The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-12-23
ATrue Heart.

There Is something pathetic IN the lie
Of every man confined within prison
walls, and this pathos becomes more in
tense when sll the outside world Is glad
with the JOY that comes in he Christmas
tine. Remorse mus weigh Feavily on
convicfs At this tine. Forgetf1ines Of
al the past would be . blessed boon 70
many CT them, bat memory 3 keenest
then, and We do not know with what
hesrtaches they recall the tine when
they, TOO. were free and happy.
The warden Of a state prison tells the
following pathetic incident Of life con
vict
IEas passing out Of the prison yard
one bitterly eeid Christmas morning
Just outside the gate and crOuching close
10 the high stone wall, saw = thinly
clad little girl of about twelve yesrs, her
face and hands blne with cold She put
ont one Of her thin hands 10 de.2in me
as passed.
II yen please, sir she said, and
stopped, lingering nervousiy Al the
fringe Of her sbAEl and timidly gl&ncing
do~n-
What is IL" asked.
~wsH, # yoa please, sir, I'd Ike to
know If can 20 inside aud see my-ny
father. He's in there, and I've brung
hin something for Christmas Il Amt
much, and I didn't s'pcse yoa'd mind
any Il be had Il. His name is Mister
John h
recognized the name as that OF l-fe
convict-a man VIGOROUSLY bad vent
back into the prison grounds, the child
following me eagerly
Going 10 my Office. sent for the con-
Wet. lie came, sallen and detected in
his face Vas the look Of utter hopeless
ness the faces Of prisoners FOR life %
often wear
The child sprzug forward % Deet him,
the hot tears streaming over her white
face He stepped back, sullsn and seem
ingly angry. No word Of welcome came
from his hrs for the ragged, trembling
little creature Eho stood crying before
him, with something clssped in her
hand
-I-I-czme to-4y Merry Christ
mas, lthe-,r she fAltsFed. @I-I thought
maybe you'd be glad 70 see ne. Aint
you glad. father
Christmas. Christ, What would thst
nan nos have given for freedom OF BODY
and sonli
The convicts head dropped The hard
look vas going out Of his face; his eyes
Eere mois,sning. DIS littl girI vent On
tremblingly sad tsarially.
and I-I-brung yea something,
father. Il Ess al I could think Of and
all could gsL i've to the pOorhOuse
now
Her trembling fingers began unErap-
ping the BIT Of soft white paper in her
hand, add she held up a short, shining
curl of yellow hair, carefully ted with
BIT Of old ribbon
i wouldn't give this to anybody on
earth but you, father. YOu used 10
really and truly love little Johnny
mother said you did-snd So
TIE man fell to his knees with both
hands clasped over bis face.
4 did love him. he said, hoarsely. y
love him still; bad as an, love him
still
7 knew Il, said the child. going clos
er. and knored you'd ike this, now
that Johnuy's dead
Dead cried the mar, rocking 70 and
do, sill On his knees and with his hands
over his Ece- NY little boy"
YES said the child, he died in the
poorboese 0uiy iast week, and there's
TO one left bur ne now But I amt
zoin' TO forgit yoa. father I'm goin' 70
stick right by you, spite Of What folks
say. and some day maybe I can get yea
o1t Of here. Tn going to Try I don't
forget that you are ny father, snd-and
SOL
be put cut one arm, drew the child
toward him AID kissed her again and
szsin- ! silently leit the room, ard they
we're alone together for half an hour.
Then the child cane ont smiling through
{ her tears
Mind she said, before closing the
door, i vii never forgi: yen, fA.her-
never
II vas the voice Of true heart. May
Christ give il the benedictiou Of his
peace.- ali's ComPGHi0H-