We believe and pray that these pages may be greatly used of God to reach thousands of hearts and stir up many to carry forward the work so dear to her, when "Mother Wheaton" has crossed over to meet those that are waiting to welcome her on the other side.
Yours, in Jesus' love,
Etta E. Shaw.
S. B. Shaw.
Chicago, Ill., 1906.
CONTENTS.
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| BIOGRAPHY AND CALL TO THE WORK. | |
| Birth—Left an Orphan—Conversion—Marriage—Sorrow—Sanctification—Call to Prison Work—Family Reunion—Sketch of My Life by My Brother | 23 |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| LETTER TO MY PRISON CHILDREN. | |
| My Limited Education—Disappointments—A Friend in Jesus | 38 |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| A PLEA FOR THE PRISONER. | |
| In the Shadow of the Wall (poem)—Letters to Prison Officers—Worth While (poem)—Prejudice—A Look into the Cell—Insane Prisoners—All Prisoners Not Criminal—Prepared to Die | 43 |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| A BRIEF PEN PICTURE OF PRISON LIFE. | |
| The Buildings—Entrance—Chapel and Dining-room—Chapel Service—The Cell-house—Workshops—Hospital | 59 |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| LETTERS OF INTRODUCTION AND KIND WORDS FROM GOVERNORS, PRISON OFFICIALS, ETC. | |
| From Governors—Prison Wardens—Chaplains | 67 |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| SOME OF MY PRISON BOYS. | |
| A Prisoner's Conversion as Shown by His Letters—A Talented Young Man—Under Death Sentence—Commuted—Finally Pardoned—Letters—Sentenced for Life—His Letters—Faithful Inside and Outside of Prison Walls | 87 |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
| LETTERS FROM CO-WORKERS AND MY PRISON GIRLS. | |
| Letters from Sister Co-workers—From My Prison-bound Girls | 117 |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| INCIDENTS IN MY PRISON WORK. | |
| Letter from the Prisoners at Chester, Ill.—Extract of Chaplain's Report—Suicide of a Prisoner—"I Have no Friends"—Letters from Chaplain Starr—A Way Opened in Answer to Prayer—A Letter from a Governor—A Woman Converted and Healed—A Change Wrought—A Chaplain in My Audience—Impressed to Tarry—Encouragement by the Way—Cruel Neglect—Another Suicide—Just Out of Prison—Dying in Prison—Does It Pay?—Saved and Preaching the Gospel—In Solitary Confinement—Crape on the Door—In a Police Station—Burned in His Cell—The Innocent in Bonds—Confessed Her Guilt—Under Sentence of Death—"The Religion Mother Had" | 135 |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| CONVERSION OF DESPERATE PRISONERS PREVENTS A TERRIBLE MUTINY. | |
| Welcomed in Prison—An After-Service—Plan of the Mutiny—Havoc of Sin—Letters | 161 |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
| REMARKABLE CONVERSION AND EXPERIENCE OF GEO. H. COLGROVE. | |
| His Own Story—Infidel Literature—Burglary and Murder—Life Sentence—Conversion—Study of the Scriptures—Bible Class Teacher—An Enemy Kindly Treated—A Pardon Refused—Second Effort to Secure a Pardon—Letters—Final Illness and Triumphant Death | 169 |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
| WORK IN STOCKADES AND PRISON CAMPS IN SOUTHERN STATES. | |
| Race Question—Letters of Introduction and Recommendation—A Stockade—Letter to a Governor—Reply of Prison Manager—Plea for Women Convicts—Bloodhounds—Coal Mines—A Touching Incident—First Meeting in a Prison Camp—Ride on Engine of a Coal Train—First Railroad Pass—Ride on a Mule | 187 |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
| STOCKADES AND PRISON CAMPS CONTINUED. | |
| Novel Conveyances—Assisting a Colored Minister—Through Danger Alone—Prostrate Among Prisoners—A Meeting at Day Dawn—Helping to Bury a Prisoner—Wreck of a Coal Train—Sugar Camps—Ride in a Cart—In a Gambling Saloon—Condition of Convicts—Unjustly Condemned—Need of Reform | 212 |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| WORK IN FT. MADISON, IOWA, AND SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. | |
| My First Effort for Service in a Prison—Kindness of Officers and Men—Letters from Officials—Work in Santa Fe, N. Mex.—Three Christian Men Pardoned—A Forty Years' Sentence—Kind Words from Governor and Superintendent | 241 |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| GONE HOME FROM THE SCAFFOLD. | |
| Special Mission to Doomed Men—Indifferent but Finally Converted—Letters—Mother's Prayers—Claimed to Be Innocent—Hardened in Crime—Ten Men under Death Sentence—Conversion of a Jewish Boy—Mysteriously Guided—In Long Expectation—Sentence Commuted—A Man Deceived—Interceded for a Boy—Went to the Scaffold Singing—A Prominent Official—Recent Cases | 254 |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
| WORK IN CHURCHES AND MISSIONS. | |
| Provided with Food in Answer to Prayer—A Great Revival—A Man Saved from Suicide—Letters from Pastors and Others—Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore—Successful Meetings—Young Man Called to the Ministry—A Colored Woman Saved and Preaching—Incidents—Saved by a Hymn | 294 |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| PREACHING THE GOSPEL ON RAILWAY TRAINS. | |
| Accidental Death of My Nephew—My First Trip by Rail—Experience of a Railroad Man—Transportation—A Kind Conductor—Interesting Services—Train Saved from Wreck—A Train in Danger—Impressed to Leave the Train—Helped to Care for a Wounded Man—Conductor's "God Bless You"—A Woman's Faith Encouraged—Riding in a Parlor Car—Favor to the Railroad Company | 313 |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| STREET AND OPEN AIR. | |
| Poem—Permits to Hold Street Meetings—From a Missionary—My First Street Meeting—A Wonderful Conversion—Became a Preacher—The Blind Encouraged—Forbidden to Preach on the Street—Thought They Saw a Ghost—Hurt by a Saloonkeeper—Warned to Leave the City—In Jail | 328 |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
| RESCUE WORK. | |
| "A Mother's Plea" (poem)—A Plea for our Sisters—Drunken Women and Men—Assaulted in a Dive—Attempts Suicide—A Girl Saved—A Girl Rejected at a Rescue Home—Neglected by the Churches—Visits to Hospitals—Kind Tributes—The Prodigal Daughter (poem) | 349 |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | |
| WORK IN CANADA AND MEXICO. | |
| Street Meetings in Hamilton—In London, Ontario—A Girl Rescued—In Kingston—Stoned in Quebec—Victory in Toronto—In Victoria, B. C.—Work in Mexico—A Bull Fight—Wept with Condemned Men—Attacked by a Fierce Dog—Ministered to a Sufferer | 365 |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | |
| ACROSS THE SEA. | |
| On the Ocean—In a Foreign Land—Preaching in Glasgow—My Life in Danger—A Song Stops a Row—Arrested for Singing—Tumult in a Dive—Mob of Drunken Women—Letter from America—In Paisley—Return to America—Second Visit to Europe—Experiences in London—Safe Return to America—Letter from Scotland | 372 |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] | |
| TRAVEL AND TOIL. | |
| Two Nights' Service—One Weeks' Work—A Profitable Trip—Six Weeks' Service—Recent Work—Another Trip | 395 |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] | |
| LETTERS FROM PRISONERS. | 431 |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] | |
| KIND WORDS FROM FRIENDS. | |
| From H. L. Hastings—Mrs. H. L. Hastings—E. E. Byrum, Author and Editor—Mother of a Prisoner—Prisoner's Daughter—An Editor—Ex-Prisoner—Miscellaneous | 477 |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] | |
| SKETCHES FROM PRESS REPORTS. | 491 |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] | |
| FURNISHED UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK. | |
| "Who Will Man the Life Boat?" (poem)—Adaptation Needed—The Masses Not Reached—My Boy in India—Preaching the Gospel in the Pesthouse—How the Lord Provides—Miscellaneous Incidents | 530 |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] | |
| SELECTIONS FROM MY SCRAPBOOK. | |
| Author of Flower Mission Day—Flower Day at the Prison—Lines by a Prisoner—Take This Message to My Mother—Not Lonely Now—Jesus Is Looking On—How God Calls Missionaries Out of Prison Cells—Outside the Prison Walls—If We Knew—Little Graves—The Mother's Warning—Harry's Remorse—Twenty-Thirty-Four—His Mother's Song—Perfect Peace—Sweet Revenge—No Telephone in Heaven—A True Hero—Perfect Through Faith—The Kid—Charged with Murder—Mother's Face—Only Sixteen—The Dress Question | 547 |
1. "Life's Railway to Heaven."
2. "Meet Me There."
3. "God Bless My Boy."
4. "The Great Judgment Morning."
5. "My Name in Mother's Prayer."
6. "Over There."
7. "This Way."
8. "She's More to Be Pitied."
9. "Some Mother's Child."
10. "Tell My Dear Old Mother."
11. "When the Death-bell Shall Toll."
12. "The End of the Way."
| [APPENDIX.] | 596 |
| The Personnel of Prison Management. By Warden C. E. Haddox. | |
| Meditations of a Prisoner. | |
| Discourse on "The Agony in the Garden." By a Prisoner. | |
| Directory of Prisons and Reformatories. |