The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-01-04

Looking after him Judge Parker unused ::
II do wonder why some people love so
much to find evil than good in person.
A noble character is to them as white
washed fence, against which they delight
to throw mud. hate to tell John of
this, but suppose it must be done"
John promptly obeyed the summons.
entering respectfully and inquiringly. A
shade of distrust on the Judges face
made him uneasy, but hecalmy and with
manly dignity awaited the communica-
ton.
"Sit down, John,' the Judge began,
kindly ut may be long interview"
He complied, and began nervously re-
volving his straw hat by shifting his
fingers along the edge of the brim, but
he looked firmly at his employer
'John-your surname, is it Dorker?"
A slight pallor swept over the honest
face as be replied:
at is sir. You have remembered me
at last"
| GU expected me to!
II did; yes. sir"
mo, | didn't recognize you. John"
said the judge, with Tote of disappoint-
ment in his voice, "but lawyer at the
bar told me who you were"
always some one to give a fellow a
kick, no matter how hard he's trying
to get up?"
eyes; it seems so. Now, John he says
l sentenced you ten years ago to the
penitentiary. Is it true?"
at is, sir" was the humble reply
And you served your full term of five
years."
Lacking the time of communication, l
did"
What have you done since you were
released?'
Nothing but try sir; shifting about
from place to place. I've tried hard,
desperate hard, to lead a true, honest
life, but it's uphill work. There's a
weight on a man like nue., sir. The oIen-
ing penitentiary door is at the very foot
of a hill. and when poor fellow comes
out and tries to walk up, there's always
someone who is glad to push him down
again"
Were you guilty of the burglary?"
81 was, sir. 1t was my first crime.
The easy gain looked tempting, and 1
fell. l needed money; but there is no ex-
cuse-I deserved the punishment. Those
awful years, sir, gave me time for rehec-
ton, and determined that when got
out, with Gods help, to pick myself up.
It's been hard, cruelty, fearfully hard, but
l havn't fallen again. I'm an honest
man in my heart, sir, if the world won't
acknowledge it."
But why didn't you tell me this when
you came? 1t would have been better"
Il suppose it would, sir. But 1 was
too weak. needed work so badly, and
fyou had turned me away then, why
What, John"
Never mind, if you please, sir, you
didn't turn me off,"
very well, John, I'll not ask you.
But you said you had special purpose
in coming to me. Can't you tell me
that"
John Dorker arose, laid his hat upon
the chair, and facing the Judge, said i'm
pressively:
do you remember, sir, what you said
when you sentenced me-"
mo, do not"
well, sir, your words burned them
selves into my heart as if they'd been
sparks. l used to fancy l saw them
written in fiery letters at night upon the
back wall of my cell. You spoke feeling
ly, sir like you pitied me, and that's
what made them take such hold of me.
They were: Young man, you have set
your foot on dangerous path. The
way of crime neverleads upward, always
down, down to the unknown depths.
The pure sunlight of Heaven never smiles
upon it. 1t is crowded with wrecks of
noble lives. When you tread it you leave
mother, true friends light, peace, Heaven
and God behind you. You are going to
prison. In the quiet years you shall
spend there, look over this life of yours,
and think if you can afford to spend the
smallest portion of it on, this path. Come
out pure man. You will still be young
with much of your life before you; many
years to be useful and good in. and to re-
trieve this false step. Let me say from
my heart, young man, don't blight your
lite"
He dashed the tears from his eyes and
proceeded:
"My mother sat weeping behind me,
sir, as stood at the rail. l was her
only support. God alone only knew
how she was to live during those years.
Your words were knife thrusts, sir. l
did have to leave her, friends, peace.
Heaven and the God she had so earnest
ly taught me to pray to. And | did re-
fleet, sir, in those quiet years, and l came
out pure man. God knows how I've
tried not to let that false step blight my
life But wherever l went, some one
spread the truth" Employing that man,
that John Dorker? Why he is a convict.
II became desperate; a temptation
stared me in the face. l felt myself
weakening. Starvation, gloom, despair,
a broken. hearted mother, were about
me, and l wavered, sir, when thought
came: Surely, surely, the Judge who
spoke those words would help me; he
wouldn't turn me away" And l came.
1t was my last chance. Too much de-
pended upon my getting work, sir, to
risk telling you my story. But now I'm
found out and ready for your decision.
Can you trust aconvicted burglar in your
house? Willyou give me a trial? If not,
Ill go away and try it again, sir, but l
don't know"
Judge Parker sprang up warmly
grasped the trembling hand.
Trust you, John? Give you a trial?
You have been tried and again sentence
you, John Dorker, to five years in my
service, in my most earnest help, in my
best effort to place you on the road to
prosperity. God bless you"
And when the sentence was served,
John Dorker was an honest and useful
citizen.
Won His Bet.
General Miles in company with
friend, was walking down Pennsylvania
Avenue. when person, entirely unknown