Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-26

An incident that occurred at the state
penitentiary in Oregon a few Sundays ago,
illustrates how difficult it is, even in a
great country like this, for one to hide his
wrong-doing, even with the utmost trying.
A young man from one of the New Eng
land states, left his home few years ago
to seek his fortune at the West, leaving
mother and sisters at the old homestead.
For a while he labored faithfully and hon
estly to win success, but it did not come,
and he finally yielded to temptation, forged
the name of his employer, was arrested
and convicted and sentenced to three
years imprisonment He managed i'm
some way to keep the knowledge of his
crime and punishment from the dear ones
at home and wrote them that, discouraged
and disheartened by his fruitless efforts,
he had enlisted in the army and should be
absent for three years.
But the mother and sisters could not be
content to know so little and to be separat-
ed from him so long, and so they saved
enough to pay the expenses of the sisters
to his Western home, ana learn, if posi-
BILE, in what regiment and company he had
enlisted, that they might at least write
him i'm assurance of their continuing love
and sympathy. On their way to the town
where his last letter was dated, they were
compelled to remain over Sunday at Salem,
and, moved by some subtle interest, they
decided to attend the services at the state
prison there. They arrived too late to be
admitted to the chapel, but were given
seats in the waiting room. The result is
best told by the Salem Statesmen, which
vouches for the truth of the story.
"At the first sound from the choir they
were interested, ut as the music of the
song filled the chapel and resounded
throughout the corridors, they recognized
a familiar sound in a sweet-toned voice
that carried the air. They advanced nearer
to the chapel, impelled by they knew not
what, and. glancing through the barred
doors, recognized among the singers,
wearing the stripes, the absent brother
whom they belived was serving his country
in the army. The recognition was mutual.
And it was ptiful. The shock was more
than the delicate nerves of the young
women could bear
These loved and loving sisters knew their
brother had been unfortunate and had be-
come respondent They believed he had
enlisted rather than return to the old
home and admit that the hopes with which
he had gone into a far country to build up
an honored, manly life were shattered, and
the golden fruit he sought to gather had
turned to ashes. And they sought to find
him, to bear, if possible, some portion OF
the burden. They did not know that his
Encouragement had led to crime, until
they found him in cOnvict's dress within
within PRISONS walls.
The old home was lonely when he left it
to tempt his fortune in a strange place,
sorrow for his failure had darkened the
lives of those who kept the altar fire burn
ing in his childhood home, but until now
no shadow of crime had ever fallen upon
it. The mother is still there, but the staff
on which she thought to lean in her de-
clining years is only broken reed. The
sisters have returned to bear the added
burden of brothers shame and the boy is
paying the penalty of his evil deeds in
bitter knowledge that in the wreck of his
own life he has ruined the lives of those
who loved and trusted him.
St Adams MeSSenOer