The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-03-12
3D. Stillwa water, MINI, Thursday March II, 1891.
How Have You Spent Your Evenings2
Oh. had l but resisted the first tempta-

How Have You Spent Your Eveningsa
Oh. had but resisted the first tempta-
tion to wrong doing! do not believe there
ever was a man or woman incarcerated
within the walls of any prison who could
prevent the frequent occurrence of those
words in their mind, and it matters not to
what limit their crimes and disgrace have
extended these words are ever before them.
1t matters not how deep we may have sunk
down into the mire of degradation, there is
still one great consolation, and that is to
know that the power lies within each and
every one of us to redeem ourselves. OF
course there are many trials, troubles, and
difficulties to be encountered, but these
must be met patiently and cheerfully and
above all we must practice self control anG
self-sacrifice. Here is the trouble with 50
many whose future anti ipations are olasEed,
they give way to tTes own evil linations.
Therefore they a. liable to res. tempta-
ton of any kind; they have NO command
over their own will, consequently they drift
along hOpelessly with the current, until
finally they are landed into the clutches of
disgrace.
There is only one way for us to succeed
and that is to strictly guard our thoughts.
words and actions at all times. If we con-
troll our thoughts and our words and keep
them pure. our actions will invariably fol-
low in the same channel. We should never
allow our minds to settle for moment upon
anything from which we can derive no good;
and it we are unable at all times to keep
our minds from wandering from good to
bad. we must admit that to be no excuse for
our words and actions. Every man has it
in his power to govern his conversation and
his actions. 1t matters not where man
may be or under what circumstances he is
situated. If his words and actions are pure
he is honOred and respected. If his CONVEX
SatiOn Is free from abuse, SANDER and bias
phemy even the most degraded will respect
him. for they see that he has attained a
moral position in life which their own con-
science tells them it is their duty to strive
for. Young man, did you ever gain any
thing by taking part in sinful, disgraceful,
and impure conversation? The answer will
invariably be no. Such conversations are
only instigators of crime. and degradation.
Then let us avoid them. and guard our
words, and not only our words, but our ac-
tions. 1t must be evident to each and every
one of us that there is certain time when
we should carefully guard our actions. a
time which requires more self-centrol than
any Other-and when is that time? Even
ing.
Boys. in days past and gone. where have
you spent your evenings? Rev. T. Dewitt
Talmage says, "YOung man, tell me how
you spent your evenings and [ will write
you out chart of your character and fut-
ure destiny" And we must all acknowl-
edge this to be true; we need not 60 beyond
our own circle to find true examples. How
many of us took our first downward step in
the light of day? Few, very few. Day Of
fers but few inducements to the man seek
ing dishonesty and disgrace. while night
sends forth its glittering invitations and Of
fers the hand of protection to the evil in
clined. When does young man enter the
saloon and gambling room for the first time?
During the day? Oh no; he fears the honest
critics eye. Then let US guard against the
evil inducements which darkness lays be
fore us; let us watch our footsteps by night
and others will watch them by day; let us
not enter any door where we weuld be
ashamed for our mother or sister to see us
enter. Some may say that is binding us too
close, but for us to regain an honorable pO-
sition in life we cannot be too strict with
ourselves. Likely previous to our impris.
onment no one watched us. but we should
ever remember that now the eye OF every
one will be upon us; therefore let US strive
to reach higher station in life.
No man was ever created for the purpose
only of breathing out the few years allowed
to him here on earth without ever perform
ing any good deeds. Every man has his
work to do. but few of US indeed faithfully
perform our duty and honestly accomplish
the task set before us. Let us not yield to
the evil temptations which beset our path
way for the purpose of alluring us from the
course of honesty and virtue; don't let your
last words be. "A wasted lite." Oh. what
words for man to utter when the messen-
ger of death comes to call him from time to
eternity! What life he has lived! A mis-
cry to himself, disgrace to his relatives.