The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-01-11
T. HE CALIFORNIAN.
Salvation 10 the lttermOst.
THE OUTCAST RECLAIMED.

THE Or1CAST RECLAIMED.
The Gospel offers pardon to the most de-
graded outcasts, and there are no souls SO
stepped in vice as to be beyond its mercy.
The Saviour Himself lifted many publicans
and harlots from the abyss Of ruin, and Di-
vine grace every year gathers trophies from
those who are apparently lost to all sense Of
shame, and thought of reform. Kindness
and confidence often have mighty power
over such outcasts. MIR Cough gave an H.
lustration Of this in recent speech
spoke in Dundee to the outcasts of that
town. The Right Hon Lord kinnaird and
his lady were instrumental in getting up that
meeting. 1t was such meeting | suppose,
as you cannot see in this country,-at least
| never saw such one If such all audience
can be gathered together here. should like
to see it, and to address it. The town mis-
sionares had got together large mass OF
men and women, and YOU would almost have
looked in vain to find one lingering trace OF
human beauty left. 1t seemed as if the foul
hoot of debauchery had dashed it out. 1t
was horrid sight to look at. Rags filth.
nakedness-a fostering, steaming mass of pu-
tritied humanity. n woman Sat at my feet,
and the place was so crowded that touched
her: her nickname tor years had been Hell
fire." The boys called her "Fire," and she
was known by no other name in the vicinity
of her wretchcd residence. Fiity-three times
hat she been convicted and sentenced tor
from six days to four months imprisonment.
The Ex-Provost of the tow, George Rough.
said, y never sen. me policeman to take her.
She was never mastered by one man. She
is a muscular woman. and Will hit right and
left. She has been dragged before me. time
after time, with the blood streaming from her
face"
The Rev Mr. Hanway and Mr. Rough said
to me, III she kicks up row, as she proba-
bly WILL YOU will see one OF the most conf
cal rows YOU ever bchcld. 1t is dreadful but
power with her tongue that it ) amazing. We
have seen men who can stand any amount OF
common swearing, run when Fire begins to
bla>pheme."
She sat there at my feet, and as | went on.
she interrupted me Il little. | told that audi
ence what they hat; been, and what they
might be, what God meant they should be.
| showed them that they were thwartlng
Gods good designs toward every one ofthcm.
| asked that mother if she did not remember
sending that half starved little child for a
penny's worth OF oatmeal and fourpence worth
of whiskey? asked that young man to re-
member what he promised when he married
that girl, and to 90 and look at her bed of
rags to which he had brought her. Some
of them lifted up their naked arms, and said,
so, that is all true"
By-and-by, the woman at my feet looked
up and said, "Where did you learn that -
Then she looked is if she had some import
ant communication to make to the people,
Would you give the likes o me the pledge p
"To be sure | will" said l.
80, no. no" said some; 1T wont do for
her to take the pledge"
said, "Why not''
"She can't keep it,"
allow do you know"
"She'l be drunk before size goes to bed to-
night
allow do you know"
MADAM" said to her, there is a gentle
man who says you cannot keep the pledge If
you sign it,"
The woman flew into a rage.
Said !, Before you fight about it, tell me
can you keep it ~
The reply was, "lf | say will, can
l said, Then say you WILL"
II will"
"Then put down your name," said l.
After she had done it, said, Give me
your hand again."
She did so, and said, Il will keep it."
Il know you WILL | said, land | shall
come back again and see YOU
"Come back when you will, and you viii
find have kept it," said she.
Some three years afterwards went back
Lord kinnaird presided over the meeting
The woman was there. After the meeting
l introduced her to Lord Kinnaird, not a.
''Fire," but as Mrs Archer, a very respectable
Scotch woman. She had on her white cap
and her shawl pinned across her breast. III
shook hands with her. went to her house
wish could tell You what she told me.
wish l could make you feel as she made me
81 am poor body" she said. II dim;
ken much and what little | did ken, Ia
been knocked out OF me by the slaves Of tn
policemen. They knocked me on the head
Sir. | dinna ken how to pray; never wen
to Gods house these twenty eight years;
Gamma pray, but sometimes | dream ant
then her eyes filled. 81 dream am drunk
and Gamma pray; but get out Of my bed
sir, and kneel by the side OF it, and | neve
get back to it till the Gay dawn; and all
can say is, God keep me- Gamma sc
drunk any more
Her daughter said, AYE mon; and has
heard my mother at dead of night on the bar
floor, in the bitter winter time, cry out, 'Go'
keep me. and | said, mither, 90 to your bed
AMI she said no; | had dream, and caun
60 and get drunk any more"
That woman is now to be seen going ev
cry Sabbath to hear Gods word preached
she who had rot entered Gods house 70
twenty-eight years.
~ II n v T. <