A BUSH TRAGEDY.

White Ribbon, Volume 30, Issue 356, 18 March 1925, Page 1

A BUSH TRAGEDY.

It was late afternoon in a quiet bush township among the foothills of the main dividing range. The Great South Road meandered up hill and down dale in its journey from Auckland to Wellington. Sometimes it ran a narrow’ line between the green forest, at other times the bush gave place to small clearings, and upon each one of these was built a small farmhouse surrounded by a garden plot. Upon the crest of a hill in the main tow’nship stood the school-house. It was a primitive structure, and around it stretched the playground, shut off from the surrounding bush by the usual post and rail fence. The school faced the road and beyond the road the unbroken bush waved, a dense forest to where the snow-capped Uuahiues touched the horizon. The children had been dismissed some time ago and had taker their way home. Then out of the school door stepped Ivy Brown, the young pupil teacher. She picked up her bridle and sent out a ringing call. Immediately in answer to that call, trotted up her horse, Fairy, a lovely dapple grey. A horse with a pedigree, she held her aristocratic head high, but gentle as well as spirited, she submitted to the caresses of her young mistress. Deftly saddling her steed the young teacher started for her five mile ride home. After leaving the township behind, the road ran, a narrow line between the mighty forest giants on either side. Ivy loved this part of the road. It always reminded her of the aisle of a great cathedral, and

after a busy day at school, its quiet and rest were most soothing. Today the road was carpeted with the red berries shed by the lofty rimu trees, and as the sun through the boughs glinted upon them, they recalled to the young girl’s mind the text “And 1 saw a sea of glass with mingled fire.” Suddenly the quiet was broken by rude noises, shouts of men and trampling of hoofs. Glancing around Ivv saw a trap containing tw’o young farmers. Hansen, who was driving, was very drunk and lashed the horse furiously. Ivy's horse became restive, and a fearless horsewoman, she gave it free rein. Her pursuers tried in vain to overtake her, for Fairy could show a clean pair of heels to any horse in that district. As she crossed the railway line, the sound of racing hoofs brought her father to the door of his office. She pointed to the men behind her as she rode on home. Mr Brown knew’ both men well, and had mourned to see the deterioration in them caused by frequent drinking bouts. For nearly tw r o years Mr Brown had appeared every 3 months before the Licensing Bench with a petition against the issue of a license in his riding. But at last one had been forced upon them and this was the result. He took them into his office, ordered a cup of strong coffee, and later saw’ them partially sobered, into their trap for the journey home. Around the tea table that night Ivy told the story of her mad ride. “Was it safe to let them go home?” asked Mrs Brown of her husband.

‘Oh yen!" he replied “quite, 1 think. Hansen was almost sober, and they both promised me to go straight home. If they let the old horse alone he’ll take them home.” “Remember, Alf, there is the hotel right on the roadside. Will they pass it?” “I believe they'll keep their promise and go straight on.” “Hansen might” she said “but 1 don t trust l’ederseu. It'll surprise me if he goes by a hotel.” And there the matter was allow* d to rest. The next morning as ivy dismounted in the school paddock, the children clustered round her and spoke in awed tones. “Oh! teacher, Clara Hansen’s father is killed.” “What do you mean, children? killed! Who killed him?”

“Strong drink killed him” spoke the schoolmaster from the doorstep. He’s the first result of our new hotel.” Then he went on to give her more particulars. Contrary to their promise, the two men had visited the hotel upon their way home. Once there, they stayed until closing time, then 11 p.m. When they left, the horse w’as the most sensible member of the trio. But he was not allowed to have his way and w’as driven past the home gate. Rounding a sharp curve at a dangerous speed the trap had been overturned and both men flung dow’n the gully. There they lay until discovered in the morning. Hansen had fallen with his head in the fork of a fallen tree, and his nock was broken. Pedersen escaped with a broken leg and severe bruises.

During his convalescence Mr Brown visited Pedersen, and spoke very plainly to him about his drinking habits. “This is not your tirst narrow escape" he said “and you might not be so fortunate next time.” “I know that, but when 1 get drink 1 always want more.” “Yes! we know that fatal craving is in your blood. You cannot take it, or let it alone. Your only safe plan is to let it alone." Then Mr Brown spoke of his wife and family and for their sakes- urged him to give up the drink. After a long and earnest talk he signed the pledge, “With an earnest resolution to keep it,” and they knelt and prayed for strength to be given him. As time passed on Pederson kept his pledge. He kept away from his old companions and the hotel bar saw him no more. Gradually his will, freed from the control of alcohol, re-asserted its power and the man was gaining a noble selfmastery. Every fortnight Mr Shaw\ the curate, held service in the sci.°olroorn. An earnest man he was always on the move to visit his wide parish. Many a time had his appearance at service excited the mirth of the younger portion of his congregation. They wmuld glance beneath the table at the preacher’s feet and smile at the incongruity of his clay covered boots beneath his snowy surplice. Pedersen had got into the habit of driving his wife to church, and very glad and thankful was she when he consented to stay to communion service w r ith her. But alas! her joy was short lived. No unfermented wine was used then, and as the strong port w’ine ran down his throat, it roused all the old fiery craving. Not even the influence of that sacred place could make alcohol any other than the “devil in solution.” Pedersen went home resolved to fight and conquer. Probably he would have succeeded had not he met an old chum in town next day, who invited him in for a drink. His will, already weakened by the fearful craving. w r as in no condition to refuse. That night he wen" home the worse for liquor. Day after day the fight continued, sometimes he conquered, but oftener still he yielded, and weaker and weaker grew' his resistance. How he hated himself for

his weakness. Then, when in a drink irritated state, he struck his wife, iris cup of auguish seemed full. Next moruiug his wife said no harsh word to him, bat her blackenend eye spoke eloquently to the man of the devil he had allowed to dwell within him. A great despair seized him, and he went aw r ay by himself to a distant field. There he knelt down, with will weakened, and brain drugged, yet with a spirit clear he breathed this pathetic prayer:— “Oh God! the parson says you know all about us, that you are our Father. You know I’ve tried to tight; you know what a slave I am. Forgive me for coming to you before 1 am called, but 1 can’t stay here and drop down lower and lower. Oh! dear God! if souls do have to couie back to this world again, let mine be born into a country where there’s no strong drink to be had. I’m coming unasked, but receive me for Jesus’ sake.” The report of a gun sounded and the soul of the victim went to the tender mercies of his God and there discovered that — “There’s no place where earth’s sorrows, Are more felt than up in heaven; There’s no place where earth’s failings Have such kindly judgment given. The Coroner brought in the old familiar verdict “while under the influence of liquor.” Yes! alcohol was as truly his murderer as the murderer of his friend Hansen, the second victim to the hotel forced upon an unwilling people, to fill the pockets of the wealthy brewer in the adjacent town. Alcohol —murderer! whose crimes are committed under the protection of the law\ When next he visited the district Mr Shaw called upon Mrs Pedersen to express his sympathy with her. To him she poured out the grief and remorse which ever haunted ner. “Oh! if only I hadn’t persuaded him to come to Communion, but I never thought you’d have Port w ine.” “Mrs Pedersen, we use wine because we follow the example of our Saviour when He instituted the Lord’s Supper.” “Mr Shaw! Did Jesus use fermented wine?” “Well! we read in the Gospels that he gave wine to His disciples.” “That is true! Should we not consider the circumstances. Jesus and

His disciples were Jews and they were celebrating in that upper room the Jewish feast of the Passover. No strict Jew to-day will drink fermented wine during Passover any more than lie will eat leavened bread.” “Are you quite sure of this?” “I am! my Uncle and his family are very strict Jews anti belong to the Synagogue. They are not temperance people at all. They keep wine in the bouse, drink it, and offer it to their guests. But I noticed that during Passover week wine was banished with leavened bread from their home. I asked the reason of this and Auntie gave me the explanation 1 have passed on to you. She told me that w hen they order their supply of Passover bread, unleavened bread of course, they also order unfermented wine. And if the unfermented w’ine ran short, she made raisin wine.”

“Well! Well!” said Mr Shaw “I never thought of this before. I have felt for some time that Jesus could never have used wine containing a iacial poison like alcohol. I can see now much clearer and never again will I allow at the most sacred service of my church a devil to tempt week ones. ‘1 will drink no wine whereby my brother stumbleth’ much more will 1 not give that wine to my weaker brother.”

“I’m glad to hear you say this. Nothing can bring my loved one back, but it will save others from temptation, and remove the stumbling block from the path of our weaker brethren.”