Prisons and Prayer; Or, a Labor of LoveWheaton, Elizabeth Ryder
Religion
Prisons and Prayer; Or, a Labor of Love
Wheaton, Elizabeth Ryder
Evangelistic work; Prisons
I fulfill the promise I made to poor Henry the day he was
executed, to write you a letter and tell you all about him after
he was gone to that bright glory land. It would have done you
good to have seen him the last three days he lived. He was as
happy as he could be. He had a smile on his countenance all the
time and never broke down, no difference who of his friends came
to see him. He talked to his mother and brothers so nice and gave
them such good advice. He told his mother to not grieve after
him, but to rejoice, for he would be so much better off after he
was gone, for he knew that he would be at rest. And if they would
live and do right they could come to him. The people that were
here that day (and there were between four and five thousand)
were surprised to see the beautiful countenance he left the
prison with. He helped to sing that beautiful hymn,
"And must I be to judgment brought,
And answer in that day
For every vain and idle thought
And every word I say?"
with the chorus,
"We are passing away,"
and he was heard distinctly by all. He clapped his hands while he
was singing; then he stepped on to the trap and was soon gone. He
had a prayer on his lips when the black cap was drawn over his
face, and said, "Good-by" to all his friends, and repeated,
"Good-by." He told me to tell you he expected to meet you in
heaven. His mother and brothers send their kindest regards to
you. May God bless you.
Your sister in Christ,
S. N.
MOTHER'S PRAYERS.
The case of C---- was one of most intense interest to the public as
well as his immediate friends. For long months I wept and prayed for
this young man. He was hoping for a new trial. He was always glad to
see me and to have me sing for him. He was refined, educated, a member
of "one of the F. F. V.'s," as they say, yet doomed to die on the
scaffold. How my heart longed to see him saved--for Jesus, too, was
longing for his salvation.
I was called to other fields of labor before the fatal day and was not
sure of his acceptance with God, but can but hope that his poor
mother's prayers and mine were heard in heaven and that that poor,
misguided youth whose every wish had before been gratified was
forgiven. We can but cast the mantle of charity over the case and
leave it with Him who wills not that any should perish but that all
should turn to Him and live. He wrote me the following:
Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Prison Missionary:
I appreciate very highly your kindness and sympathy and more so
your prayers. I trust we may all meet in a better land. Return my
thanks to Mrs. Gen T----.
Respectfully,
T. J. C.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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