Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-09-22
SELF-DENIAL.
A Convict Father Who Died to
His Children.

During the latter part of May OF this
year (lS92), was the guest of friends
In the city of -. The home was so
pleasant and the surroundings SO at
tractivc that we forgot the perpetual
drizzling rain that bade us stay in
doors. Through the wide front win
dows we looked across q narrow street
to the beautiful park, where the snow
balls and lilacs were in bloom. Our
conversation was interrupted by n
messenger who came in haste to call
away my host, who is n physician. The
lace of my hostess, which had been full
OF lie and animation, suddenly changed
and look OF sadness was plainly vis-
ible. 1t was the first time had ever
seen her thus, and my eyes must have
asked question which my lips were
too courteous to utter. Some persons
are skilled in reading between the
lines, and others are possessed Of a
richer rowcr Of knowing what a friend
wants to ask, and answering it fully,
when you have not uttered a .wopd
II was thinking" she said, "of the
many who arc denied the pleasures of
life, the thousands who cannot even see
pictures OF it, much less visit the great
worlds faii..-Yonr profession calls you
to consider the condition of the sick
and the poor, but have you considered
the world of sorrow that is within the
solid walls of the prison?"
was wondering at the sudden
change that had taken place in her
manner-wondering how she happened
to get on this theme. 1t must have
been because of the errand on which
her husband had gole forth.
YES" replied, as if realizing that
my part of the conversation could not
be conducted simply by thinking, "and
am glad that you have introduced the
subject, since l have heard that you
have for years taken a deep interest in
the unfortunate. But pray tell me how
you get so readily from the worlds fair
to the Bridcwell and Sing Sing"
30! readily enough. | have thought
out, but have not uttered the connecting
links. You have been admiring the
park. The flowers do not bloom for the
convicts. The lawn is not dressed for
them. The fair is not held for them.
They are dead to all the world out
side their gloomy prison homes, and
even sometimes dead to their loved
ones here"
had often seen my friend at table
presiding gracefully, in the social world
where her power was acknowledged,
in the house of devotion where the
trembling prayer was uttered but
never had / seen her whole soul looking
out through her features as now. May
tell you of case that has deeply in
terested me?" she continued, and with
out waiting for reply recited to me
substantially the following story of a
convict's self denial:
Mr.. - was man of ardent nature.
He was happily married and became
the father of two children. The daugh-
ters had grown in strength and beauty,
and no prettier sight was witnessed
than in the evenings when his wife and
little children sat with him on the door
step, or walked along the smooth path
ways in the park. The wife and
mother sickened and died. Some time
after her death the father had diff
Guilty with q man who had in some way
offended him. Whose the fault was
do not know, but in hasty moment he
raised his hand and struck cruel blow
that felled his brother to the ground
and blighted all his own hopes for life.
The victim was borne to the hospital,
where, after few hours suffering, he
died and the assailant was held for
manslaughter. Much sympathy was
expressed for him, and for time il
seemed as though he would be released.
But when the trial came he was con-
yicted and sentenced to Imprisonment
for twenty years. The sentence may
have been just, but sometimes justice
is terrible. The little children, aged
five and three and one-half years, found
home in our society.
You never saw such children Except,
of course, your own. The oldest re-
sembled the father. Dark, piercing
ewes, and nalr tnaJ Wouiu hoO w ~
rivaled in its glossy blackness by the
ravens wing. The younger must have
resembled her mother. She was per
feet blonde, with curling hair and we'll
shaped nose, and pouting lips tha'
seemed to be dewy with mothers
kiss; merry dimples were about mel
mouth. as though laugh had been IN
terrupted and fingered there, ready &c
break forth again. Her forehead was
never equaled by the finest marble
model that came from human soul ane
hand. Her deep blue eyes spoke 1ortr
world of pleading tenderness a.
though asking for something to take
the place in her soul of a mothers love.
Every one that saw this child wante.
her. $50 like my babe in heaven
said the fond mother who had been De
reft.
called to see the father for the las
time. He was to be taken to his prison
the following day. He eseemed to guess
nv mission. It was cruel one y