WHICH HE LOVED BEST?

White Ribbon, Volume 13, Issue 158, 15 August 1908, Page 10

WHICH HE LOVED BEST?

IW thf* late Frances K. Willard).

A PLEDGE CRUSADE STORY.

( I write down tile following story from memory. It was related l»y one of the original Crusaders of Ohio in an audience where I was present). One morning during the crusade, a shoemaker’s wife came to my door. She carried in her arms a baby six weeks old. Her pale, pinched face was sad to see, aad she told me this sorrowful story : “ My husband is drinking himself to death; he is lost to ali human feeling; our lent is unpaid, and we ate liable to la* put out into the street, and there is mo food in the house for me and the children. He has a good trade, but bis earnings all go into the drinkshop at the corner near us ; he is becoming more and mote brutal and abusive. We seem to l»e on tbe verge of ruin. How can I. feeble as I am, with a baby in my arms, earn bread for myself and children ' ’ as thought the question came to sie, and I asked it: “ Why not have this busGuid of yours converted! ” l»ut she answered hopelessly, “ ()h, there’s no hope of such a thing. He cares for nothing but ftrong drink. I'll come and see him this afteranon,” said I. “ He’ll insult you,’ she replied. “No matter,” said I, “My Saviour was insulted, and the servant is not al»ove the Lord.’’ That vety afternoon ! called at the little tenement house. The husband was at work at his trade in a back room, and his little girl was sent to tell him that a lady w ished to see him. The child, however, soon returned with the message, “ My pa says he won’t see anyone. Hut 1 sent him a message proving that 1 was indeed in earnest. 1 said, “Go back and tell your pa that a lady wishes to see him on very important business, and she must see him if site has to stay till after supper. I knew very well that there was nothing in the house to eat. A moment afterwards a poor, bloated. In*sotted wreck of a man stood before me.

“What do you want i" he demanded as he came shuffling into the room. “ Please be seated, and look at this paper,” I answered, pointing to a vacant chair at the other end of the table where I was sitting, and handing a printed pledge to him.

He read it slowly, and then, throwing it down under the table, broke out violently : “Do you think I’m a fool? I drink when I please, and let it alono when 1 please. I’m not going to sign away my personal lilierty.” “ I>o you think you can stop drinking ? ”

“ Yes, I could if 1 wanted. “On the contrary, 1 think you’re a slave to the drink-shop down at the corner.’’

“ No, 1 ain’t any such thing “ I think, too, that you love the publican’s daughter better than you do your ow n little girl. “ No, 1 don’t either ’ “ W ell, let us see about that. When 1 passed the public house I saw their little girl coining down the steps, and she had on white shoes, and a white dress, and a w hite sash. Your money helped to buy them I come here, and your little girl, more beautiful than she, has on a faded, ragged diess, and her feet are bare.” “ That’s so madam.’

“ And you care more about the welfare of the publican’s wife than of your own wife.”

“ Never ; no, never. ”

“ When I passed the public house, 1 saw his wife come out. and she was dressed in silks and laces, and a carriage waited for her. Your money helped to buy the silks and laces, and the horse and carriage. I find your wife in a worn-out calico gown, and in poor health, and yet obliged to keep at work.’ “ You speak the truth, madam. “ You love the publican better than you love yourself. You say you can keep from drinking if you choose ; hut you helped the publican to build himself a tine house, and you live in this poor tumble-down old house yourself.’’ “ I never saw it in that light before.” Then, holding out his hand, that shook like an aspen leaf, he continued, “ You speak the truth, madam. 1 am a slave. Do you see that hand ? I’ve got a piece of work to finish, and I must have a mug of l»eer to steady my nerves, or I cannot do it; but to morrow, if you call I’ll sign the pledge.’ “ That in not enough. You .are a slave, and cannot help it Ineie is One who can break your chains and set you free.” “ 1 want to be free.

“ Well, Christ can set you free, if you 11 submit to Him, and let Him break the chains of sin and appetite that bind _ 9P you.

“ It’s been many a long year since I prayed. “ No matter, the sooner you begin tbe better for you.’’ He threw himself at once upon his knees, and while I prayed 1 heard him sobbing out the cry of his soul to God. His wife had come in and knelt beside me, and followed me with earnest prayer. Her words were simple, and broken with sobs ; but somehow they went straight up from her crushed heart to God, and the poor man began to cry in earnest for mercy : “OUod! break these chains that are burning into my soul! Pity me, and pity my wife and children, and break the chains that are dragging me down to hell! O God ! be merciful to on- a sinner ! ” And thus out of the depths, he cried to God, and He heard him and had compassion upon him, and broke every chain and lifted every burden ; and he rose a free redeemed man. When he rose from his knees, he said, “ Now I w ill sign the pledge, and keep it And he did sign. A family altar was established, the comforts of life were procured—for he had a good trade—and two week* after this scene his little girl came into my husband’s Sunday school with white shoes, a white drev* and a blue sash.