The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1908-01-09
he story Of a prisoners life.

- Wv al NSA(N. Tic IC-
fused to reveal his id enity. His
family he said knew nothing of
his wrondOing, and he refused TO
bring disgrace upon their name.
Ten years Imprisonment was the
sentence.
The name Of Charles Myers"
was given to him. TWAS thought
that his resolution would weaken
some day and that he would
write a letter to his people, but 8
years have passed andSthe prison
er never has indicated by worl or
deed that he has any tie outside
his prison walls, except in one in
stance. Myers" had served,four
years when a paper fell into his
hands. When he had read it he
was under the influence of some
strong emotion, 1t was learned
that it was the sight Of a name in
the paper that effected him.
After the day Myers" grew
restless, and was moody and de-
pressed. For stealing $40 he had
already served four yeers, and
there were six years ahead of him
He was surrounded by convicts
whose crimes had been much
greater and had yet escaped with
much lighter sentences. He de-
cided that he would end his at the
first opportunity. The next
morning he first met Peedee in
the prison Office. The tiny bird
whistled and chirru2ed and re-
sponded to friendly advances.
Cheer up!" Cheer upr the
bird seemed to say. The convict
bought the bird for ST. 50 and took
him to his cell.
The next morning the deter
mlnation to kill himself had gone
Evenings in his cell Myers had
taught Pedee to play peek-a-boo
with him, and the prisoners IN
other cells were sometimes aston
lshed to hear laughter from the
cell of their mysterious neighbour
One day Myers read of a man
who naE o6czed $1,000 for &
canary that could sing bar of
The Star Spangled Banner"
For the next year the convict de-
voted his time to teaching Pedee
to sing " Yankee Doodle" until
the bird could sing it without
missing a note.
In two years more he taught
his pet the story Of his life. and
recently Pedee told that story in
Pantom:ne to members Of the
prison and the pardon boards.
Gentlemen" said Myers to
them, " You all know that I was
sent here Tor ten years for at
tempting to secure $40 that was
not mine. During the last two
years of my time in prison I have
taught this little bird the story.
| hope it will amuse you"
Pedee came upon the table that
had been made bare for him. His
head dropped. his feathers we're
limp and ragged. and he walked
slowly and with limp. Now and
then he would stop and rest and
his little bill would open as he
breathed hard.
" He is hungry" exclaimed the
convict. = He is an honest bird,
but he hungry and he will steal"
Then Pedee crept up to a small
CRIB that had corn in it. He looked
about stealthily like a criminal.
Then he put his bill through one
OF the cracks, but before he Sc
cured kerhOl he was caught,
He comes before a Judge :
SAID the prisoner. "a Judge like
the one who sent me here"
From the court room Pedee
went to prison. For a time the
bird appeared quite cheerful. then
ne became nervous and finally de-
pressed. He would rest his bill |
IN the prison floor and would be |
lalf on one side, as ii sick. For
i've minutes he played his part
With such realism that not a whis-
'er came from his spectators.