The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-12-07

SOOQ IN person. A nOOle character
is to them as a whitewashed fence,
against which they delight to throw
mud. 1 hate to tell John of this, but l
suppose 1t must be DONE"
John promptly obeyed the summons,
entering respectfully and inquiringly.
A shade of distrust on the Judges face
made him uneasy, but he calmly and
with manly dignity awaited the COM
munication.
"Sit down, John," the Judge began,
kindly "it may be long interview"
He complied, and began nervously
revolving his straw hat by shifting his
fingers along the edge of the brim, but
he looked firmly at his employer.
'John-your surname, Is it Dorker ?"
A slight pallor swept over the honest
face as he replied:
at is. sir. You have remembered
me at last"
"You expected me tor"
81 did /; yes, sir"
"No, didn't recognize you, John,"
said the Judge, with note of disap-
pointment in his voice, "but lawyer
at the bar told me who you were."
"Always some one to give fellow a
kick mo matter how hard he's trying to
get up1"
eyes; it seems SO. Now, John he
says l sentenced you ten years ago to
the penltentiary. Is it truel"
at is, sir" was the humble reply.
"And you served your full term of
five years7"
Lacking the time of commutation, l
did,"
"What have you done since you were
released1"
Nothing but try, sir shifting about
from place to place. I've tried hard,
desperate hard, to lead true, honest
life, but its up hill work. There's a
weight on a man like me, sir. The
opening penitentiary door is at the very
foot OF hill, and when a poor fellow
comes out and tries to walk up, there's
always some one who is glad to push
him down again."
"Were you guilty of the burglary3"
81 was, sir. 1t was my first crime.
The easy gain looked tempting, and l
fell. l needed money; but there is no
excuse-I deserved the punishment.
Those awful years, sir, gave me time
for reflection, and I determined that
when l got out, with Gods help, to
pick myself up. It's been hard, cruelty
fearfully hard, but haven't fallen again.
Pm an honest man In my heart, sir, if
the world won't acknowledge it"
"But why didn't you tell me this
when you came2 1t would have been
better"
l suppose 1t would, sir. But l was
too weak. l needed work so badly, and
if you had turned me away then, why"
"What, John.
"Never mind, If you please, sir, you
didn't turn me off,
every well, John, I'll not ask you.
But you said you had special purpose
in coming to me. Can't you tell me
that2"
John Dorker arose, laid his hat upon
the chair, and facing the Judge, said
impressively.
"Do you remember, sir what you
SAID when you sentenced me2'
"No, l do not"
"Well, sir, your words burnt them
selves into my heart as If they'd been
sparks. used to fancy l saw them
written in fiery letters at night upon the
back wall of my cell. You spoke feel
ingly, sir, like you pitied me, and that's
what made them take such a hold of
me. They were: Young man, you
have set your foot on dangerous path.
The way of crime never leads upward,
always down, down to the unknown
depths. The pure sunlight OF Heaven
never smiles upon it. 1t is crowded
with wrecks of noble lives. When you
tread it you leave, mother, true friends,
light, peace, Heaven and God behind
you. You are going to prison. In the
quiet years you shall spend there, look
over this life of yours, and think if you
can afford to spend the smallest portion
of it on this path. Come out pure
man. You will still be young, with
much of you life before you; many
years to be useful and good in, and to
retrieve this false step. Let me say
from my heart, young man, don't blight
your life
He dashed the tears from his eyes
and proceeded:
"My mother sat weeping behind me
sir, as | stood at the rail. l was her
only support. God alone knew how
she was to live during those years,
Your words were knife thrusts, sir. l
did have to leave her, friends, peace,
Heaven and the God she had so earn
estly taught me to pray to. And l did
reflect, sir, in those quiet years, and l
came out pure man. God knows how
I've tired not to let that false step blight
my life. But wherever l went, some
one spread the truth-"Employing that
man, that John Dorker7 Why he is
convict"
81 became desperate temptation
stared me in the face. | felt myself
weakening. Starvation, gloom, despair,
a broken hearted mother, were about
me. and | wavered, sir, when thought
came: Surely, surely, the Judge who