The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-11-05
A WOman'S Devotion.
(Minnesota Prison Mirror.)

(MiDnesOta Prison MirrOr.)
The wife Of John Y. McKane
keeps light burning in the window at
all times to show John the way home.
Her devotion to the convict is extraor-
dinary.''
The above paragraph appeared in
one Of our metropolitan papers Of recent
date. Had the writer of that state
ment seen other than the superficial
side Of life he would not have label d
that devotion extraordinary. Tina,
wite's devotion is the same To he found
in all walks of life, the rich, the poor
and the outcast as we'll, dormant, per
haps, to-day, to morrow bursting forth
rhe pure pale lily Of low" on the
alter Of sacrifice, be it the sacrifice OF
honor and wealth, Of labor or of llber-
ty, -ay! with life itself would she part
to prove her devotion TO him who was
and remains her hearts ideal. Gaze
and Time may furrow the brow, suf
fering and disease may waste The form,
disaster and disgrace may follow, yet,
through all, love sits enshrined in her
heart like Memnon gazing GU, Ger a
a desert of shifting sand.
Pass along the boulevards OF life
See the banker and merchant, wild
eyed ruin grasping them by either
hand, wealth and honor engulfed in the
maeIstrom of speculation, prison per
haps, before them, then through the
murky mist of mifortune aud disaster,
a hand reaches forth and with tear
stained face, but love-lit eyes, the wife
stands by their side. Walk the paths
OF labor, see the careworn, toil-be7
grimed men pass on from tint lab n,
made cheerful by those they love, ana
enter the humble home to tell his help
mate his position is lost, that he knows
not where or when he may procure
another, and then as the weeks go by
and nothing is found to give him the
living he is willing to earn, willing
and seeking, discouraged, disheartened
and desperate, he stands, listening to
the tempter within ready to act with
the tempter without alone and friend
less. Friendless? On no! See the
loved form Of her who is more than
friend. It's she that guides him, her
voice that soothes, her spirit that
strengthens. Will you visit those
grim silent halls, wherein is enacted
what the world calls exact justice, of a
principle that should be pure and last
ing? See that form robed in garments
of spctless purity and virtue, crowned
with Minerva like wisdom plucking
from her brothers eye the mote that
lies therin, branding them 10 the very
sheart's core with the seething bl,ghting
brand OF convict. Follow them as
they enter the "ghoul- haunted region
Weir" months or years, or it may be
faithful wife accompany him to the por
tails! Gaze on that tender, sorrowiul
parting. Read the fond letters OF
love and affection. Follow her as
time rolls on and see her pleading
with the 'spowers that be- for mercy,
, for the loved one that the law has
taken from her side. See her bowed
down with care and sorrow, as she sits
waiting, yearning for the return of him
she loves, the light in the window ever
| burning to guide that loved one back
to home and fireside.
These are not fanciful creations.
Look about you and you will see them
on every hand. Gaze not on the Gov
ers but the pages or the book before
you. Open it up and delve deep into
the tome Of the unwrit,en social life
| around you, and then tell me such de
volion "extraordinary.' Alb! reader,
the incidents of wiiely devotion are
the bricks of clay and straw that rise
into the pyramids bordering the long
dim vista of the unwritten and forgot
ten years of loves buried past, anc
from the Frightening future, on love-
shining light, is borne to us here to
day, like the countless CLEANS from th'
stars above, tales of love and wifel,
devotion.
ooh what was love made for if it's not the
Thr oueh joy and through torment through
| glory and shame?'