Year: 1876

A letter, written by man who was
recently convict in State prison, to q
converted companion who is still at the
prison, was read at meeting held in
the Presbyterian church in Poughkeep-
sic, and produced profound impress
sion. The copy is exactly like the origi-
nal except names. 1t tells its own story
sc frankly and sincerely that none can
fail to be touched by it. and it furnishes
grand incentive to perseverance on the
part of those who labor for the worst
classeB:


Friend Tom, if may still call you 30,
know you are surprized to get a letter
from me, but hope you wont be mad at
my writing to you. L want to tell you
my thanks for the way you talked to me
when was in prison, it has led me to be
better man. L guess you thought did
not cair for what you said, & and at the
first go off didn't, but noed you was
man who had don big work with good
mon, & want no Sucker, nor want gas
ing, & all the boys knod it.


i used to think ut mite what Won said.
a. for it nocked off swearing months
before my time was up, for saw it want
no good nohow-the day my time was
up you told me if would shake the
cross Quit stealing) & live on the square
for three months it would be the best
job over done ill my life. The state
agent gave me ticket to here, & on the
car thought more of what you last said
to me, but didn't make up nv mind.
When we got to Y on the cars from
there to here pulled off au old womau's
leather (robbed her of her pocketbook)
hadn't no more than got it off when
wished hadn't done it; for while be-
fore made up my mi i to be square
bloke for 3 months on your word, but
forgot it when saw the leather was a
gif (eaay to get), but kept close to her
Il when she got of the cars at way
place, said, man, have you lost any
thing; and she tumblcd her leather was
off found her purse was gomez, is this
it, says i, giving it to her. Well, SAYS
she, if you aren't honest, but hadent
got cheek enough to stand thai sort of
talk, 80 left her in a hurry.


When i got here i had 81 and 25 cents
left, i didn't get no work for days as
amt strong enough for q roust-about
(deck hand) on steambote. The after
noon of the 3D. day spent my last 10
cents for two moons Qarge round sea
biscuiD and cheese e was thinking
would have to 60 on the dip again (pick-
lngpockets), when thought of what you
once said, about fellors calling on the
Lord when he was in hard luck, 6
thought i would try it once anyhow, but
when tryed it, got stuck on the start.
and all could get off was, Lord give a
poor fellow chance to square it for 3
months, for Christs Sake, Amen, &
kept thinking of it over and over as
went along. About an hour after that
was IN 4th st., 4 this is what happened,
and Is the cause of my being where am
now, about which Twill tell you before
get done writing. As was walking
along herd big noise Il saw horse
running away with o carriage with 2
children in it, grabbed up peace of
box cover from the sidewalk and ran in
the middle OF the street, and when the
morse came up smashed him over the
head as hard as could drive, the bord
splt 70 peaces " the horse checked up
little & grabbed the reins and pulled
his head down until he stopped. The
gentleman what owned him came run
n1ng up and as soon as he saw the chill
dren were all rite, he shook hands with
me ana gave me $50 greenback, and
my asking the Lord to help me came
into my head and was thunderstruck
couldn't drop the reins nor say nothing,
he saw something was up, & coming
back to me said, my boy are you hurt3
d the thought come into my head lust
then to ask him for work, and asked
him to take. back the bill & give me a
Job, says he jump in here and lets talk
about it, but keep the none. He asked
me If could take care of horses &
said yes, for used to hang round livery
stables, and often would help clean and
drive horses, he told me he wanted a
man for that work and would give me
ZIG month & bord me. You bet took
that chance at once, that mite in my lit
tie room over the stable sat long time
thinking over my life & of what had
just happened, and just got down on my
nees and thanked the Lord for the job,
& to help me to square it, and to bless
you for putting me up to it, & the next
morning done it again & got me some
new togs (clothes) & bible, for made
up my mind, after what the Lord had
done for me would read a little every
mite and morning, & ask him to keep an
eye on me.


When had been there about week
MIR. Z--- CHATS his name) came in INV
room one mite, and saw me reading the
Bible. He asked me if was Christian.
and told him no-he asked me how ii