Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-12-02
! ACROSS THE RIVER. :
BY N. c. SKEEh.
!.
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II.
payements uneven, the houses small
and dingy. for on that side of the river
the settlement of the city first began,
nearly a century before. The river it.
self was sluggish and turbid; when low,
1t smelled badly as well.
Across the river tail chimncys poured
out constant volumes of thick, black
smoke. Except on Sundays one rarely
saw the blue of the sky. Snow was
never purely white across the river nor
the sunshine clear.
Little by little tdle city had crept over
the stream and up the low eastern slope.
There were the wide streets and ave
nues, the great business blocks, the
handsome public buildings. One of the
largest OF these last, however, remained
on the western side. The majesty of
the others would have been darkeued
by it; no business man would build his
store-certainly no householder his
home-in its vicinity.
So between it and the city's glory the
river rolled its narrow, muddy current;
the suroize Of the great cbimneys hung
above it like pail or partly hid the
gloomy walls. "Sent ACROSS the river"
was said of the states convicted Grim
IKals.
One day in early autumn two boys.
one of them quite lame. crossed the
bridge aud made their way through
the crooked streets toward the peni-
tertiary.
There she is, Denny" said the older
one, indicating it. Amt she whop-
peri Fifteen hundred folks in there.
What you scared at? She amt goin' to
jump out and grab you less you've done
some thin"
The smaller boy-the lame one-had
stopped short aud was trembling from
head to foot. Il know it." he an
swered; "bUt it looks so big-and So
awful"
He gathered up his courage with an
effort, limped across the street ard
went close to the massive walls. MY
daddy's in here." he whispered TO him
self, and, looking eagerly a,ong the bar
rer, called. softly: Daddy daddy"
HE can't hear YOU said the older
lad, watching him with some sympathy.
you cant remember him much; you
weren't nothing but baby
Eyes. but / do rememberh him. though.
Oh. be was gOod-good 10 me. daddy
was. wish | could see him. Daddy.
daddy"
Wei, we'd better be goin' back now.
II won't do no good hangin' round here.
You can come over again some time, if
yOu wanter."
IL am coming -evcry Saturday, Oh.
wait minute, Joey, waitI"
They were near one of the prison
gates. 1t opened and n man came out
thrusting handful of papers in his
pocket as he came. Several of them
slipped from his hand and fell 10 the
sidewalk. and as he bent to pick them
up he had an eager assistant in the lame
boy.
'"Thanky. bub-well. what is it?" said
The man, seeing a question in the boy
ssh face raised to his.
Mister" whispered Denny: "mistcr,
Is it-your PRISON."
Mine and several million other
folks" said the man. smiling. Its the
state prison. sonny. [ live there, if
that's what you mean"
my fathers there" uttered Denny,
hreathlessly. Gould you--would you
tell him that aunt has mcceeSl to town
and I come here this NOR NJ: g-and I'm
romin' every Satnrday-and give him
my lpvp-a nd
who is your father. and what's his
name o.
His name is Horace Men,y," said
Denny. dropping his head, Tor the mans
ryes seemed to look him through and
through.
What are You coming every Satur-
day for? You can't see him unless
there's some Older person with you"
There amt nobody else" said Den
ny. dropping his head lower still; "bu;
I'm comm just the same"
Three years constant association
with criminals had not destroyed John
Joseph's faith in humanity. He looked
-Tll tell him. he said.
'Wil you, mister-will You? Oh,
shank you. thank you. lots"
As Guard Joseph returned from his
rrrand outside. the boom of the prison
bell struck suddenly against the walls
and sunk moaning down. From the
workshops across the court, on thei--
way to supper. shufIied the long file of
prisoners like some great, striped. slow
moving snake.
Number Sixty was ''off his feed"
that night. which means that he left the
prison fare uatouched. Opposite his
same on the prison record stood the
word dangerous" lie was known to
be violent man. and was always more |
closely watched when the sullen mood
was on him. rs il had been for several
days.
There's no use talking" the guard IN
charge of his company had remarked
an hour before to the deputy-warden.
"if Sixty-n.ne Keeps up this sort Of