Penitentiary at Yuma, Ariz., May 19, 1889.
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton.
Dear Friend: Your kind letter, written from Los Angeles, Cal., has been received, after much delay. We are all glad to hear from you, and thank you very much for your kind remembrance and the good advice given to us in your letter, and when you spoke to us here in the prison. Most all the boys hold you in kind remembrance and often express their wishes to see you and hear you talk again, and I sincerely hope it will be convenient for you to call and see us in the near future. The short visit you paid us awakened earnest thought in a number of the boys, and I am confident a few more such visits would result in much good to many of the inmates of this inst.i.tution.
Asking your prayers, I remain,
Respectfully, J. E. W.
[Ill.u.s.tration: KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM OF PRISON, DEER LODGE, MONT.]
Deer Lodge, July 15, 1889.
Mrs. E. R. Wheaton.
Madam: I received your postal last Friday, and was very pleased to hear from you and to know that although far away you still hold us in kindly remembrance. There are so few who think of us after the prison door has closed. The boys who were so fortunate as to meet you, and even those who only heard of your good work, wish to be remembered to you. So far as we are personally concerned, there have been no changes, and we will very probably go through the same routine day in and out until our several times have expired.
I can safely say that you have made a greater impression upon us than any others we have been privileged to hear. In the intercessions you make with the Ruler of All, we ask to be remembered, and hope that you will receive all the returns of good which your work so richly merits. If you can find time in the future, you can give us no greater pleasure than writing us, even if only so much as may be placed upon a postal.
Yours very sincerely, HERBERT A. M. (Librarian).
Cole City, Dade Co., Ga., July 5, 1890.
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton:
Yours of May 25th received yesterday in this camp and contents duly noted. How it thrills the hearts of the boys to hear the reading of a letter written by the hand of "Mother Wheaton," the friend of the unfortunate ones. Dear Christian Mother, you can"t imagine the encouragement it gives to the boys here, especially those who are trying to do right. Your work has been implanted here so very deep that G.o.d cannot, according to His promise, obliterate it, for He approves of all good works. You shall have our prayers, and we desire to have your presence again when possible.
I intended to take your letter to Rattlesnake Camp No. 4 to read to the boys up there, as Capt. Brock promised me I might go, but for some reason, I know not what, I failed to get off, but I do hope and believe the way will be opened for us prison-bound boys who desire to do a work for Him to do it without fear.
I received also enclosed in your letter a most interesting pamphlet of "Capt. Ball"s Experience," which is so grand. Also another of the "Widow and the Judge."
We have a very good Sunday school here now, and I am trying to make it as interesting as I possibly can, and any books and Sunday school papers and catechisms you can send us will be quite a favor. That would have been my business at No. 4 Camp to-day, if I could have gone, to organize a Sunday school.
I must close by asking an interest in your prayers. Write often.
Your friend and brother in Christ,
J. W. S., Camp No. 3.
Eastern Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Dec. 15, 1890.
Dear Madam:
Your invitation given any of the prisoners who may wish to write, I for one accept. I was greatly impressed with your words of truth and the earnest, determined manner in which they were spoken. I believe they proved an exception to the routine of professed Christianity we are used to, and have set more than one mind to thinking of their spiritual condition. I a.s.sure you they were not without effect, and that you are engaged in a n.o.ble work, of which I and others would be glad to hear more.
True it is that in the world around us are many persons struggling with poverty as great as ours, who are loaded with cares and anxieties which seem to hinder them in the service of G.o.d. There are many who cannot offer him a pure heart which has never been stained by sin, yet in the grief for misspent time and neglected grace would gladly atone for the past by fervent, grateful love, casting themselves upon the mercy of the Saviour.
I am an old soldier, have fought in the late war, but the greatest battle I have yet to fight is with myself--the battle of reformation.
Almighty G.o.d, in His wondrous wisdom, has chosen His saints from every rank of life--some poor and unknown to the world while they are in it; others great and powerful; no two have been exactly alike, even in their way of pleasing the Lord.
The "boys" here are satisfied your mission was for good, and left them knowing that for once they were not locked up within the hearing of false professors. To say that "locks" would not be necessary to hold a congregation within your hearing would be well founded. For a great many others this could not be said.
The boys from Block 9 send you their respects, and would be glad to hear from you again; would be glad to hear that you received this and that our appreciation of your service be accepted.
Respectfully yours, A 2552.
Washington County Jail. Greenville, Miss., Jan. 9, 1890.
Dear Sister:
Your postal of the 5th to hand. The boys are all glad to hear from you.
Mr. McL. was acquitted and was the proudest boy I ever saw. The St. Louis boy also got free and went home to his mother.
There has been a great change in the prisoners since you were here. They are always praying and singing, and you are remembered in every prayer. I don"t think I am the same boy that came to jail; I know my poor old mother will be proud of me when I see her again. She lives in Mobile, Alabama, and it has been three years since she saw me, but I am praying to meet her soon and be a son to her, as I never was before. I feel like I could teach young men some good lessons if I get out of this place.
We received some reading matter from you a few days ago. Please let me hear from you whenever you can spare the time to write.
All the boys join me in love and hope to hear from you again soon.
Your friend and brother, J. D. (alias the Artist).
Penitentiary, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 14, 1901.
Mrs. Elizabeth R. Wheaton,
Dear Madam: Your welcome and interesting letter to hand and contents noted, being exceedingly pleased to hear from you. In response would state, your letter, though a great surprise, has been read by many of the inmates of this inst.i.tution with great interest, you being the only one, so far, who has shown enough respect for us to address a few lines to us by mail. For this kindly remembrance and respect, please accept our united thanks, with the wish that as you are journeying along life"s pathway you may escape many of the annoyances which you have been subjected to in the past, while dispensing the gospel tidings to a cla.s.s of unfortunates. After your departure from here, am pleased to state, the "Boys" have taken a deeper interest in Jesus and His works than ever before, and I verily believe that were you to come again you would have no difficulty in bringing many of them to the foot of the Cross. Bibles that have lain for months in cells, covered with dust, have been taken up and read with avidity, selecting texts as you suggested for future guidance, and many are the prayers and kind words which ascend nightly to the Throne of Grace in your behalf--prayers for your future guidance and welfare, with health to sustain you in your glorious work of reclaiming the erring and fallen. G.o.d speed the good work along! We wish there were more like you, to bring a few kind and cheering words to sustain us, while undergoing this isolation.
Your voice has lingered in our ears ever since you left, and many of the boys here would like to secure, if they possibly could, a copy of that wonderful song you sang for us, "Throw Out the Life-line." If you would kindly forward a copy, as it is not in our hymn-books, it would be very acceptable.
You may rest a.s.sured, no firmer, truer or better friends are to be found than those you possess in the Utah Penitentiary. Allow us to hope that when comparing this inst.i.tution with some of the grander ones you may visit in the East, you will not speak disparagingly of your boys out West, but remember there are as many honest hearts beating beneath striped jackets here as you will find anywhere, with none more willing to do you a favor. In conclusion, accept our united and kindest regards. Hoping that after your life"s labors are finished on this earth, you may find that "Haven of Rest," where it shall be said to you, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter ye into the kingdom of Heaven," trusting these few lines may give you further encouragement, and hoping to hear from you again, with united thanks for past remembrance, I remain,
Yours most respectfully, M. M.
Baton Rouge, La., October 11, 1891.