The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-07-04
Our Future Guide.

the progress OF our LIE. Inc custom TO
make such days memorable by celebration
and by bestowals of gifts and greetings. is
handed down to us from remote ages. The
object of it is that we may. when the mer-
dian of life has passed, look back upon
them. single them cut one by one. and with
such reeOlectiOns in mind shape the course
of our after-life, always remembering that
past time never returns.
Errors committed in our youth maybe
atoned for by noble deeds in the future
This may be cOnsOling, but it should not
deter US from exercising vigilance against
such errors. They alone are truly happy.
who can survey their past free from errors
and stains. and devote their future to pro-
gress and honor instead of atOnement.
How we'll we remember the time when
we left our childhOod's home! We had
been surrounded by love and affection. and
spent our time amid CHEEKY associations.
We went forth from under that friendly,
Sheltering roof where there had been moth
ing but happy existence. We went forth
to battle against the world and its frOwns,
but found it losing battle. Why? How
was it that we did not rise to fame. wealth
and honor? Because we did not begin
right We threw away the good advice.
that. perhaps. was the only thing our par
ents were able to give us. We threw it
away as worthless rubbish. We did not
recognize it as worth having or remember
ing. We scrambled and fought for the dol
lar, the ''almighty dollar" believing it to
he the only essential thing for Our welfare.
And SO we built our future on illusions and
air castIes--the fruits Of our vivid magma
tiens. But. as we rushed on we found out
their true value. They resembled the frail
soap bubbles we were won't to make when
children-the larger and more magnificent.
the nearer the end-and when they finally
bursted nothing remained. Let us then dig
into our memory. unearth the remem
brances of our childhOOds home. and call
to mind the advice that was given Us by
our parents. These home Influences are
the only safeguards that will ferry us past
the shoals and dangers that abound on all
sides; and by strictly adhering to them we
will land safely on the shores of the misty
beyond.
Old age is the night Of life. as night is
the old age Of day. Still. the night is full
of magnificence. and to many ii is more
brilliant than the day. When we pass away
from life to death we cease to exist. III
time we may be forgotten. But. if we
have made the most OF our active existence.
when we are laid away to become part
memory Of those we leave behind. Let us
live so that we may be remembered. not in
disgust and adherence, but in fOndness
and gratitude We all have mission in
this world; let MS fulfill that mission. Let
ils live for purpose: not by adding our
selves to the many who fill the penal insti-
buttons throughout the world, but to some
nobler purpose. A celebrated pOetess puts
it thus:
I'm this great world of good and i'll
All have miss ion TO fulfill.
Be not by vulgar pride controlled
BE not ashamed of honest toll.
Is work degrading? No. take hold,
Soon labor takes away the spoil,
Toll on with honest hand and brain,
Don't waste the fleeing years in vain.'
Let us make the most of our time. Let
us contribute our mite to the enlightening
of the coming race. and we will not have
lived in vain. Death will then lose its bit
ter sting, the repuIsive feeling will vanish
and though there is mist before us, yet. it
is ever reckoning us TO rest.
In the loneliness OF my cell dwell with
fondness on all the incidents connected
with the home Of my youth. l shut my
eyes and | can see the old mansion, with
its beautiful surroundings all wreathed in
halo too fascinating to be pictured by my
pen. One object in that beautiful picture
stands out in bold relief. There is beau
tiful sprinkling Of silver in the brown
tresses, the once merry. loving eyes are red
and sunken, and the furrOwed cheeks are
pale and thin. 1t tells me only too fOrcibly
in what coin | have repaid a mothers love
and sacrifices. But. though | cannot re-.
move the gray hairs. restore the brightness
to the eyes. or smooth out the burrows and
replace the roses On her cheeks. 1 can in
some degree atone for the misdeeds that
are the direct cause Of this change. l shall
devote my future to nobler deeds, and thus
gladden. the few remaining years she has on
this earth. Unfold myself. memory, and