Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-02-19

that he nau poon CONVICT, ana tn0n ne
faGcied the men looked at him askance
and whispered when he approached.
AS matter of fact, they were none of
them any better than he was, and sever
al OF them had a prison record behind
them. But twenty years How can
man who has served twenty years
ever hold up his head again? He stood
it as long rs he could, then he left the
gang.
The next thing he tried was hod-car-
rying on new building. He thought
he should be able to keep the place, un-
til one day when workman appeared
who turned out to be fellow he had
known in prison. He was malicious,
with q hardened conscience and an
even harder heart, and he turned the
laugh on the cold jail-bird.' as he
called John, until he could not stand it
and fed again.
One day John read in the paper an
advertisement for trained hands in
shoe-factory. Taking sudden resolve
he applied for work.
Who are you, my man?' said the
| foreman, land where do you come
| from?"
Then John Andrews said desperately:
81 learned my trade in state prison,
| Sir. [ served a term of twenty years,
but now l want to be an honest man I"
I'VE have no use for convIcts here"
said the foreman shortly, and John
| turned sadly away.
He thought the world was very cruel.
1t never gave him chance. It shut
him up in self defense, but was not
that enough? When he came out he
surely should haye ''some show" He
thought it all over in his poor. dull way.
1t was SO hard to understand. He
thought it ought not to be. There must
! be God somewhere, he supposed, or
the chaplain would not pray for him, or
| the men he knew swear by him; but if
| he was good and power ul, as the
chaplain said, why did he not make
men kinder, and give poor devil q
chance? John shook his head in per-
| plexity. 1t was too hard a problem for
bis ignorance and dull understanding.
Il suppose | am too worthless" he con-
Guided. "The Lord has no use for a
poor convict"
And yet the thought remained, and
the passionate desire to keep honest and
to hold up his head again that had
sprung to life in some mysterious way
from that precious seed hidden away in
the dreary waste of the parsons SER
mons. 1t is pity that such men some
times drift to prisons where ignorant
souls are waiting to be touched and soft
ened as we'll as stirred"
John Andrews wondered whether he
could learn more about it in a church,
So one morning, when the sun was bright
and the crowds of well-dressed people
filled the streets he looked into one
whose doors stood open on a great
thorOughfare. He had heard some
where that churches were for every
one. S" he supposed they were free and
went in.
He found it very pleasant. The at
mosphere was warm, which was CRATE
full on the cool autumn days just begin
ming, and a soft light streamed through
great stained-glass window over q
white altar. There were plenty of COM
misunderstanding seats, with red cush-
ions, SO he went up little way and sat
down. 1t did not seem at all like the
prison chapel where he had always fall
en- asleep. 1t was So quiet and pleasant
that he liked 1t, and thought lie might
learn what ne want TO there. But
presently he cit touch on his arm,
and looking up he saw the Sc xton.
Come, move on, said he, ''this is no
place for you"
So poor John got up and shuffled out
again. He supposed TIE man was right.
He was too forlorn for such beauti ul
place; but he felt disappointed, too.
He had dragged on through the sum-
iner, living In q handto-mouth sort of a
way. 1t was we'll enough while the
warm weather lasted, but the cold came
early that year and seemed to wither
him. John never knew how he got
through the winter. He picked I'D srray
Jobs on the streets and wharves, and i'll t
managed to exist. He was cit n hungry
and always cold, and he had cough
that seemed to hack him to pie es At
last he saved pennies enough to hire
shoe black 8 kit. Ii he could not no Ike
shoes he could at least black them.
Thus be struggled on, and never once
begged or laid dishonest finger on any,
thing.
so the time went on and John An
drews' cough hacked him more and
more, AID some days he was so tired
that he could hardly stand. One dav as
he stood leaning on a railing at the
corner OF a crowded street. he motto, d
child press for ard on the crossing. She
was pretty thing with long. 9 bit hair,
and seemed timid. He watcht d her as
sh waited and would have liked to
help her. but she looked like q little
lady and he did not dare. Presently she
darted forward, ana then he saw her
stumble and fail. John rushed 20 save
her Tom the crowding vehicles 1t was
the work OF econd, but he was too
late to drag her away. Pushing between
the weels an der the horses heads,
he threw himself over the tender form
on the ground, warding off with his hand
the coming caIastro he. She wa, saved.
but be received the fuilf orce OF the col
hslon as the ieet the rearing horses
came Crashing down upon him.
hen he came to himself he found
that he was In quiet room, living In a
little bed with u white counterpane,
while a sweet-iaced woman n g. otIess
apron and cap moved about him. lie
knew that he must be in a hospital but
he could not remember WHY they bad
brought him there. He was quite alone.
or they h. drawn d screen around IN
led. He felt very weak and dazed. and
Woadered vaguely what was he matter
with his b ok, and thought it strange
that he could not move. But he Was
very pea vi and com ortable, and it
pleased him to see the brl ht sunshine
on his whit spread, and to look at the