The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-11
SELF-DENIAL.
Al Convict Father Who Died 10
His Children.

His Children.
During tho latter part Of May 81 this
year (lSp2l, WIS the guest Of friends
III the city 81 The home was 20
pleasant and tho surroundings 20 1T
tractivc thatwe forgot the perpetual
drizzling rain that babe Us stay In
doors. Through the wide front win
d0ws we looked across narrow street
TO the beautiful park, where the snow
balls and lilacs were Id bloom. Our
conversation was interrupted By g.
messenger who came In haste to call
away my host. who Is physician. The
face ofmy hostess, which had been full
oflifc and animation, suddenly changed
and look Of sadness was plainly Wis
iblc. II WAS tho first time had ever
seen her thus, and my eyes must have
asked d question which my lips were
too courteous to utter. Some persons
are skilled III reading between the
lines. and others are possessed Of
richer rover Of knowing what friend
wants 10 nsk, and answering II fully,
when yon have not uttered word.
II WIS thinking, she said, s'of the
many who are denied the pleasures Of
life, The thousands who cannot even see
pictures of IL, much less visit the great
worlds fair. Your profession callsyou
To consider the condition Of the sick
and the poor, bnt have you considered
the world Of sorrow that is within the
solid walls IL the prison2',
/ was wondering at tho sudden
change thnt had taken place il her
manner wondering how. she happened
to get on this theme II must have
been because Of the errand On which
her husband had gone forth.
Yes. replied. as II realizing that
my part Of sthe conversation could not
be conducted simply BY thinking, and
! am glad that you have introduced the
subject. since have heard that you
have for years taken deep interest I'M
the unfortunate. But pray tell me how
ron get so readily from the worlds fair
70 the Bridewell and Sing Sing
''0l readily enough. ! have thought
ont, but have not uttered the connecting
links Yon have been adrniring 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 arc dead to all the world out
side their gloomy prison homes. and
even sometimes dead 70 their loved
ones here. :
had often seen my friend 1T table
presiding gracefully. ID 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
ont through her features Is now. May
tell ron Of q case that has deeply I'M
tcrested mc?" she continued. and with
out waiting for reply recited to me
substantially the following story Of 4
ccnvict'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 Che evenings when his wife and
little ehiidren sat with him on the door
Etcp, 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 d Diff
Guilty with man who had III some way
offended him. Whose the fault was /
do not know, but IN d hasty moment he
raised his hand and struck cruel blow
TINT fellcd his brother 10 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
\ nlanslaughtcr. Much sympathy was
expressed for him, and for q time Il
seemed lis though he would be released.
But whsn tina trial came he was con-
xicted and sentenced to Imprisonment
for twenty years. The sentence may
havcsbcsp just bnt sometimes Justice
Y terrible, The little children, aged
lyc and three and oneshalf years. found
homc IN our society
Ion never saw such children except
81 course. your own1. The oldest re-
scnlbiga the father. Dark, piercing
eyes and hair that would not be out
ryaiesd IN its glossy blackness Nv the
rssycns wing The younger rnustlhave
a cscmblcd her mother. She was 4 per-
fcet blonde. with curling hair ana we'll
shaped nose, and pouting lips that
seemed 70 be dewy with q mothers
! kiss; merry dimples were about her
mouth. A. though i laugh had been in
tcrruptcd and fingered there, ready to
break forth again. Her forehead was
never cqnaied ~ the finest marble
moacl that came from human soul and
h'1I1a iler deep blue eyes spoke forth
world u pleading tenderness N y,
Though asking for something to talxe
the place ri her soul 81 d mothers love.
Every one that saw this child wanted
ler 81 like my babe In heaven
saidFthe fefid mother who had been 81.
led to zee the father xor the las
tsms lie WINS 70 % taken to his prisor
thc following day. Heaeemed ID rug1l
ny mission. 4 was . cruel 6ne. o