The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-10-24

poor fellow to whom had just been talking, was
but two or three and twenty: and yet he told me
he had been Jagged once before for seven years.
He also said: Your Reverence am ND now for
breaking into the crib of an old tar That old
cove keeps his money in an old brown teapot /
cracked that teapot twice. and if that old fellow
lives may crack it again. So, your Reverence
don't bother with such as me, begin with the
lads"
When this fellow. at nine years of age crossed
over from Ireland, he was a homeless boy; he
could get no work. and had nowhere to live but
on the streets those schools of crime where bows
learn lessons of evil. 1t takes a strong-minded
man to Withstand the temptations of the streets
1t is very different here in your cities from the
old country. How many boys have found with
no place to sleep on bitter nights; with no pro-
lection from the cold, nipping wind save per.
haps. an empty box bakers oven. How
many of these boys have died and have been
buried in paupers graves. without a single
mOurner to follow them to their last resting
place!
Do you wonder then when l say that prison is
a school where life may be studied? l say this as
a man who has had twenty three years of expert
ence; who has had every facility for study; who
has had the keys to every cell; with no restriction
save that never spoke to Protestant nor the
Protestant chaplain to Catholic prisoner. Our
lines of duty were so clearly marked that not a
shadow of difference came between US.
But did not come here to preach. When was
asked to visit this prison l joyfully responded.
For no class Of men have warmer feeling. l
never turn my back prisoner. l shall not
give you lecture this evening, but want to read
you an amusing sketch 1 think you will say that
it is most practical address on temperance.
This story is not one of my own, but it is one
which have adopted for good and in this sense it
is my own.
The story here related treats of charac-
ter. John Kelly. by name, and a carpenter
by trade. an easy going. good-natured fell
low and fond of his glass. One afternoon
John goes to his favOrte drinking place
Kept by Betsy Mason, typical English
landlady. On this particular afternoon
John notices plate of tempting cherries
on table of the inn; he reaches for some
of them; but, to his great surprise. the
landlady. in shrewiSh tones and lengthy
dialogue. orders him to buy his own cher
ries." This 80 rankles in the breast of
John that after celebrating at great length
on the amount of money he had spent at
this tavern and feeling that those very
cherries so discOurteously denied him might
have been bought with his own hard earned
money, he resolves to buy his own cher
ies;" and the practical fulflment of this
resolve was the road by which John Kelly
and his family reached prosperity and hap
piness. The story throughout was replete
with amusing and pathetic incidents. The
speakers superb power of mimicry, eS-
pecially in depicting Betsy Mason's dismay
at losing good customer and her many
wileS to regain him, and the wife's and chill
dren's joy at the change in their fathers life.
gave additional zest to the story. In con-
tinuing Father Nugent said:
This little sketch 1 intend practical address
done in the of temperance, it is to be done,
not 80 much by preach ing, it is by getting men
to THINK. If you will only reduce to practice
the lesson which this little story will bring to
your minds, feel that you will see the necessity
of adopting the plan of John Kelly. and "buy
your own cherries" 1 see the vices and evils of
intemperance on all sides. 1t is the great barrier
of progress. do not think the men before me
need much talking to. Many of you could give a
bitter practical address the blightng evil of
intemperaDce. 1t is the of bringing so
many to places such this.
am delighted with this opportunity of address,
ing you. have been almost overwhelmed with
kindness and courtesy in your city and by your
officers. and shall go back to my own country re.
membering of the pleasantest evenings
of my life-the little time 1 have spent with you
tonight
Court Scenes.