The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-29
A Christmas gift and What Came Of It

y
series OF meetings In Michigan City,
was invited to preach to the convicts
at the State prison, situated at that
point. L sat on the platform with the
governor OF the prison, and watched
the prisoners march in, seven hundred
and * men, young and old. They
marched in lock step, every mans
hand on the shoulder Of the man before
him. AT the word of command they
sat down and fixed their eyes on q
deadline, white mark painted on the
wall above the platform. Among tina,
large number of cOnvicts were seventy.
six lifers"--men who had been com.
mitted to prison for life for the crime
of murder.
After the singing l arose to preach,
but could hardly speak for weeping
Disregarding all the rales of the
prison, in my earnestness to help nv
poor, fallen brethren, [ left the plat
form and walked down the aisle among
the men, taking now one, now another
by the hand, and praying with him
Every heart was melted, and we all
wept together. AT the end of the row
OF men who were committed for mur.
| der, sat man who more than bis fel.
lows seemed marked by sins blight
ing hand. His face was scanned and
rldged with scars and marks of vice
and sin. He looked as though he
might be q demon incarnate, il once
reused to anger. | placed my arm
about his shoulder, and together we
wept and prayed.
When the service was over the gov
ernor said to me-:
We'll, Kain, do you know that you
have broken the rules of the prison in
leaving the platform ?"
| Va, 7 ,
| never could brook any rule while.
preaching, and did want to get close
to the. poor, despairing fellows, and
pray with them."
Do you remember" said the gov
ernor, the man at theOend of the scat
IN the lifers' row, whom you prayed
history ?"
Yes" answered, "gladly."
| Well" said the governor, there
it is in brief: Tom Galson was sent
here about eight years ago for the
crime of murder. He was withou,
doubt one of the most desperate anc
vicious characters we had ever re.
ceived, and as was expected gave us n
| great deal OF trouble.
| One Christmas eve, about six years
ago, duty compelled me to spend the
mig ut at the prison instead of at home,
as | had anticipated. Early in the
morning, while it was yet quite dark,
| left the prison for my home, my
pockets bullying with presents for my
little girl. 1t was o bitter cold morn
| ing, and | buttoned my overcoat tight
up to protect myself from the cutting
wind which swept in from over the
| lake.
Gas hurried along, I thought 1
| o. yu hn,]x, IL t., II.
of sthe prison wall. | stopped and
| looked little more closely, and then
saw little girl, wretchedly clothed in
| thin dress, her stockingless feet
| thrust into a pair Of shoes much the
worse for wear. In her hand she held,
tle htly clasped, small paper bundle.
Wondering who she was, and why she
"as out 80 early in the morning, ard
yet too weary to be much interested,
urried on. BY and by felt rather
than heard, that ] WAS being followed
[ stopped short, and whirled abour,
| and there before me stood the same
wretched child.
What do you want?" | asked,
harply.
Are you the governor of the
prison p
Yes 1 answered: what do you
| want?'
"'Have you-does Tom Galson live
there p
Her voice trembled and broke with
repressed tears.
Yes. Who are you? Why are you
not at home p
Please, sir, haven't any home.
Mamma died In the pOorhUuse two
weeks ago, an she told me just before
she died that papa, that's Tom Galsop,
as In the prison, an she thought tina;
maybe he would like to see his little
| girl, how that mammals dead. Please,
can't you let me see my papa? To.
days Christmas, an want TO i've him
| little present.
NO. | replied grrfiy, you'll have
to walt until visitors day > and with
| that | started on.
Il had not gone many steps until
felt hand pulling at my coat while a
Ion't go?'
- stopped once more, and looked
down into the pinched, beseeching
| face before me. Great tears were
brimming In her eyes, while her little
chin quivered and trembled.
Mister she said, If your little
girl was me, an your girl's mamma
| nad died in the poorhOuse, an her
papa was in the prison, an she had no
place to go an no one to love her, don't
you think she would like to see her
papa? If it was Christmas, an if your
! little girl came TO me, If was Cover.
nor of the prison., an asked me to
please let her see her papa an give.
nim Christmas present, don't-don't
you think | wouie say "Yes ?"'
BY this time great lump was In
my throat, and my eyes were swim
ming in tears. | answered:
"'Yes. my little girl, think you
~ould, and you, too, shall see Your
papa, and taking her by the hand,
nurried back to the prison, thinking
OF my own little fair-haired girl at
home.
| "Once in my office, bade her come
close to the warm stove, while sent a
guard to bring No. 81 from his cell
In q few moments he came, wonder
ing what was wanted. AS soon as he
was ushered into the Office he saw the
little girl. His face clouded with an
angry frOwn, and la a gruff, savage
tone he snapped OUT
| Nellie, what are you doing here :?
What do you want? Go back to your
mother
| "'Piease, papa sobbed the little
girl, mamma's lead. She died two
weeks ago in the loorhouse, an before
she died she told me to take care OF
little Jimmie cause you loved Jimmie,
she said, and, an she told me to tell
you she loved you, too but, papa, and