The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-03
"FOR THE BADDEsT, ONE"
Message from "a Tiny Maiden Which
the Arbustus Carried.
ne story Of child philanthropist is thus
Washington Star.

Washington Star.
The story of a child philanthropist is thus
At the close of business recently in the
Probate Court, just as Judge Cox was about
to leave the bench, little tot of girl
stepped from her mothers side, and, raising
herself on her tiny toes before the railing in
front of the judges chair, tinidly inquired:
Please, judge, may l see the prisoners?H
Certainly lny child smilingly replied
the judge, but we have none in this court.
Perhaps though Mr. McGill will take you
"Oh, THANH you, judge" the little one said.
for dc want to see the poor prisoners so
much"
Mr. McGin led the child to the cage in the
basement of the City Hall building, where
prisoners are locked up while awaiting their
appearance in the Criminal Court. and as
she peered through the bars at them, her
little eyes filling with tears, she whispered
TO Mr.. McGill oh. isn't there something
can do for them; feel so sorry for them
The cihlds words of sympathy and sor-
row were the first many OF the wretched
beings had heard addressed TO them for
years, the first, perhaps, some had heard
since childhood, and their hardened faces
softened, not a few eyes moistened and
more than one murmured: God bless you,
little one" as their little visitor followed
her guide out of the gloomy prison walls.
one morning several days later there
came in the register of Wills mail box
Mr.. McGill found that it contained several
branches of fragrant arbutus. Among the
flowers was note from the little tot ask
the prisoners that day in the cage, with
the injunction that he should give the
largest bunch TO the baddest one" The
cage was again crowded that day, several
of the prisoners being those who were
there the day the child had called. After
learning that the one charged with the
gravest crime was young negro man,
brought up for trial that morning for r,ur-
der Mr.. McGil distributed the flowers
among the prisoners giving the alleged
murderer the largest bunch.
AS he distributed them he explained TO
the prisoners by whom they had been sent,
and that their little friend wished them
to know that she felt sorry for them and
hoped they would hereafter be good. Each
prisoner carefully pinned his bunch OF the
sweet little flowers in the lapel OF his coat.
and as the one to be tried for life was led
upstairs to face the ordeal, he remarked
that I'm powerful glad TO know dat I've
got one friend left me. Gawd knows dat
isn't guilty, an / blleve dat He has done
sent me desc flowers TO tell me dat it's all
gwine 10 be right wild me
So it was that every prisoner who APP
peared that day in the two criminal courts
wore a bunch of arbutus, and those
who looked curiously at him accused of
killing his fellow-man with premeditated
malice saw the modest. fragrant flowers
pinned upon his breast, they concluded that
they We're hardly consistent with guilt. And
they were not, for the second day of
the trial the jury in whose keeping the
prisoners life was. declared. after a short
elaboration that he had only taken life in
defense OF his own, and, therefore, they ac-
OF course, Mr.. McGn wrote to his little
friend. telling her of all this and day or
two later another package came to him with
note from her. The package contained a
handsome copy of the book OF all hooks .
and in the note she requested him to hand
il to the young hero. Mr.. McGill sent for
him. and when he came handed 1t TO him.
explaining that it had been sent to him by
his little friend who wrote that she wished
him TO read It, that he might know God
and keep His commandments. The man.
who had never before been charged with
crime. was very much touched and asked
Mr. McCiil 70 tell the child how much he
appreciated her gifts to him. said it had all
been lesson TO him which he would strive
to never forget and he left promising that
he would try TO be at all times hereafter
all that his little friend would have him be-