
of repentance could now fully atone for his
past. Pause. before you utter your judg-
ment. and remember that his spirit has
scared to the judgment of God to receive
his doom in accordance to his sin.
And when the ordeal was over, what
was the worlds verdict? Why, he was
only convict; criminal and felOn, who
took this way of thwarting justice. And
yet. he was once his mothers pride and
honor. He had once been somebody's
darling" Once he had been the sunshine
in the family circle and had been loved by
friends and playmates. He was forced by
poverty from home. and fell in struggling
against adverse circumstances and
temptations You cold. naughty men Of
the world. remember with shame that you
were in part responsible for his dOwnfall
But what is one life more than another
There are thousands OF cases like this every
year, and what is done tor the rising gen
Grafton of to day to keep them in the path
of virtue? What is done for those poor
young men and women who are forced by
poverty to leave their homes and childhood
behind them and go out into the cold, un-
feeling and cruel world to seek their bread.
to shield them from temptation? What
is done for those fallen ones, who have
erred and strayed from the path of virtue
and honesty? Nothing. Practically moth
ing.
Dear reader. the above story is no fancy
sketch. but a picture from real life. Will
helm was once the schOolmate and play
mate of the writer. 1t was long ago. be-
fore sin and wickedness had entered into
my life. 1 knew him and his par
ents we'll, and was one of the number who
grasped his hand on that memorable morn
ing of his departure and wished him God
speed.
Some years ago while travelling over the
western country. l came to the town of
-t. l took stroll over the cemetery,
and one corner of that place was strongly
marked by it's plain headstOnes and neg
lected graves. l walked between the mounds
and read the faded Inscriptions on the head
stones and boards that marked their last
resting places. Presently came across a
board with this inscriptions:
ERICK WILHELM NOLAN.
Born March 1868.
Died Nov. 1884.
The last three letters on the name We're
faded away by the ravages of transforms
and time. The name struck me as famil-
lar, and as pondered, l remembered my
schoolnlate. Wilhelm. The date of his
birth tailed with that on the board, and as
had not heard anything of him for years,
thought it possible that it could be his
grave.
Inquiries revealed the fact that the neg
lected corner OF the burying ground was
used for the burial of deceased cOnvicts
from the II prison, and l doubted if
it really could be his last resting place. In
QuirieS at the prison proved such to be the
case. l then opened correspondence with
his father telling him of his sons death
and of the place where he laid buried. In
return | received information concerning
his past. and was thus put into possession
of the facts of the story.
There is terrible lesson and warning in
the story of this youth, especially for those
who are yet young and innocent, and un-
detiled by sin and wickedness. Will you
heed ere it is too late? Will you store it in
the chambers of your memory and profit
by it? | entreat you earnestly to do so. tor
even l have tasted the bitterness and re-
morse that follows in the wake of crime
You are brought up in the Christian faith
by loving parents. and your young mind is
moulded in righteousness. Adhere strictly
to your faith; shun the wicked and corrupt
ing talk and example of others. avoid dime
novels and infidel books as you would a
poisonous reptile. for spiritual death and
lifelong misery is the result. 1t you would
avoid heaping disgrace and grief upon those
who love you dearly, carry an untarnished
name through life, keep clear of dishon-
Ored grave and enjoy eternal rest, peace
and glory, avoid sin even in its mldest
forms.
THE END.