The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-07-12
MADE A GENTLE WOMAN.
A Beautiful Incident Which Took Place |
an Eastern Prison Chapel

A Beautiful Incident Which Took Place In
an Eastern Prison Chapel.
The incident narrated below took
place in woman's prison of an east
ern state. A striking picture of Christ
saving to the erring woman, $50, and
sin no more!" hangs in the chapel of
this prison. About five o'clock in the
afternoon, the time that the Sunday
service is held there in the summer,
the sun touches the painting brilliant
ly, and lights the sympathetic figure
of the Master, seeming to interpret
with new hope His significant words.
Indeed, to one not expecting the sud
den illumination, it appears almost
like supernatural TRANSPORTATION.
Among the prisoners was woman
who had caused a great deal of trouble
from the first hour she had been placed
within the prison walls. She had been
arrested for repeated crimes, and was
considered a confirmed criminal.
Violent and disobedient, she had
literally to be forced to her
duties. Finding they could do moth
ing with her, the authorities placed
her in solitary cell When she was
taken from it she made so much trouble
that it became necessary to put her
back again.
But one Sunday they took her out in
time to attend chapel service with the
other prisoners. 1t had been cloudy
do aud thn
surly than usual. She was carefully
guarded lest she might do some harm.
just as the service was about to close
the sun broke through the clouds, and
streamed into the chapel, touching the
picture of Christ and the erring woman
with almost a Divine effulgence The
effect was very beautiful and impress
i've. From row to row the women
gazed at the picture, and subdued muir
murs were whispered from one to the
other.
She who was the,wickedest of them
all had gathered herself together and
sat crouched like wild beast, staring
straight at the Christ, her rough head
sunk between her shoulders and her
knees up to her chin.
When the service was over the sun
still fingered upon the picture. The bell
sounded and the prisoners arose to file
out of the chapel, but the violent wom-
an did not stir. The attendant thought
she meant new mischief and came up
behind her, and, taking her by the arm,
said:
'Get up and go out!'
She received no response. Fearing
the woman might make a disturbance
the officers waited until the other pris-
oners had left the chapel, expecting a
hand-to-hand tussle with the insubordi.
nate. Approaching her again, the officer
said, quietly.
"Why didn't you go out? Come, get
up noww
To her amazement, the woman, who
never had shown them the least sign OF
tender emotion, turned upon hera soft.
ened face and moistened eyes. AS she
arose, she said:
yes l will go. only want to see
that" pointing to the picture. 81 don't
want to see anything but that"
They led her weeping to her solitary
cell. A few days later she quietly
asked to be let out with the Other
prisoners promising not to make any
disturbance. From that time she was
a changed soul. There is no gentlel
woman in that prison to-day. Sermons
and prayers and songs and kind word,
were not able to do what the vision o
Christ in His plying love had done fo
this sin-burdened, penitent heart
Youths Companion.