The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-06-02
By Maud Ballington Booth
I'm The Little Mother" of the Prisons ri
| My "Boys" Who Made Good

the new heart was given him he has
been a bright, hopeful, earnes: Chris
tlan, trusted and loved by his employ
ers. a blessing to all who have known
him, and one of the Chceriest souls |
ever met. To-day he has happy home,
a good wife, two little girls to whom
he Is absolutely devoted, good posi-.
ton, which he fills most faithfully,
with employers who trust him fully.
He has scores OF friends. a good name.
and plenty of opportunities for stretch.
Ing forth a helping hand to others who
need his help and advice. have
never known him to fail when the
chance offered to do some kindly deed
for some one else
From Prison TO Affluence.
had registered In one of the large
hotels in Chicago and. after calling for
my mail. walked across the wide on.
trance hall to the elevator. As thread.
cd my way through the crowd be.
came aware that was being followed.
at once concluded that one of the
and, being weary from a night journey,
! quickcned my steps to avoid a posi-.
BILE interview As | stepped with sew.
eral gentlemen into the elevator |
knew that had not cyaded my pur.
suer The one who had followed me
entered the car and slipped behind me-
Az We shot upwards voice said In my
ear Little mother may | intrudc? |
cannot miss the chance OF speaking to
you Turning to receive the card he
extended to me, | faced a tall, fine.
looking gentleman. evidently pros.
porous business man. No one could
have guessed from his dress or bear
ing that the shadow OF prison bars had
ever darkcncd his life The card bore
his name and business address, and
also the number Of his room. and he
asked mo II would send for him when
| could give him 10 minutes OF my
time. offered the next 10 minutes,
for wanted to hear his story. as the
words little mother" had told me that,
incredible though 1t might seem. he
was one Of my boys" When we had
found a quiet corner in the parlor he
turned to me and with deep feeling,
said: Little mother. have been hop
ing for this moment for years. can
not tell you how much II means to me.
1t is over six years now since saw
your face last in one of the eastern
prisons" the gave the name. which for
obvious reasons | WITHHOLD. Il have
known that some day ! should get this
chance Of thanking you for what your
| message meant OF hope and new cour.
age in those dreary years OF sorrow
and shame. But until to-day have
never seemed to be in the same city
with you in my jOurneyIngs always
make this hotel my headquarters when
In Chicago, and ! am often here TO
meet business associates. When
stepped to the desk to register this
morning saw your name before mine
cannot tell you the thrill 1t gave me.
| for | knew that at last | should have
the chance to speak to you again And
now that the chance has come, how
can | ever thank YOU" His voice
| broke and, strong man though he was,
! his eyes filled and his lip quiyered.
Then he told me at length the story
which give here in brief.
He left prison to return to the wife
who had patiently and bravely kept a
home for him. He was q gentleman by
birth and education. and before his
downfall he had been well thought Of
by his business acquaintanCes. He
made very definite resolve during
those bitter years in prison that he
would go forward to live an upright
life, and to prove steadfast, whatever
the future held for him. lie deter.
mined that he would never lie about
his prison experience. never seek TO
avoid or cover up the past when hon,
esty demanded that he speak of 1t
frankly. He would not proclaim II to
the world, or to those who were not
concerned, especially as his two chill.
dren had never known of his downfall
but that any who were closely ascot.
ated with him in business should not
be kept In the dark he considered the
only safe and just course. Despite this
fact he found many friends. He per
fected most valuable patent that was
taken up by n number of the large cor
porations OF the country. and the mo
ment he spoke OF 1. | recognized the
name and realized the importance OF
his present work and position. In these
six years he had retrieved his fortunes
been able to send his children to col
Iege, had built beautiful home for his
wife and surrounded himself with a
fine circle of friends and business as
sociates. Yes, little mother" he said
when we parted, Il knew II would dc
your heart good to hear of one more Of
your boys" who is making good. &c
back to those who are still where
came from and tell them II is possible
to retrieve the past, and to win bach
all they have lost. II they Will only
start right"
AS went to my room | said to my
self once more: Yes, 1t is all wei
worth while"
These are but two of the many hun