A TRUE INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF CAROLINE TALBOT.

White Ribbon, Volume 13, Issue 159, 15 September 1908, Page 10

A TRUE INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF CAROLINE TALBOT.

FroW The b'ctinyelical b'rie.w/

“ I must go to thf* Devils Hit to night At eleven o’clock, Miiil a lady evangelist, in the plain gaih of the Society of Friends.

“Why, my dear Mrs. Talbot. that is the worst place in all New York City ! I did not know that you were aware of its existence, answered the gentleman at whose house Mrs. Talliot was visiting. “ I did not know of it until last night.

she r» piled, “hut a message to me ftorn my Master, ‘Go to the Devils Pit at eleven o’clock tomorrow night to rescue a soul.’ My message is •clear ; I must olay

“ It would l*e at the risk of your life; even the policemen fear to entei that den of miijuity. “ l would not endanger the lives of my friends, and I am willing to go alone if needs lie Friend Hen ton, if thou wilt take me to tlm Major of the city, I w ill slat* my mission and ask for a policeman

as guard. ’ “ Hut do you not think sjch a risk of your life is uncalled for ! asked Mrs. I teuton. “ Your lalniurs for the Lord are needed elsewhere. It seems to me such an errand is visionary, “My message was clear; that is all I know Hut where the Master sends me, 1 go. If death conies in the path of duty, 1 am ready ; lietter die doing duty than live shirking it. 1 would not have thee and thy husband exposed to danger on my account. I fear nothing when 1 am »ure the Master is leading “Da you know to whom you are sent ] ”

“Simply this whether sleeping or waking, l know not, a voice said to me, 4 Go to the Devil's Pit to-morrow night at eleven o'clock to rescue a *oul. Thou knowest, Sister Benton, when the Master commands I can do nought but obey. My grey hairs and plain dress will gain me admission w here others could not go I hold there is no religion in the cut or colour of a garment, hut I find great protection in toil plain garb l wear, in the slums of the cities where my work often takes me.

“If you think you must go, Mrs. Talbot, I will see what protection I can get from the Mayor, said Mr. Henton, as lie rose to leave the house on his errand.

Coming back some hours later, lie said : I have secured two policemen ; and

Hev, hr. hean and his wife, with my wife and myself, will accompany you in carriages to this stiange destination. If I cannot persuade you to give up this peculiar infatuation, your friends will not allow you to go alone. “Thou ait kind, Friend Henton. I have no feai for myself. Ihe Master can protect me a> well in the Devil's Pit as He did Peter in prison. I don’t look for miraculous angel deliverance, hut when the Lord sends His children, Ills defence goeth Indore It was a night Mack with darkness, Not the palest moonbeam esc ip» d through the cloud-banks Not a star glimmered, tied seemed to have forgotten the world. THK .IOt’HNKV.

Two carriages, each one protected by a policeman on the In»x with the driver, turned from the respectable thoroughfares of New York City, and entered a distiiet where were crowded together the ven dregs of humanity. The carriage lumps and the policemen's lanterns were the only lights to guide tin in throu f h the black darkness <d the surrounding squalor Now and then sickly gut jot* Hickeied in the smoke Mutinied shades of corner lamp-posts, or, as a door was quickly opened and shut in some gambling house or dance-hall, a Hash of light was seen for a moment, only to make tin inteiiblackness more perceptible. As tin carriages neared a dark alley the policeman ordered them to stop, end, de see riding, said to the occupants, “It is as much as your lives are worth, ladies, to come to this Llai k hole. We warn you not to attempt it. Kven the policemen keep shy of the Devil’s Pit. “ I am not afraid,’ answered Mrs. Talbot “ Hut. friends, she continued, “you had better stop I’ehind while I follow the policemen, for enter that place I must ; my message commands it.’ “ We will not leave you alone, Mrs. Talbot, in such a district, replied Dr. Dean; and th*- paity descended from the carriages, otdering the drivers to wait there until they should return.

“If you will go, said one of the policemen, “wait here at the end of this alley. Me and Hen will go to the Pit tirst, and reconnoitre. If we turn the white light of our lanterns toward you, then you may follow. Hut 1 warn you, if we turn the red light, make for your carriages as quick as you can, and drive fast from this dangerous place."

In the darkness stood that little party of five, as the light from the lanterns

faded away. One, two, three minutes dragged by, as though tin* wings of time were weighted with lead. Not a word was spoken. It was no time for talking. What soul needed the human instrumentality of this veak woman’s help she knew not, hut followed tin* Master. Let men doubt they will regarding a special providence ; let scoffers cavil at Divine guidance; it changes not the facts in tin* lives of those who have experienced this to which they testify. What appalling deeds of evil were being committed all around them by those who loved darkness rather than light ! “ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light Y**t that one lone woman was more powerful than hosts of unclean spirits; for the Lord God Almighty was her defence, and evil is powerless before the presence of Omnipotence. THK HA NO EK SION A 1.. A light is seen in the distance ! Is it white or red .' “Come quickly,” cried Dr. Dean a>'d Mr. Henton, each grasping the arm rd his wife. “ The lantern* show the red light of danger ! We have rn time to lose ! Mrs. Talipot, follow' us close here; take my other arm!’ cried Mr. Henton. Hut in the darkness each gentleman thought the lady was under the care of the other, and so they hastened to the carriages, only to find with alarm that Mrs. Talbot was not with them. They feared to leave their wives to go back ; they also feared to take their w ives hack int * that, dark alley ; and. thinking that the policemen must have reached their friend, they hastilygot into the carriages and waited further developments.

We will follow Mrs. Talbot. In the darkness she stood there alone with her (iod. “Shall 1 follow- my friends I ’ asked fear. “Co to the Devils Pit at eleven o’clock to rescue a soul. Had she rescued that soul ? she hesitated no longer, hut turned towards the dangerous den of the wicked Ihe policemen met her wiih cocked pistols. “ Hasten, lady, to the carriage. Did you not see our red lights ' It will cost you your life to go further ! The furies will tear you to pieces ! Where are your friends

“They have gone to the carriages,’ said Mrs. I’albot, calmly, “but I must go on to that house.’

“ Why, woman, you’re mad ! exclaimed the second policeman.

“ I tell thee, the Lord has com ui a tided me to enter that place this night, and I shall obey him, if 1 die on the threshold.” “Why, lady, do you know what creatures you’ll face?” “ If it is the mouth of the bottomless pit itself, I must 140 there to rescue a soul. If you policemen will not accompany me, I shall go alone. I fear nothing when my Master commands me to go.” “ Well, it shan’t be said that a lady went where a policeman was afraid,’ exclaimed the man Hen. ** Wait here a moment. Me and Dick will go once again and see if we can prepare you a way,” and the policemen turned hack toward the loathsome place, from which came the sounds of awful blasphemies and ribald song*. I’nknown to the policemen, Mrs. Talbot followed them close, and when they reached the door they found her Iroside them. To V Continued.