The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-12-25
john" and great lump in his throat pre-.


paniOns-they reminded him of their agree
ment to meet there again on certain day
of the next month.
Home at last! John hurried through the
union depot, out on the crowded street and
away. He was soon beyond the busy heart
of the city, speeding along the residence
streets. Merry voices greeted his ears from
the happy homes along the way, and now
and then he caught glimpses of the heavens
within, but only one thought filled his mind
his own hOme-Alice and the children.
Presently the surroundings grew more ia
milar. and he increased his speed. ''Only
four blocks more" and he broke into run.
His own street at last. "Only two blocks
nOw," and the poor mans heart beat and his
temples thrObbed. WAS 1t real. or was it
another one Of those prison dreams?" His
pace slackened; his heart ceased throbblng.
and elation and jOyfulness gave way to
misgivings and dread. He knew not the
cause. and he feared. he knew not what.
1.-The next house," He turned his face the
other way. Now am at the gate''
''JOhnw
His heart gave great leap. He turned
with open arms
"Oh, that cursed dream again!'
':John!"
Alice! All, it is no dream this time
but what has happened? Where's the
house-the children? Oh it is the cursed
dreamv'
mo, John, you are not dreaming. The
house is burned; the children-I left them
at home. and came here only to meet you"
John stood dazed, hardly comprehending
his wife's words as he looked on her strange
white face made still whittier by the moons
light. He was bewildered. Alice took his
hand and lead him through brambles to
where the house had stood and pointed him
to the ruins of their once happy home. He
could not speak, but sat down on the crum-
bled wall and bowed his head in his hands.
Alice sat down beside him and laid her
hand upon his shoulder.
John Cooper the machnist and John
Cooper the burglar were fighting again:
but this time John Cooper the machinist
was not fighting for the mastery alone, but
to avenge the pain and the misery and the
disgrace that the burglar had brought upon
the wife and children of the machinist.
Alice knew of the battle within and she
prayed God to give the victory to her loved
machinist that he and she and theirs might
be forever freed from the loathed burglar
who had caused her and her children to eat
stolen bread, to be pointed at as the wife
and children of convicted felon; took
their natural protector and cast him into
prison leaving them in poverty and loneli.
ness; that had put them at the mercy of
sharks who had snapped up their little home
stead; that. when fire had destroyed the
mortgaged home and all within it, had sent
them to live in a stable.
God deliver her and her loved ones from
John Cooper the burglar!
And He did.
That gentle hand upon the broad shout
ders of the man was the power that won
the victory. 1t was as the hand of God
laid upon the man, and when it felt the sob
OF repentance it raised the dropping head
and drew it to loving. sympathizing
breast.
John Cooper the machinist left his NOR.
tai enemy, destroyer of his own and his
family's happiness. dead amid the ruins of
that home his crimes had destroyed.
Hand and hand, Alice lead John to that
humble home she had made for them. Few
words were spoken as they passed along
there was unutterable joy in their hearts.
Johns heart and temples were not throb.