The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-06-11

forgive me, Albert, she cried, bowling her
head on her shaking hands. The
interruption was hardly noticed, though
every one lin the house had recognized
Mrs. Grieving. You remember Mrs.
Grieving, who entertained US so royally?"
!, oh, yes, yes" said Mayor Hume;
"but go on with the boy"
"Well," said the judge, che had talk
ed all round the room, and now he
addressed himself to me. Pm all that
you say am gambler, a forger, a
drinker-and now you've given me another
name, convict" His eyes burned into
my soul. Twenty years-is that the
sentence? Twenty old now, 40 when
am released. Then I'll be ex-convict.
F" Father, he said, turning his eyes
toward the gallery where his parents sat
you had a great future planned for your
only son. am sorry I've disappointed
your hopes and darkened your home.
Forgive me.
"Then he addressed me again, and
although there were hundreds Of people
present I'm sure you could have heard
a pin drop it was so still. The boys voice
had grown little husky, and after tax
ing sip of water he said: 4 deserve the
punishment. | acknowledge the power:of
the civil laws
But judge, my only wonder is that you
have not 100 boys here today instead of
one. I've said all wish to say. Pm
ready to CO.
'The sheriff advanced with the hand
cuffs, and Albert held out his wrist. He
went to prison very quietly" said Judge
Morse. opening a paper which he had
taken from his notebook "and four
months later received this letter from
No. 1877" The gay party around the
rapt attention. Each face wore an earn
est expression, and many eyes were dim.
Several who were fathers of boys swallow
lowed down strange Jumps that had net
risen in their threats for years, and Alder
man Bluffs glass remained untouched.
The decanter had ceased its march around
the table. and all were anxiously waiting
for the judge to adjust his spectacles and
read the soiled letter which he unfolded
SO carefully.
81 always carry it." he said. "This,
friends, is what made teetotaler of me.
I've heard the greatest sermonssof greatest
preachers, but nothing ever cameSo near
making Christian out of me as did this
letter from that boy in prison. hope it
may yet.That boy had martyr's spirit, and
| feel sure if am ever permitted to pass
through that straight and narrow gate
Albert RushWorth will have had more to
do with my entering than any other
human being ever knew Judge
Morse held the soiled paper nearer the
light and read the last words from the
boy, he had sentenced to 'tWenty years
at hard abor:a
"Judge Morse I've tried to escape and
am writing this from the hospital ward.
was not quite brave enough to bear the
thought that muStpaS 20 years in this
tomb. much prefer the one am about
to enfer-the grave. feel sure that if
you had been sober the last dav of
my trial my sentence would not have been
for 20 long years. ltried to escape, and
the guard shot me. The doctor says
cannot recover, SO you see my term will
soon end.
ssBe careful of Clarence. 1t is pretty
hard for young men to resist the tempta-
ton that are sanctioned by the law and
careful of Clarence, Boys follow where
lIlCH lCdQs dllu " UC vi dU ilNC oUlliC iildll
is the highest ambition boys have. fol-
lowed the wrong kind of examples, but
cannot die without sending you this part
ing message. Be careful of Clarence!
+ "Albert RushWorth, No, 1877, cell IS.
"Clarenceis my second sons name, /"
said the judge, folding the letter away in
his notebook. He and Albert had been
the closest friends for a long time. felt
every word of that letter as a message to
lead me into better life and was moved
beyond expression when the boys body
came to his parents afew days later.
/ In looking at the situation from Albert's
standpoint should most certainly want
a sober Judge and jury to deal with my
son. Wouldn't you?
ssWelI, that's my reason. Now think
tits time to go home. The town clock
lis striking IL" And Judge Morse button
led his overcoat and started off at quick
/ pace for home He always felt nearer to
+ God and humanity after reading Albert's
letter. Ofcourse he might lose his office
but it mattered little to him now. He