Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-05-11
The Sunrise.

The superintendent OF large retornla-
tory was making an early morning visit
to the shops. Emerging from the east
door Of the working shop, he con-
fronted the sun just rising in more than
its usual beauty above the prison wall.
A moment he stood in the door and
watched it, and then, turning, saw priS
oner standing in the door OF the black
smith shop near oy. He had taken ad-
vantage of moment of rest, and stepped
to the door to meet the morning.
The superintendent looked at him
moment before the young man saw him
in the other doorway. His arms were
strong, and his face was one that showed
character. The morning light, falling up
on him full and clear. revealed manly
form and face that was earnest and sin
cere.
The superintendent passed him, and
the young man saluted. "There was
moment to spare while the iron was heat
ing" he said, "and came and looked
out at the SUM-"
81 am not blaming you, my boy" said
the superintendent. 81 was thinking, as
saw you standing there in the morning
light. what fine, manly fellow you seem-
ed and as looked into your face, did
not see there any marks Of hopeless sin,
and was hoping that when you see the
sun rise outside these walls, it will light
up with new hopes for you, and show
the true manhood that is in YOU"
II was very short little sermon, but in
an institution that shelters thousand
men, in which prisoners are coming and
going all the time, personal words with
the superintendent are not so common as
easily to be forgotten. The young man
worked that day with new glow in his
heart.
What had he done TO be there q? No
matter He ought not TO have done it.
But he was not a habitual offender.
There had been in him more OF good than
bad ; but broken home, a dead father
and an environment that made it easy TO
90 wrong had found the weakness that
that ran parallel with his strength; and
one day the prison door closed behind
him.
Strong, active, and with powers Of
mind that matched his physical strength !;
he took hold of his work in the institution.
But his heart had been bitter, and he had
hung his head with shame when he re-
membered that he must one day face the
world.
Morning after morning, after his word
with the superintendent, he saw the sun
creep over The prison wall. Not always
could he 20 to the door and watch it, but
he always looked for it. Labor began
early, and the wall was high, so the work
was we'll along before the sun appeared
but every morning it rose little earlier,
and each day its light shone clearer.
A little while ago the superintendent
received letter from foreign land,
written on the letter-head OF the Young
| Mems Christian Association. 1t said:
81 am physical director OF the Y. NC.
A. in This city. We are doing large and
valuable work through the asSo ociation,
and the physical end OF the work is an
important part Of it.
"You will be glad to know that am
thus employed. wonder if you remem-
Der morning soon after entered the
institution, when you spoke TO me as !
stood in the door of the blacksmith shop,
and told me that there was something in
my physical strength that was capable OF
better things, and that you saw no signs
OF hopeless sin in my face.
81 had been feeling that could never
show my face again amongmen for shame
Of having been in prison but it came to
me that if you saw anything to hope for
there, perhaps others would, and that
Gods sun was shining full upon me with
light and hope That was the sunrise OF
= new life for me, and thought you
would like to know it.