Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-09-15
Ben B. Lindsey,s Story.

love to tell the story OF a certain little
Harry. He was in Jail. A strange place
for twelve year-old boy with a soul and
heart-an instrument so wonderful, that
attuned to perfect harmony, is the very
image of God.
The iailer had telephoned me one cold
wintry night that the boy was in spasm
OF crying and had so alarmed him that he
urged me to come at once. grabbed my
coat and hat and went out into the night,
feeling that the pitiless beat OF the sleety
rain was ever kinder than a criminal law
that condemns little children TO crime and
iron cells. But this was before the fight
against the Jail was fought and won. This
was before love and firmneSs had sup
planted hatred and degradation,
Behind iron bars that would shame the
king tiger of the Jungle found the boy.
He was sleeping, and you would have
thought not a care had ever visited that
little touSled head with its worn aid tear
stained face. He awakened, startled by
the grating of iron bolts and bars, and
clicking of great keys turning in their SOL
emn, ,monotonous lockS,aS the jailer leav-
ing me alone with the boy, returned from
the cell back into the dimly lighted corri-
dor.
The boy, frightened at these strange
surroundings, looked at his new cell mate
at first cautiously-almost fearfully. Then
a look of Joy and gladness came TO his
eyes as might come from the captive at
the approach of deliverance. The boy
knew me, for he had been chronic little
truant, and there may have been worse
things, but they may be LEFT unsaid, tor
il was the boy, and not the "things" we
were trying to redeem. A boy is worth
fen thousand times more than anything
he steals, yet knew ten year-old boy
who stole bicycle in the old days and
ten times more labor and money were
expended to recover the wheel than the
boy.
| sat down in the cell on the iron floor
and put my arm around the boy. ! told
him how much thought ofhim, and how
| despised the bad things he did. Yet
what could do if he did not help me
might help him, but could not carry him.
would always be his friend, but he was
getting both himself and me in trouble ii
he "swiped things, for if should let
him out and he "Swiped things" again.
would not the officer say that the judge
made a mistake in not sending "that kid
TO the The State Industrial School,
where he would not have chance to
swipe things?" Then they would say
both the Judge and the boy should be IN
iail. How could he expect a judge to
keep his Job if his boys did such things?
He saw the point and standing upright
there in the cell, the light in his eyes
Speaking better than his words, the earn
estness of his promise to "stay wild yer,
Judge" as he tearfully declared he would
never get into any trouble and 1--WE would
both keep out Of Jail.
And so almost as tearfully accepted
his proffered protection, and out OF the
Jail we walked together into the now rag
ing storm. And yet, ii was no such storm
as had ragged in that boys lfe-a home
bllghted by father who had deserted
and trodden under feet every VOW ne took
at the marriage altar. And so a fathers
care, the divine birthright OF every child
had been denied him. The boy was not
bad. His opportunity had been poor
his environment was bad.l took him home
TO his mother, a poor; struggling woman
deserving OF better fate than to toll al
day to feed and clothe her hungry chill
dren. A child with no father and moth
er. however noble, who under such handi-
caps and difficulties tries TO perform the
functions of both, generally fails to per-
form either. Is it a wonder then that thC
child is not brought up in the way
should go?" Is it the child's fault?
not, why then the jail and degradation?
The boy returned to school. He brough
good reports for over two years, and witt
them he brought Joy and gladness. w
had, in a poor way, tried to supply wha
was lacking in his little life, but to do thI
well a spark had TO be struck somewher
or a heart-string had TO be sounded tha
would respond clear and true.
One day his mother came at the end Q
weary, toilsome day to tell me tia
Harry was changed boy. She told m
! how thoughtful and loving he was an
that once when she had been sick he had
with the tenderness ora woman, waite
on her and given up all the pleasure
the street. Finally the tears came INT
her eyes. and she said: "Judge, neye
knew Just why Harry changed so muc
till one day while was i'll and he ha
been so sweet and kind ] asked him ho'
If was he became good for the judge, an
looking up into my face with tear in hi
eye, he said: We'll, mother, you see it
this way, if | ever gifts bad, or swipe
things again, the iudge-the Judge vii
/ lose his iob-see?-and he is my friend
he is and am goin' to stay wild him.