Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-11-30

past-the shadows heightened and
the day of gladness died in a bed of
dark-red glory. that streaked the lead
en- river with ripples as of blood and
made the mountains loom black
against the twilight sky. In happy
homes reunited families and welcome
guests gathered joyously around the
Thanksgiving board, while In q dirk
and noisome cell this lost one o. the
underworld hardened his heart and
nursed his bitterness like some
wounded wild anim9, in the wilder
ness.
Thanksgiving day again. Sunshine
once more Il smiles through the cur
tains into a cosy room. playing on
the white tablecloth and touching the
yellow wings of a little canary, who
responds with a thrilling burst of
sound. The sound Of laughter ana
song, the patter of baby feet, and the
music of childish voices gladden. the
little home. A man in whistling
light-heartedly and takes his place at
the table, a bright faced brings
in a real Thanksgiving meal and the
babies, one on fathers knee, the
other on a high chair close beside
him, beat impatiently with spoons
and fits upon the table. The next
moment all is quiet, as the father
bows his head, and little hands are
obediently clasped over eager baby
eyes that will, despite their devout
training. peep through pink fingers
at the wondrous turkey and glowing
cranberry sauce. Short and simple is
that prayer of blessing, not ornate
NJ I'm ra1inia,,. nrafCa nm u~ofohnI Nth
words learned by rote. Just a heart
thankfulness expressed in every day
words, but there is a choke in the
| voice and the babies turn from the
sight of the good things mother is por-
tioning out ITO see fathers eyes full
Of tears, but they can't be "sorry
tears" for he is laughing, too.
Now the mother is busy, the babies
are all absorbed in the good things
at last within reach. but the father
sits smilingly silent. He Is musing,
n his thoughts travel swiftly back
into far-away shadows and home again
! to the sunshine OF the present scene
! Thanksgiving Yes! there is some
thing to "thanksgive" about. His eyes
rest lovingly on wife and children.
They come first, and are not they
alone worth being glad over? Then
there Is home! What a home! Not
exactly a millionaire's, but almost as
good, he thinks. He has all he wants,
is perfectly happy, is absolutely con-
tented, and what on earth can a man
ask more than that, and he. for now
the thoughts mark Jack again, he was
once, homeless, unloved, alone. Then
there is good food to eat. warm
clothing in the cupboards, a fine
steady job with an employer who
trusts him, and health that makes
him feel able for any work that life
may bring to him. Again he laughs
as into his mind crowd other reasons
to be glad. There are his friends,
why, they are the sort of friends to
have, and last but not least, the
many chances in his life for helping
some other poor fellows who are
down and out" as he was nee. Jack
throws his head back and laughs,
AYE! Polly, girl guess | know
what Thanksgiving means now, if
ever a man did! Why, God bless us!
we are rich!' What more do we want?
We are on top ond it's good to live"
Seven years, that was the interlude,
and the story that was crowded into
that little space would fill a volume
n make the man who says the days
of. miracles is past hesitate before he
relegates the Christians faith TO the
back pages of history.
Soon after that last dreary day in
' prison, a new and strange experience
came into Jacks life. He had been a
child Of the city slums, arrested first
at the age of Z and passing from stage
- NnawA L. M azAA@N - Ag,. iii
he became known as a hardened
crook. Penologists would certainly
have ticketed him "habltual Grim
any other life, no religion, no home.
no chances, no good or helpful friends,
only pals in the same business as
himself. kindly at heart sometimes.
but with no higher standard of morals
than his own. A thorough knowledge
of eyil-an overindulgence in vice
drink and drugs, and at last sickness
and racking bodily pain. Then the
days dragged YEARLY indeed in his
gloomy prison and he became known
as the hardest swearer in his gang.
and Jack would have told you, with
a string Of oaths to emphasize It
that he had a jolly good right to swear
for life was a tough proposition and
he was up against Il!
1t was at this time that the Volun
teer Prison League was started in his
prison, and among the very first ia
accept the message OF hope and hell
and to turn over the best of new
leaves by bringing a broken will (?)
human heart TO the Divine Father was
this o unlikely of men. From the
hour OF his conversion. which was
very green and simple matter, un
%hampered by perplexity Of creeds OF
theory, Jack became a wonder to
those who knew him. Evil language
was a thing Of the past. Sunny good
nature and a quaint humor, original
and irrepressible, replaced the morose
surliness. Still suffering az times
physical pain almost beyond endur-
ance, he exhibited a patience that won
for him the admiration M sympathy
even of those who ridiculed his talk
about a change of heart and ambition
towards an honest future.
He had no friend OF relative 10
write TO him in the outside world.
so month after month he wrote to me,
and his letters revealed in a wonder