in darkest england and the way out-第50章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ned　to；　where　plans　for　further　crime　are　often　decided　upon　　　　straight　away；　resulting　frequently；　before　many　weeks　are　past；　　　　in　the　return　of　the　liberated　convict　to　the　confinement　from　　　　which　he　has　just　escaped。　　Having　been　accustomed　during　confinement　　　　to　the　implicit　submission　of　themselves　to　the　will　of　another；　the　　　　newly…discharged　prisoner　is　easily　influenced　by　whoever　first　gets　　　　hold　of　him。　　Now；　we　propose　to　be　beforehand　with　these　old　　　　companions　by　taking　the　gaol…bird　under　our　wing　and　setting　before　　　　him　an　open　door　of　hope　the　moment　he　crosses　the　threshold　of　the　　　　prison；　assuring　him　that　if　he　is　willing　to　work　and　comply　with　　　　our　discipline；　he　never　need　know　want　any　more。

5。　We　shall　seek　from　the　authorities　the　privilege　of　supervising　　　　and　reporting　upon　those　who　are　discharged　with　tickets…of…leave；　　　　so　as　to　free　them　from　the　humiliating　and　harassing　duty　of　having　　　　to　report　themselves　at　the　police　stations。

6。　We　shall　find　suitable　employment　for　each　individual。　　If　not　in　　　　possession　of　some　useful　trade　or　calling　we　will　teach　him　one。

7。　After　a　certain　length　of　residence　in　these　Homes；　if　consistent　　　　evidence　is　given　of　a　sincere　purpose　to　live　an　honest　life；　　　　he　will　be　transferred　to　the　Farm　Colony；　unless　in　the　meanwhile　　　　friends　or　old　employers　take　him　off　our　hands；　or　some　other　form　　　　of　occupation　is　obtained；　in　which　case　he　will　still　be　the　object　　　　of　watchful　care。

We　shall　offer　to　all　the　ultimate　possibility　of　being　restored　to　Society　in　this　country；　or　transferred　to　commence　life　afresh　in　another

With　respect　to　results　we　can　speak　very　positively；　for　although　our　operations　up　to　the　present；　except　for　a　short　time　some　three　years　ago；　have　been　limited；　and　unassisted　by　the　important　accessories　above　described；　yet　the　success　that　has　at　tended　them　has　been　most　remarkable。　　The　following　are　a　few　instances　which　might　be　multiplied：　

J。　W。　was　met　at　prison　gate　by　the　Captain　of　the　Home　and　offered　help。　　He　declined　to　come　at　once　as　he　had　friends　in　Scotland　who　he　thought　would　help　him；　but　if　they　failed；　he　promised　to　come。　It　was　his　first　conviction；　and　he　had　six　months　for　robbing　his　employer。　　His　trade　was　that　of　a　baker。　　In　a　few　days　he　presented　himself　at　the　Home；　and　was　received。　　In　the　course　of　a　few　weeks；　he　professed　conversion；　and　gave　every　evidence　of　the　change。　For　four　months　he　was　cook　and　baker　in　the　kitchen；　and　at　last　a　situation　as　second　hand　was　offered　for　him；　with　the　＇sic＇

J。　S。　Sergeant…major　of　the　Congress　Hall　Corps。　　That　is　three　years　ago。　　　He　is　there　to…day；　saved；　and　satisfactory；　a　thoroughly　useful　and　respectable　man。

J。　P。　was　an　old　offender。　　He　was　met　at　Millbank　on　the　expiration　of　his　last　term　（five　years）；　and　brought　to　the　Home；　where　he　worked　at　his　trade　a　tailor。　　Eventually　he　got　a　situation；　and　has　since　married。　　He　has　now　a　good　home；　the　confidence　of　his　neighbours；　is　well　saved；　and　a　soldier　of　the　Hackney　Corps。

C。　M。　Old　offender；　and　penal　servitude　case。　　Was　induced　to　come　to　the　Home；　got　saved；　was　there　for　a　long　period；　offered　for　the　work；　and　went　into　the　Field；　was　Lieutenant　for　two　years；　and　eventually　married。　　He　is　now　a　respectable　mechanic　and　soldier　of　a　Corps　in　Derbyshire。

J。　W。　Was　manager　in　a　large　West　End　millinery　establishment。　He　was　sent　out　with　two　ten…pound　packages　of　silver　to　change。　On　his　way　he　met　a　companion　and　was　induced　to　take　a　drink。　In　the　tavern　the　companion　made　an　excuse　to　go　outside　and　did　not　return；　and　W。　found　one　of　the　packages　had　been　abstracted　from　his　outside　pocket。　　He　was　afraid　to　return；　and　decamped　with　the　other　into　the　country。　　Whilst　in　a　small　town　he　strolled　into　a　Mission　Hall；　there　happened　to　be　a　hitch　in　the　proceedings；　the　organist　was　absent；　a　volunteer　was　called　for；　and　W。；　being　a　good　musician；　offered　to　play。　　It　seems　the　music　took　hold　of　him。　　In　the　middle　of　the　hymn　he　walked　out　and　went　to　the　police　station　and　gave　himself　up。　　He　got　six　months。　　When　he　came　out；　he　saw　that　Happy　George；　an　ex…gaol　bird；　was　announced　at　the　Congress　Hall。　　He　went　to　the　meeting　and　was　induced　to　come　to　the　Home。　　He　eventually　got　saved；　and　to…day　he　is　at　the　head　of　a　Mission　work　in　the　provinces。

〃Old　Dan〃　was　a　penal　servitude　case；　and　had　had　several　long　sentences。　　He　came　into　the　Home　and　was　saved。　　He　managed　the　bootmaking　there　for　a　long　time。　　He　has　since　gone　into　business　at　Hackney；　and　is　married。　　He　is　of　four　years'　standing；　a　thorough　respectable　tradesman；　and　a　Salvationist。

Charles　C。　has　done　in　the　aggregate　twenty…three　years'　penal　servitude。　　Was　out　on　licence；　and　got　saved　at　the　Hull　Barracks。　At　that　time　he　had　neglected　to　report　himself；　and　had　destroyed　his　licence；　taking　an　assumed　name。　　When　he　got　saved　he　gave　himself　up；　and　was　taken　before　the　magistrate；　who；　instead　of　sending　him　back　to　fulfil　his　sentence；　gave　him　up　to　the　Army。　　He　was　sent　to　us　from　Hull　by　our　representative；　is　now　in　our　factory　and　doing　well。　He　is　still　under　police　supervision　for　five　years。

H。　Kelso。　　Also　a　licence　man。　　He　had　neglected　to　report　himself；　and　was　arrested。　　While　before　the　magistrate　he　said　he　was　tired　of　dishonesty；　and　would　go　to　the　Salvation　Army　if　they　would　discharge　him。　　He　was　sent　back　to　penal　servitude。　　Application　was　made　by　us　to　the　Home　Secretary　on　his　behalf；　and　Mr。　Matthews　granted　his　release。　　He　was　handed　over　to　our　Officers　at　Bristol；　brought　to　London；　and　is　now　in　the　Factory；　saved　and　doing　well。

E。　W。　belongs　to　Birmingham；　is　in　his　forty…ninth　year；　and　has　been　in　and　out　of　prison　all　his　life。　　He　was　at　Redhill　Reformatory　five　years；　and　his　last　term　was　five　years'　penal　servitude。　　The　Chaplain　at　Pentonville　advised　him　it　he　really　meant　reformation　to　seek　the　Salvation　Army　on　his　release。　　He　came　to　Thames　Street；　was　sent　to　the　Workshop　and　professed　salvation　the　following　Sunday　at　the　Shelter。　　This　is　three　months　ago。　　He　is　quite　satisfactory；　industrious；　contented　and　seemingly　godly。

A。　B。；　Gentleman　loafer；　good　prospects；　drink　and　idleness　broke　up　his　home；　killed　his　wife；　and　got　him　into　gaol。　　Presbyterian　minister；　friend　of　his　family；　tried　to　reclaim　him；　but　unsuccessfully。　　He　entered　the　Prison　Gate　Home；　became　thoroughly　saved；　distributed　handbills　for　the　Home；　and　ultimately　got　work　in　a　large　printing　and　publishing　works；　where；　after　three　years'　service；　he　now　occupies　a　most　responsible　position。　　Is　an　elder　in　the　Presbyterian　Church；　restored　to　his　family；　and　the　possessor　of　a　happy　home。

W。　C。；　a　native　of　London；　a　good…for…nothing　lad；　idle　and　dissolute。　When　leaving　England　his　father　warned　him　that　if　he　didn't　alter　he'd　end　his　days　on　the　gallows。　　Served　various　sentences　on　all　sorts　of　charges。　　Over　six　years　ago　we　took　him　in　hand；　admitted　him　into　Prison　Gate　Brigade　Home；　where　he　became　truly　saved；　he　got　a　job　of　painting；　which　he　had　learnt　in　gaol；　and　has　married　a　woman　who　had　formerly　been　a　procuress；　but　had　passed　through　our　Rescued　Sinners'　Home；　and　there　became　thoroughly　converted。　　Together　they　have　braved　the　storms　of　life；　both　working　diligently　for　their　living。　They　have　now　a　happy　little　home　of　their　own；　and　are　doing　very　well。

F。　X。；　the　son　of　a　Government　officer；　a　drunkard；　gambler；　forger；　and　all…round　blackguard；　served　numerous　sentences　for　forgery。　On　his　last　discharge　was　admitted　into　Prison　Gate　Brigade　Home；　where　he　stayed　about　five　months　and　became　truly　saved。　　Although　his　health　was　completely　shattered　from　the　effects　of　his　sinful　life；　he　steadfastly　resisted　all　temptations　to　drink；　and　kept　true　to　God。　Through　advertising　in　the　War　Cry；　he　found　his　lost　son　and　daughter；　who　are　delighted　with　the　wonderful　change　in　their　father。　　They　have　become　regular　attendants　at　our　meetings　in　the　Temperance　Hall。　He　now　keeps　a　coffee…stall；　is　doing　well；　and　properly　saved。

G。　A。；　72；　spent　23　years　in　gaol；　la