LUCY'S LOOSENESS.

NZ Truth, Issue 161, 18 July 1908, Page 6

LUCY'S LOOSENESS.

Preferred Gaol to a "Home."

Although this sanctimonious publica-. ■tion is assured to the contrary, there must be something bleak and desolate about the Rescue Home run m the inter-: ests of the godly when a girl prefers gaol to m one of "th^^fe Lucy Highstead has the ferm of tuSK" honesty permeating her youthful system, together with the virus of honesty, and the two guests are continually fighting for possession of the moral reins that >#vide Lucy to probity or nerdition. as the case may be. When charged with theft m the Christchurch S.Ptf. Court on Monday, the honesty micro.be bad gained a temporary victory over the other brui tai germ, and m response to her 'setter i nature the girl placed her head m her j red hands and sobbed with extreme biti tcrness. Just previously, • however, I Lucy's wicked genius was m the ascendant, and she dropped wrongful bands on a nurse containing £1 4s Gd, a tram ticket, and a coupon (Christchurch is full of coupons), the property of P. C. Rowe. The girl pleaded guilty, and Chief 'Tec' Bishop explained that the culprit had sought permission to use the telephone, and then apf-rnprip.tnd the spoil. Mr. Bishop, S.M. ."What is the woman's record £ I know her to be a thieti

The 'tec- mentioned that the girl was m service when she committed her previous offence.- She had spent a period, of ; three months IN THE SAMARITAN HOME.:. His .Worship :- Has sjje been keeping straight since ?_-No,} she has loose habits. His Worship said Lucy didn't deserve .consideration, taift still he- didn't like to.send her to gaol. A woman wearing the garb of- a seminurse or semi-religious order, pleaded that; Lucy had been convicted once before only ■' for . theft. "I know she has been m a good many difficulties lately,?' added the uniformed lady. His Worship : What sort, of difficulties? ; —With bad companions; She is. so easily led.. She is not a bad girl ;. His Worship (doubtfully,) : . Oh, isn'tsshe ? What Home do you represent ?.— None.- lam from the deacon's house. The Samaritan Home- — >■ Btis Worship (hastily) : I don't want ;_ to send her to. the Samaritan Home. ; The d'eacctnisi representative;:. I- am gladv 'ivou do not, ; The Sergeant 1 .:: She. prefers.* to go. to jgaol insifead of any Home.-. • His 'Worship.: Ask her.. i Lucy had been crying noisily- all this >time, and when questioned, affirmed her .preference for .gaol, amidst a storm of .sohs. 5 His Worship.,:' Three months" imprisonfment with hard labor. { The girl was led out of: Court and- in■to the. Black Maria weeping with heart--rending bitterness. \ What; is- the true inwardness of; these homes*?* is what 1 . "Truth" would, like to ;i'know>.