sent from
Holton. While in jail and awaiting trial at that place he was converted.
Several Christian ladies had visited the jail and left with the inmates
a few Bibles and other religious literature. At his trial Frank was
convicted of crime and sentenced to the penitentiary for five years.
When he came to the State's prison he brought his religion with him. For
two years this man performed his duties faithfully. He soon gained the
good will of the officers. He was a true Christian man; he showed it in
his life while in prison. After awhile his religion got the better
of him; he could not control his emotions. Often during the chapel
services, when the convicts were singing their Christian songs, overcome
by his feelings, Frank would weep like a child. Time passed. It was
a bright Sabbath morning. The prisoners were marching out of the cell
houses to the chapel, to attend divine service. All nature seemed to be
rejoicing. Frank could not longer restrain himself. The glowing sunshine
has much to do with causing a man's religion to boil over. All of a
sudden, clapping his hands, Frank shouted at the top of his voice,
"Glory to God in the highest I peace on earth, good will to men!" This
was too much for the discipline of the prison. Convicts are expected to
keep quiet. A couple of officers seized him and led him back into the
cell house, where he was placed in a cell of the insane ward and was
called a religious crank. He remained in this cell for the following
eighteen months. He told me afterward these were the happiest months of
his life. He would read his Bible, sing, pray, and exhort the officers
to be religious. The deputy warden would often tell him that when he
could control his religion enough to keep quiet he should be taken out
of the insane ward and sent to work again. When eighteen months had
passed he concluded he could keep quiet, and so informed the deputy
warden. He was immediately released from his place of confinement and
went to work. While at work he was honest and quiet. His only trouble
was, too much religion! Months went by. His wife came to see him
frequently. These visits were enjoyable affairs to them. On a certain
Friday his wife was to visit him. I met him the day before, and he was
overjoyed at the prospect of seeing his wife the next day. She came.
They had a joyful time. Little did either think they should see each
other in this life no more. When the hour of her departure came they
separat