Letters from Co-workers, and Some of My Prison Girls.
In speaking of prisoners or of those within prison walls many think
only of men being found there. This is due doubtless to the few women
compared to the number of men found in these places. In my efforts to
do good to all, I have been especially mindful of those of my own sex,
and have ever endeavored to encourage and lift up my sisters who have
fallen victims to sin and misfortune. I give in this chapter a few
letters from sisters who are directly interested in the care and work
for the prison bound; also extracts from letters from a number of my
prison girls. The co-operation in my work and the kindness and
hospitality ever shown me by the sisters, matrons, wives of officers,
etc., are especially appreciated, and all these dear ones are often
remembered at the throne of divine grace. These too shall all share in
the fruit of the toil and labor in the final reckoning. Neither will
my girls whom I have tried to help, that have shown their appreciation
and have tried to serve the Lord, be forgotten.
Women who are the victims of sin and are condemned by society and the
law, have as much right to be restored and encouraged when they amend
their ways, as have men. The following letters are, I believe,
sufficiently explanatory in themselves, and may be read with interest.
* * * * *
Huntsville, Texas, Aug. 19, 1904.
Dear Mother Wheaton:
Mr. Baker, Superintendent of Prison, said he would like for you
to visit our prison once a year; they all were pleased with you.
Dear Mother, please pray for little George, that he may be truly
converted to God and take an interest in his studies. It seems
that he has no desire for them. My greatest aspiration is to live
to see him saved and have an education. How my heart goes out for
him! I feel that I won't be with him long. I sometimes think that
I had rather see him put away before I go, then I would know
where he was. When you go to the Faith Home pray for us that if
it be God's will that I may be relieved of afflictions and that
my husband may be able to do a great and lasting work for the
poor unfortunate men. Dear mother, I write you because I have
confidence in you. May God bless you.
MRS. MARY MCDONALD.
(Wife of Chaplain at Huntsville, Tex., a great sufferer.--E. R.
W.)
[Illustration: CHAPLAIN'S RESIDENCE, HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS.]
* * * * *
My Dear Mrs. Wheaton:
Your letter to one of our boys was handed to me by him today. I
enjoyed reading it, and want to write you at once. I think V. was
very seriously impressed by your service here, although I have
not yet had an opportunity to talk with him as I have wanted to.
He was sick yesterday and not in school. Tomorrow I hope to see
him again. I am so glad that you had the opportunity of seeing
his parents. I know they will be greatly benefited spiritually by
your visit. I am sure our blessed Lord leads you, as you carry
peace and comfort wherever you go. Dear Mother, you comforted me.
I was impressed, as I have never been before, by the _power of
prayer_, and I know your prayers are heard and answered. This
text came to me _over and over_ while you were here, "The
effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I
felt instinctively that your prayers could help me. Oh, my
friends! I _appeal_ to you to pray for me. I may be here only
until April, but if God has work here which He wishes _me_ to do,
I know He will order it that I shall stay longer. But I do want
to be _filled_ with His Holy Spirit, that while I stay I may do
_everything_ that is possible to warn and encourage these poor
fallen brothers to seek a Savior's love and forgiveness. I _want_
a power which I feel _might_ be mine, but it has not yet come. I
want to reach the boys and tell them of Christ's love, but I have
not the power of speech. I cannot convince them that _my_ Savior
is their Savior too. So often they say to me, "Well, I guess that
kind of a life is the best kind to lead after all, but I never
will make a start in a place of this kind."
The next day after you left one boy said to me that he had never
before heard a talk that had impressed him as he was impressed
Tuesday. I believe he is seriously awakened. I think _three_
others are, also, beside the one of whom I told you the day you
left. I think V. is one.
There is a boy here who says he heard you in Kansas City eight or
nine years ago. He was not at service, but saw and recognized
you. He thought you would know him if you saw him.
Yours in Christian love,
FANNIE A. HOYT,
(Teacher and wife of Officer.)
Buena Vista, Colo., Oct. 24, 1896.
* * * * *
Atlanta, Ga., Nov. 12, 1893.
Dear Mrs. Gore:
This will introduce to you Mrs. Wheaton and Mrs. ----, Prison
Evangelists. You will be so glad to meet them and they to meet
you and talk about our dear boys "shut in."
God bless you. MRS. CHARLTON EDHOLM.
Mrs. A. B. Gore, Oakland, Cal.
* * * * *
Anamosa, Ia., Nov. 20, 1893.
Dear Mrs. Wheaton:
Anna H. has written you about the death of Emma S. She had a hard
cold, not so bad as some of the girls, however, when she left
here. We tried to persuade her to remain here over Sunday, where
it was warm, as it was very cold and stormy. She, however,
insisted upon going. We of course could not compel her to stay,
although we felt it was for the best. When she reached Algona she
was too sick to go into the country five miles where she was
going to stay. Tuesday morning she was taken out, and Thursday
afternoon died with La Grippe or Pneumonia. Several of the women
here have had La Grippe. All seem to be improving, as I insist
upon their taking excellent care of themselves.
Now, Mrs. Wheaton, I hope you will write to Anna, also a letter
to all the girls that I can read to them. They will be glad to
think you have not forgotten them. Trusting that you are in good
health and that you see good results from your labors, I remain
your friend,
JENNIE A. POWERS.
* * * * *
Jefferson City, Mo., Jan. 25, 1900.
Dear Sister:
Your card was received in due time. All glad to hear from you.
The quarantine is still on at the prison. No news there. No
visitors allowed. No baskets sent in, only money. Mr. Cook has
not missed a day at work since last winter. He was off twelve
days to visit his dear mother. She will soon pass to the other
side. Your card was filled with sadness. Be cheerful and rejoice,
for soon you will go to glory to praise Him forevermore. I will
write some to Sister Kelley. Write me a long letter. Chaplain P.
has been on the sick list. Everything going on nicely. Never had
a better warden than now in the last eighteen years that I have
known this prison. Hoping to hear of your good health, I am ever,
CLARA COOK.
* * * * *
[Illustration: WOMEN'S PRISON, ALLEGHENY CITY, PA.]
Western Penitentiary, Allegheny, Pa., June 7, 1904.
Mrs. Wheaton:
I am glad to learn that you are about to embody your experiences
as a missionary to the inmates of the prisons and penitentiaries
of the various states in which you have labored in the name of
the Master. It has been no easy work. It has demanded much faith,
hope and charity on your part. You have gone with untiring zeal
to those who are despised and forsaken on account of their
criminal acts.
In the spirit of our blessed Lord and in obedience to His command
you have gone year after year to the habitations of disgrace and
sorrow and carried the cheering and helpful promises and the
forgiving mercy of our dear Savior.
You will have a rich reward from our Heavenly Father. I am sure
your words of gospel truth and your songs of praise have often
touched the hearts of the female prisoners under my care. The
most rebellious and hardened have felt and testified to the
gracious power of the gospel of love as you have uttered it
here. My hope and my prayer is that the Almighty Shepherd may
guide, keep and sustain you in this noble work of your life.
SARAH J ARNER.
Allegheny, Pa.
* * * * *
Allegheny City, Pa., Dec. 31, 1893.
Dear Mrs. Wheaton:
I will try and answer your kind and welcome letter which came to
hand a few days ago. We were all very glad to hear from you. Our
dear sister, Mrs. Jones, is dead. The dear old lady who was up to
the workhouse with you when you were here. She was a dear friend
to all the girls here, but she has gone home. She can come to us
no more, but we can go to her. The last words she said when she
was here was good-bye, and that she would meet us all in heaven.
We have very nice meetings now and would like to have you with
us. We pray for you every day and we want you to pray for us that
we may see the right way and that we may go out of here with
light hearts and go about doing good.
We had a nice Christmas. Our Warden treated us with turkey, and
we were all so glad that he was so kind to us.
Well, we will begin a new year tomorrow, and I hope we will lead
a different life, a better life, for if we believe in Jesus He
will save us; yes, He will keep us through the dark valley. He
will go with us to the end, as He has promised, if we will put
our trust in Him. I have gained a great victory since you were
here. I have forgiven an enemy that I thought I never could
forgive.
Well, I will close by sending you my love, and as I have only one
sheet of paper my friend will send this on to you. I remain,
Your sincere friend,
Lucy F.
* * * * *
Allegheny City, Pa., Feb. 16, 1896.
My Dear Mrs. Wheaton:
I am so glad to hear from you once more. I had been thinking of
you so much of late and I asked God to let me hear from you or
send you to us, and so you see He answered my prayer. I cannot
express how glad we all were to receive your kind and loving
letter. It was read to all and I do wish you could have peeked
in to see how quiet all were to listen to it, and our two
matrons, too, for they do love you.
I was very sorry to hear of your being so sick, but God has
raised you up for He has work for you to do yet. I pray for you
every night and morning that He may strengthen you and keep you,
for you are to us like the rain is and the sunshine to the
flowers, for we know that you do love us poor unfortunate ones.
Will you please send us the hymns called "Tell of the Unclouded
Day" and the one called "When the Pearly Gates Unfold"? Dear
Mother, pray for us all, but pray for me especially, for I am in
great sorrow and trials. Pray that God may raise me up friends
and that He may keep me.
Good-bye, hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, yours in
Christ,
LAURA M.
* * * * *
Allegheny City, Pa., Feb. 16, 1896.
My Dear Mother:
I wish I could tell you how much joy and happiness your letter
gave me. It came just at the time when I needed it most. I am
sick and feeble, suffering with spine and lung trouble, have not
been able to work for the last three weeks. Can go to my meals
and wait upon myself, and I have my Jesus with me. Oh, how He
comforts and helps make the rough places smooth, and in the
lonely hours of the night when the pain is almost beyond
endurance, I think of my Savior and what He suffered without sin,
and of what a weak coward I am to complain.
Mother, we are some of us so impatient when we have pain, and I
am afraid I am one of those. Please pray for me that I may bear
mine with Christian fortitude.
I hope it may please God to let me live to get out of this place
and have a home for myself and baby, and if my dear Mother
Wheaton would come and see me and rest herself for a few weeks,
would it not be nice? Mother, I am a widow with one child and
some means, but not much. Still I intend to use some of my money,
when I have control of it, to do good to others. I have suffered,
God has opened my eyes and showed me my sins and selfishness of
former years, and I thank Him for sparing me to see it in this
light.
Many of the girls that were here when you last visited us have
gone out and a good many are going out this year. Pray for them.
I pray for you every night. God bless and keep you is the prayer
of your friend,
L. R. T. No. 9722.
* * * * *
Allegheny City, Pa., Feb. 16, 1896.
My Dear Mother Wheaton:
Your very welcome and unexpected letter received. It is
impossible to tell you with what joy and heartfelt gladness we
all gathered together to hear it read. You do not know how often
your children speak together of you, of where you are and what
you are doing and what keeps you so long away from your Western
flock. It was so long since last we heard from you that we are
beginning to think our Heavenly Father had need of you and had
taken you home, but all praise to His name. He has spared you to
send us another loving, encouraging message, which we promptly
answer in love and sympathy, each one giving a word, although
only three different handwritings will be seen. Remember when
reading the words that twenty-five of your lone children are here
represented in your letter.
You speak of wishing for your prison children when you were sick.
O, how gladly many of us would minister to your wants, to be
under the influence of your kind and loving advice, following in
your footsteps of love and life as it is in Christ Jesus our Lord
and Master. But though we are separated by so many miles, thanks
be to the Almighty we can feel the influence of your continued
prayers, and many of us are greatly encouraged to keep on
striving, knowing that the crowning day will come by and by.
Each one says: "Ask Mother Wheaton when she is coming." Do not be
too long in coming, for some of your dear ones are leaving every
month during the spring, and we are anxious to receive your
blessing before entering the cold, heartless world of sin and
sorrow. Yet some of us will take Jesus with us, and in His name
begin life again. Pray for us all that our hearts may be fully
and entirely given over to God, with our hands in His hand, be
led to the mercy-seat. Yes, dear Mother, we shall, with God's
help, "strive to enter in at the straight gate."
These are the names of those who send you special love and
requests for prayer: Emma M., Emma W., Pearl S. (who is very
sick), Laura M., Anna M., Ella A.
With love and best wishes from our matrons, we close, hoping soon
to see you.
Good-bye, God bless and keep you always and send you to us again.
All join in best wishes to you.
* * * * *
Allegheny City, Pa., Feb. 14, 1897.
My Dear Mrs. E. R. Wheaton:
Perhaps you will be surprised to get this letter, but I have
heard so much about you that I feel as though I was personally
acquainted with you, so I hope you are well, dear Mother, and
that you are doing work for the Master and that He will give you
a great many souls for your hire.
O, I do want to see you. Indeed I would like to hear you sing and
pray. The girls all want to see and hear you. Pray for them. One
woman in here said that you were the only person that ever did
pray a prayer that touched her heart and brought tears to her
eyes. The old girls talk about you so much to the new ones that
they all love you, although they have not seen you. They tell
over and over of your love and sympathy and that you know how to
reach poor unfortunate souls. You know that they need kind words
and a loving smile to cheer up their broken hearts.
Dear Mother, you know that a smile goes where a dollar cannot go,
for it goes to the heart and makes it so very happy.
Good-bye, hoping to hear from you soon, I remain,
Yours truly,
LINA S.
* * * * *
Allegheny City, Feb. 14, 1897.
My Dear Mrs. Wheaton--Dear Mother:
I will say dear, for you are dear to me. O, you do not know how I
have been longing to see you and once more hear you sing some of
your beautiful hymns. O! just to hear you pray once more in this
world. There are only eighteen women of us now, and when you were
here last time there were thirty-three.
O, dear Mother, do make me a special subject of prayer that God
may keep me and guide me in the right way. I have been trying to
lead a Christian life for six years now. When all earthly
friends have forsaken me Jesus comes and speaks to me, and He
alone comforts me, and I thank God for a full and free salvation.
O bless His holy name! Hallelujah in the highest to God!
Our matron, Miss S. J. Arner, sends you her best regards. I am
very sorry to tell you that Miss Osborn was called home by the
death of her sister; pray for her and for me, Laura M., No. 9351,
that God may spare my life that I may work for the Master when I
am a free woman. The two Morgan sisters send you their love. All
of the girls send love to you. Come on a week day and perhaps you
can get the widow's mite.
Good-bye, I remain, yours in Christ,
LAURA M.
* * * * *
Allegheny City, Pa., March 21, 1897.
Dear Friend:
I received your very kind and welcome letter and was very glad to
hear from you, and dear Mother Wheaton, your letter did me good
as I sit and hear it read to me. I shall try to keep it, and get
it read often to me, as it does comfort my broken heart. I am a
poor orphan girl. My mother died when I was about twelve years
old, and I have wandered on in sin and I have fallen by the
wayside. Will you pray for me that I may come to live just as you
do, my true, strong friend. I do wish I could see you today, to
hear you pray and sing. All of the girls wish to see you and hope
that you will come on some day through the week so that we can
write out a money order for you. Perhaps it may be only a couple
of dollars or three, but it will be like the widow's mite.
I remain, yours truly,
LINA S.
* * * * *
Allegheny, Pa., March 21, 1897.
Mrs. E. R. Wheaton.
Dear Mother: We received your very kind and welcome letter. O, we
are so glad that you sent us a letter and some tracts. Mrs. S. J.
Arner, our matron, read the letter in the dining-room to all of
us and we did enjoy it so much. Indeed I feel that I had a visit
from a dear friend. I hope you are well and I pray for you that
God may strengthen you in your labors. You have done a great
work, but God has more for you to do yet before you shall pass
through the pearly gates of Heaven, for you have cheered so many
broken hearts. God sent you to cheer those in prisons. I was just
thinking today, O, how happy you will be in the end when Jesus
shall say unto you: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
Kingdom prepared for you." And O, dear Mother, He will say to
you: "I was in prison and ye visited me." I am still looking unto
Jesus. He has been my only friend for these years in prison. He
keeps me day by day and makes me feel happy in prison. He causes
me to hear "songs in the night." Pray for me that God may keep me
and my children.
I dreamed that I was sent to preach the gospel to some poor soul
and I have dreamed it three times over the same. First time I
said, "No, I cannot do it," and the Lord laid me on a bed of
sickness, and then I said, "Lord, I will go." I had no rest by
night or by day until I consented to go.
All of the girls join me in love to you. We hope that these few
lines may find you well and happy, for you are always so happy
and bright. One of the old girls said that your face has such a
happy smile on it and a light shines over you while you talk to
them. Write soon.
LAURA M.
* * * * *
This is an extract from a letter by an orphan girl, a type of many
other poor girls whose fates are equally as sad:
Spokane Falls, ----, 1889.
O if I was only free, the greatest pleasure of my life would be
to go with you and work for God. Your kindness has won my heart.
I have never had any one to be kind to me; I have known nothing
but sorrow all my life. My past is almost a blank. Dear, kind
sister, look on me with pity--a friendless, motherless girl. I am
alone in the world. I was drawn into this place through cruel
treatment. I have no money, and I am helpless. If God does not
have mercy on me, I do not know what will become of me. If I had
only a good, kind friend like you to guide me through life, I
would have been a far better woman than I am. If God will save me
I shall live in the future a life of honor and work for God.
Pray for me. Tell me in what way I am going to help myself. O
sister, I am so troubled; sometimes I think I will end my
miserable existence. But I know if I should take my own life
that it would be a terrible sin; but how can I help thinking
such things in a place like this? No friends, no home, and no
money; sick at heart, sick in body, sick in mind.
* * * * *
Lancaster, Neb., Jan. 27, 1895.
Mrs. E. R. Wheaton, Washington, D. C.
Our Dear Friend: We received your kind letter of the 7th inst. We
were glad to hear from you and to know that you were enjoying
good health. Dear Mother, if we may address you thus, we were
very glad to hear our friend, Mrs. Beemer, spoken of so well, for
she is a friend never to be forgotten. And Mr. Beemer is just a
splendid warden, kind to everybody; and we ask you to pray that
they may be retained here for another time. Dear Mother, indeed
we will know how to appreciate our freedom in the future. Of
course you do not know our names, but I will give them in the
following words that each sends to you. Hattie and Edna send
their regards to you. Nannie says to pray for her. Annie sends
her best regards to you and wishes you well. Hattie R. sends love
and best wishes. Annie H. is the one who was sick when you were
here and sends love to you, and knows that God answered your
prayers that she might be restored to health. Effie joins in
sending love, and my prayer is that God may bless you and help
you in all your good work. So we close for this time, asking you
to pray for us poor unfortunate girls.
We remain, your loving children,
H., E., A., N., H., A. and EFFIE.
* * * * *
Canon City, March 27, 1899.
Dear Friend and Mother:
I know you are my friend and everybody's friend. I heard your
kind letter and cannot help writing to you. I cannot write very
good, so please excuse mistakes. Your letter found all the girls
well. I have often thought of you and wished that I could be a
Christian like you; but I am a poor sinner and have been all my
life. I never heard one word out of the Bible in my life till I
got in jail. I never had any Christian parents, and therefore I
am a deep sinner, but I want to do better. My conscience tells me
that I must try to be a better woman. I have been a very bad
girl, but I think my Savior will forgive me, if I repent in
time. Sometimes I nearly go crazy just thinking what a life I
have led. O if I would die now what would become of me? I want
you to pray for me, mother, for I do believe you can help me by
praying for me.
I have not long in here now. My time expires on the 25th day of
December, 1899; pray that I will be a better girl. I want to go
home to my brother if I can when I leave here. I am tired of this
life. My soul is tired. O, I am so wicked! I have tried to pray
the best I knew and I got scared. Something seemed to bother me,
and I was afraid to go to sleep. Mother, why do I get scared? Is
it because I have sinned so much? But I will try again and again.
I am willing to do right and live an honest life, and I will or
die in the attempt. I have had a lot of trouble in my life and it
drove me to all my downfalls, but I can see that I am sending my
soul to everlasting torment, so I want to turn now and seek for
the Lord. Tell me how I can, mother.
Mother, this is the best I can do; may God bless you in all your
undertakings. The matron was glad to hear from you and also the
girls. Pray for me.
ANNA 4309.
* * * * *
Waupun, Wis., March 6, 1899.
Dear Sister Wheaton:
Thank God I received your kind and Christian letter last week. We
are getting along nicely with our meetings and I know and feel
that God is with us every day and especially the eleven that have
given their hearts to God and let His dear hand guide their every
footstep.
Our dear Matron gave me your letter. I am as contented as can be.
I believe it God's will that I should be here, and His will be
done. I love our dear Heavenly Father with all my heart and soul
and I love all my sisters and brothers and I love my enemies and
I pray for them and ask God to bless them.
I have ten months more and I hope you can come here again before
I go. Our Matron is with us in our meetings every Saturday. I
read my Bible and pray three times a day, and I have more
strength to perform my daily work, and I know our dear Savior
will not forsake me or leave me alone because I know Jesus loves
me now, and I know He will answer my prayers.
I told you before it is my second term, but when I sit in my
little room reading my Bible I thank God for it, for I know it
was God's will that I should be here a second time, for there is
work for me to do here as well as when I am free, and He put me
here to show me He wanted me for one of His own dear humble
children and I know and feel it now.
"Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away;
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day."
And I want you to pray for us all that we may have more of God's
grace given to us day by day and help us to be humble and meek
and willing to be led by His loving hand and pray for us that God
will keep us from all temptation and sin and may we ever prove
faithful. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according unto the
multitude of Thy tender mercies. Blot out my transgressions."
Every word here is just as I feel in my heart.
"I may not do much with all my care,
But I surely may bless a few;
The loving Jesus will give to me
Some work of love to do.
"I may wipe the tears from some weeping eyes,
I may make the smile come again,
To a face that is weary and worn with care,
To a heart that is full of pain."
MRS. J. G.
* * * * *
Anamosa, Iowa, Aug. 11, 1901.
Elizabeth R. Wheaton,
Tabor, Iowa.
Dear Mother:
We received your kind and loving letter yesterday. Was more than
glad to hear from you, but sorry that you have been so sick; but
I praise God for His healing divine. We did not have the smallpox
in the prison. There were cases of them in town, but the warden
quarantined the prison and vaccinated every prisoner. Dear
mother, I am trying to get a parole. My petition is now before
the Governor with a thousand signers, besides several letters
from friends. I have had three good homes offered to me if the
Governor will only parole me. I desire so much to be where I can
live a better life and take care of my little boy and help my
parents, who are in very poor health. I do pray so much for a
better place and better companions, where I can do something for
my own and others. Dear Mother, will you pray for me? I always
remember what I promised you when you bid me good-bye; that was,
to pray for you every day. I am so glad we have a Savior who will
hear our prayers though we are behind prison walls and our
prayers are weak.
With love and prayers,
FROM D. F. TO MOTHER WHEATON.
* * * * *
Anamosa, Iowa, Oct. 6, 1903.
Dear Mother Wheaton:
I thought I would write you a few lines. We are all well at
present. We cannot express how thankful we were for your visit to
us. We only wish you could have staid longer. Mrs. Waterman has
prayer and song service every morning. It is something wonderful.
We all wish so much to hear your voice. Mrs. Waterman spoke to us
about writing to you and I was only too glad to write and ask you
to pray for us all. I believe and know it will do good. I am
trying very hard to pray and be a good Christian. I will ask you
to pray for me.
Respectfully yours,
G. Mc.
[Illustration: GROUP OF GIRLS IN AN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.]
[Illustration: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS STATE PRISON AT CHESTER.]