tionary troops -detraining just before -a battle. . Center photograph:
was taken in, the rebel trenches during-an engagement. Lower
picture shows some of the same men aiming' a mountain gun.
CONVICT MAKES CHRISTMAS PLEA 'IN POETIC FORM
. . ' c , , f
Jefferson City, Mo.," Dec.'-20.
A convict-in thestate peniten
tiary here .has" written-a Christ
mas poem. Jtie nides nis laentity
Junder thepen name, "No. 11240.V
Here 'is his poem:
I -.-.
There isn't- much r Christmas up
herein tjhe'pen,
There isn't muqh holiday cheer;
No breathin' of Ijolly or wreathin'
of holly ' .
Or wisfrin' a happy. new year.
The stockin's are hung on 'the
line, itisue ' ;
(They're hurig there to dryout
the wet);- , f ,
The heat may halve dried 'em, but
nothjn'sinsidei'em , i
' To make it like Christmayou
bet". 'I : -"""
It seems that St. Nicholas some
how, forgets ' ' ;
The popr fellow lodged in the
pen. :
Old jolly Kris Kningle you never
hear jingle
Among these poor desolate
men.
Except now and then the express
team comesj in
' With a box antd "prepaid" on
the bill. 1
For some lucky devik with folks
"on the level'
Who love and remember him
still.
There's, -kerchiefs ,f rom. Sis, and
there's smpkln'fronvPa,
AndMasends him. money for
XN lunch. .', v'
A pipe 'from a bxpther and4some
thinpr or, other ;
Erqm qach of the f ajnily. bunch.
j I't ' '' -' r
Oh, .people outside, with your,
'i t stockings hung-up,
Your-Ch'risfmas tree tinseT and
goldJ .-. -, y'
Do you ever Femember along in
December' s ';',
These, men'in theprjson -so
cold?' ' ( . t
' . o ' t
Perhapsthere is someone up here
. : " inithepen i . ,
WhqstTll "has the heart of a
'..-.boy-- J'-" on
Perhaps -you'can 'spare him per
haps you .can- share him
A- bit of ypurown Christmas
joy.
So pack up "a bpx for the man nt
the pen v j .
And put iii ja'present or two;
A pipe ..made rof; briar, his
, thoughts, to, inspire, '
When alone,,he is dreaming of
you.
Some book he can read in his cell
house at night,
Some underwear, kerchiefs or
' sox.
Think not of self .only remem-
i i