A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 294, 18 December 1919, Page 15

A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM.

One afternoon, a tew months 'go, ladx in deep distress, accompanied b\ a little child, entered one of the |, >1: houses in South London and .ke ! tor assistance. She accompanied hei plea with the statement, •| have no home, no friends, and I , m enable to work.” The publican, ,'nat' ustomed to appeals of this ehai .i ter, treated her request with scant courtesy, an I, turning aside, s.ikl to the barmaid, ‘‘Business is slow this .fteinoon. I wish thinßs would wake uplhe unwelcome visitor repeated lu i request, whereupon tin* publi ,an put his hand into the till, with In w a copper, and handed it to her with a mingled look of curiosity and pin. \ man st inding at tin- bar with a cl.iss of whiskx in front of him, en Mimed of the woman, “What brinßs vmi here in this condition this after noon?” Pointing to his glass of whiskx, she' replied, “Why, whisky! Ihnt is xx hat brought me here. 1 «\.n once happx and surrounded b\ all the luxuries that xvealth could procure; mx husband xx as one of the kindest men I have c'ver known. But in an evil hour he was tempted, and fell, and in two short years my dream nf happiness xvas over, nix husband

lost his position, and then he died, and now tills a drunkard's grave. As !<>i me, I am only a xxreck of my formci self, homeless and fiiendless, and with nothing left me in the 1 xvojld but this little c hild” \nd weeping as if the fountain of hei soul xx .is broken up. she affectionately caressed the golden curls 'h.it shaded i f ice of exquisite love uncss. Then, regaining her com leisure, she- turned to the publican behind the bar, and said: “Sir. the reason I have come here f " <|,tx is to ask xou. not so much for heln. as to plead xxith you to stop this Usiness, which spreads ruin, poverty, starvation, and desolation everyxvhere. W»u are taking the* bread out of the mouths of the famished wives and (hildren of your customers. You • ic stripping the clothes from their kand spreading unhappiness, miserx, c rime, and desolation among their once happy homes.” By this time the bar had filled with customers. Their .attention was at traded and held by the pathetic story anc appeal of this sorrow-stricken woman. Some xxith curiosity, some

xxith sadness, and some xxith pity beaming in their exes, had watched this poor woman as they heard her relate her tragic story and make her appeal.

One of the men suggested the c hild should sing, and she sang in a sweet, child like* voice that well-known hymn: leld not to temptation, I or x u lding is sin. Kach victory xxill help you Some othci to xxin. ’ etc., etc. !h* men and women xxho filled the bar ixere entranced xxith the musical voice and beauty of the child, and .it the ciose men and wonun xxho had not sh'd a tear for years n<>xx xxrpt like children. One young man, who had resisted the entreaties of a loving motlier and friend'', approached the* child, and taking both her hands in his, xxith tears streaming down his pale cheeks, exclaimed xxith deep emotion, “(iod bless you, my char little* angel, you have saved me from tuin and disgrace. I will never take another drop of dunk while I live.” Another man, xxho had been given up as utterly beyond the reach of those xxho xxc-re anxious for his xvelfare, ex claimed, ”1 have drank my last glass;, from this <1 ix I xxil' be- a sober man.” J J