The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-02-09
Jinmie Murphys Christmas Eve.

Jimmy Murphy was burglar.
Born in ignorance and crime.
From the day he left the schoolhouse
He had been serving time.
He'd served four years at Sing Sing
And ten at Joliet;
He had been detained at Paris,
At the prison La Roquet.
After robbery bold in England
He sailed across the seas,
In wha1er for New Zealand
And the far Antipodes.
Altho his brow was furrowed
From the sins of bygone days,
Never yet had he repented
Of his bad and wicked ways.
he sailed aross the ocean
To this dear land of the free,
And landed down in Memphis,
In the State of Tennessee.
He took train for Nashville
Which was loaded well with freight
He thought it stopped at every crossing,
And he wondered at his fate.
Jimmy knew that he was busted,
In his pockets not sou,
And if you will listen for a while,
I'll tell it all to you.
He was a hardened burglar,
With heart as hard as stone,
His intention while in Nashville
Was to rob somebody's home,
He was standing on the corner
One dark night in ninty-two,
Sizing up residence
On 10 Johnson Avenue,
Keeping one eye on the copper.
Walking UP and down his beat.
The other on the roadway
To insure safe retreat
Underneath his ragged jacket
Was his trusty burglar kit,
With wrench and screw and jimmy
And tempered brace and bit.
Twas Christmas Eve, and gaily
Ginning o er and DER again
The bells pealed forth the carol
Peace on earth good will to men,
And by many Christmas fresides.
Mid the happiness and cheer,
Thankful prayers to God were offered
For the blessings of the year.
All of this to Jimmy Murphy
Had no bearing on his case,
For he'd seldom heard of Jesus
And of His redeeming grace.
No kind hand had ever shown him
The better, truer way;
No good mother ever taught him,
Now lay me down." to pray.
Many years of crime had taught him
Little use for piety,
Knew but hatred for all mankind,
Fairly 1oathed Society.
Not a sound disturbed the quiet.
On this cold and frosty night.
Circumstances were suspicious,
Not an officer in sight.
It was the work of but moment,
And the shutter opened wide,
Then sneaking like the fox he was.
He quietly stepped inside.
But sight he least expected
Made him start1e in surprise,
And quite uncommon moisture
Dimmed the glitter of his eyes,
He soon found he had intruded
Into childhood's own domain,
Where the household gods and fairies
Hold their undisputed reign.
AS his eyes became accustomed
To the frelight's partial gloom,
His establishment was great indeed
AS he looked across the room,
Two blue eyes shown in wonder,
He made short and GREATNESS pause,
When the baby softly queried,
Are you Mr.. Santa CLAUSE
Jim Murphy gazed dumbfounded
At the wonderous golden hair;
He forgot his own existence,
He forgot his errand there.
So he kissed the little cherub,
Gently knelt down by her side,
And he asked her, why do Christians
Celebrate this Christmas-tide?'
For while that hardened burglar.
Heard what he'd ne'er heard before.
Heard that child in 1isping accents,
Tell the Good Old Story DER.
Then when rays of early morning
Family tinged the eastern sky,
BE arose and sadly bid
The wee evangelist goodbye.
No, boys. he's not missionary
On far off distant shore,
But the roll of honest citizens
Contains just one name more.
George Hamilton, No. $40,
Station A. n est Ndshvtlle, re