Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-30

iacc, us ne replica:
''It is, sir. You have remembered III
al last"
"lou expected me tor
al did, yes, sir
"No, | didn't recognize YOU, John,
said the Judge, with Il note OF ,lisappoint
mont in his voice, "but u lawyer al tn,
bar told me who YOU were"
"Always some one to give fellow .
kick, no matter how hard he's trying {,
get up
eyes, it seems so. Now, John, Ii,
says sentenced you ten years ago to tn.
peni,eniary. Is i, truc?'
at is, sir" WAS The humble reply.
"And you served your full term Of iiv,
years."
Lacking Inc lime of communication
did"
"whst have you done sine your re
lc;,ol"
"No'ling but try. sir; shifting about
from place TO place. I've tried hard
desperate harl 10 lead true, honest life,
but its uphill work. Theresa weight
on :. man like ne, sir. The opening
pcniicniinry door is ri the very foot oil
Il hill. and when Il poor feilo" comes out
;i'' tries 20 wall. up. there's always some
one "lad to push him back again.
Were You guilty of The bur:l.ry!'
IL was, sir. II WAS my fist crime.
The easy gain loohin" tempting, am,!
fell. needed money; bu; there is no cx.
ca,c. deserved the punishment. Thusc
awful years. sir, na.c me Time TO rciiac.
ton, and determined that when cot
out, with Gods help 10 picl, myself up.
rs been hay'i; cruelty, iear:ully hard ,bu!
] haven't fallen again. I'm an honest
man in my heart, sir, il the world wont
ac>nov ledge H."
"Bui Why didn't you iell me this when
you cane: Il would linvv hccn better. "
Il suppose il would. sir. Bul was
200 weak. needed work So badly. and
if you had turned me away then, why
"What, john"
"Ncver mind. if You please. sir; yon
didn't turn NE oil.
VERY well, John, I'll 10, as., vou.
E"; You said yon had special purpose
III comm" to me. Can you tell me that =.
John Dorlicr arose, laid his hat upon
the chair, ai.'l facing the Judge said i'm
prcSSivciy:
$40 YOU remember. sir, what you said
when you sentenced me-"
mo, do moi"
"Wcll, sir your words burnt them,
selves into my hear, rs if they'd been
SPARKS. usr'i To fancy | snw them writ.
len in fiery ic!icrs AT night upon the black
wall of my cell. You spoke fcclnyly
SIR, like you l.i,icd me-, and that's what
rn;ric them take such II hol ON me.
They Were: '>oun" man, You lave set
yorr foot on dangerous path. The way
of crime never leads upward always
down, flown To the unknown depths.
the pure sunlight OF heaven never smiles
upon il. II is crowded with wrecks of
Goblc lives. When you tread il, Won
Leave mother, true friends, light, peace,
heaven and God hrhind YOU. You are
@oin" to prison. in the quiet years YOU
shall spend there, look over this - of
yours and think ii You can afford 10
spend lie smallest possible portion OF it
on tins path. Come out Il pure man.
Iou will still be Young, with much of
your life before you: many years To he
useful and good in, and to retrieve this
False step. Let me- say from my heart
Young man, don't blight your life :"
lie dashed the tears from his eyes.
and proceeded:
My mother sat weeping behind me
sir, rs | stood al the rail. | was her
Only support. God alone knew how she
Was 10 live during those wears. Your
words were knilc-thrusts, sir did
have to leave her, friends, peace, heaven
and the God she had so earnestly taught
me to pray to. And | did reflect, sir, in
those quiet years. and came out pure
man. God knows, how I've tried not 10
let that false step blight my life. But
wherever went. some one spread the
truth; Employing that man, that John
DorHcr; why, he's - convict
81 hecamc desperate; temptation
Stared me in the face. | felt myself
weakening. Starvation, gloom, despair,
Il cn-heartcd mother were about me
and wavered, sir, when a thought
came: Surely, surely, the Judge who
spoke those words would help me; he
wouldn I turn me away. And | came
1t was my last chance. Too much de
pended upon my getting work, sir, to
risk telling you my story But now I'm
found oui, and I'm ready for your de-
clsion. Can you trust convicted
burglar in your house! Will you give
me triali Ii not, LII 20 away and try
/; again, sir, but don't know"
Judge Parker sprang up and warmly
graspcd the trembling hand
"Trust you, John! Give you trial.
You have been tried, and again sentence
you, John Dorker. to five years in my
service, in my most earnest help, in my
best effort to place you on the road to
prosperity. God bless you!'
And when the sentence was served,
John Dorker was an honest and useful
citizen. Yankee Bladc.