The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-02-13
THE POWER OF soNo.
4 I.:..lo Lar. sw... voice h /. STATIC,


a Little Lars SWEET voIce In station
Rou.-.
The wonderful power OF little
child's song on hardened criminals
was illustrated In two police stations
recently. Officer Garnet. OF the Nine
teenth district noticed u little colored
boy crying pitoously just after the
noon hour one day at Eleventh and
Locust streets says the Philadelphia
Record.
Lost child,n unused the ofcer
and then: "Hullo Johnny. what's the
mattere'
The boy looked scared hall 10 death
at the. sight OF the big policeman. but
managed TO sob out:
IL want my mamma"
The queer little waif was taken TO
The Nineteenth district police station
He was well dressed. wore smart
cap. trimmed with gold lace, and
looked unusually intelligent A vol
ley OF questions could not extract
from him whero he lived. and all he
| cared TO say was: My name is
Joseph Edwards Reason. and ] am .
years old +" lie had clear voice and
spoke with unusual distinctness. In n
few minutes he had forgotten his
troubles and went TO make friends
with the station house cats. Then he
walked up to big sergeant and said:
Il can sing; can youp"
The big sergeant was SO astonished
at his small questioner that he let his
cigar fall on one OF the cots but none
OF the officers laughed. They were
too astonished. ~
81 can sing you one OF my Sunday.
school songs" volunteered the small
boy. Then without waiting for an
invitation. his clear. soprano voice
full OF sweetness. rang out the words
OF Jesus Lover OF My Soul.
The effect was startling, and every
one listened respectfully Men of
duty came tiptoeing DOWNSTAIRS. and
soon the little singer had group OF
calloused officers OF tho law about HIM.
Lumps came up in their threats pipes
were laid down and eyes became sus-
piciously moist. The prisoners who
were recovering from their Sundays
debauch. waiting for the patrol wagon
to take them to prison stopped their
cursing and listened. After the last
note died away hardened sinner,
whom the detectives know as u des-
perate criminal. jumped up and in u
husky whisper sad to the Turnkey:
''Harky. OATS dc stuff Make do kid
sing some more. See?'
The little warbler could do nothing
but sing. and to provide him with an
all night lodging he was taken TO the
Central police station. His eyes danced
as he saw the brilliantly lighted apart
ment. and he let go tho patrol SER
geant's hand to cautiously inspect the
cells. In the fist cell was u surly
colored man who was waiting hear
ing before Magistrate Clement for
burglary. in the other cells were two
'hard" characters waiting hearings
for larceny.
"Hullo sonny. What are ye in fur:on
said one Of the prisoners. making a
desperate attempt at II joke.
The boy looked curiously at the I'M
inviting face through the iron bars
and said: Mister kin sing
The burglar drew back abashed.
Then the boy sang; Count n Mile
stone Further On. His voice swelled
like "a birds, and the big reserves who
were waiting for the magistrates were
paralyzed. To the astonishment of
everybody the prisoners joined in the
chorus, and the burglar supplied the
harmony with his deep bas9o. Then
the boy sang other hymns. and at last
ran and gave the prisoners i drink of
water at their request As the pris-
oners walked to face the magistrate
he went to sleep like II tired wanderer.