We know a man who gave a dollar to a prisoner on the way to State prison,
to buy tobacco with, who has enjoyed more good square religion over it
than he could get out of all the chin music and saw-filing singing he
could hear in a gospel car in ten years. The prisoner was a bad man from
Oshkosh, who was in a caboose in charge of the sheriff, on the way to
Waupun. The attention of the citizen was called to the prisoner by his
repulsive appearance, and his general don't-care-a-damative appearance.
The citizen asked the prisoner how he was fixed for money to buy tobacco
with in prison. He said he hadn't a cent, and he knew it would be the
worst punishment he could have to go without tobacco. The citizen gave him
the dollar and said:
"Now, every time you take a chew of tobacco in prison, just make up your
mind to be square when you get out."
The prisoner reached out his hand-cuffed hands to take the dollar, the
hands trembling so that the chains rattled and a great tear as big as a
shirt-button appeared in one eye--the other eye had been gouged out while
"having some fun with the boys" at Oshkosh--and his lips trembled as he
said:
"So help me God, I will!"
That man has been boss of a gang of hands in the pinery for two
winters, and has a farm paid for on the Central Railroad, and is "square.
Pages:
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241