The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-12

move MP. The poor things over IN tn'
corner iistlessly wiped their perspiring Ia
ees with their sleeves, gazing meanwhile
AZ the Enthusiastically cut fly paper pendant
from the ceiling. But over against the
mantlepiece, In the crowd, stood rough
looking man, unshaven, without collar,
and In his shirt sleeves.
Between two OF the hymns this man be-
gan to pray aloud, without drawl, or roll,
ing Of the RS, in plain, straightforward
and practical manner, TO the effect that
John Allen might feel that he had been d
very bad man; that he had been going
down himself and dragging down with
him not only the poor girls who danced
I'm his saloon. but the wife who sat neal
him and his little children.
That John Allen might realize that some
day he must lie down and die, and that
after death he would live again, and must
answer for the sins committed here. That
he might try 10 be better man, II no,
for himself, then for his little children-to
bring them up In the right way-thai
when he was dead and In his grave his
name might not be to them shame and a
reproach. -......
That the mother OF those children might,
through the love she bore for them, res
cue them from the life before them-that
In years to come her memory might be
sweet to them-that when ste was gone
and the grass was growing upon her
grave the thought Of her might bring tears
to her children's eyes rather than curses
to their lips.
That those poor girls might feel their
degradation-turn from their sinful course
and try 10 be good women, leading bet
ter lives here, with the hope OF happiness
In the life to come.
That for each one there might be in the
future a happy home somewhere, with
virtue and affection.
And "a that rough man, coatless anu
unshaven. prayed, John Allen brushed
away the tear from his cheek; the poor
mother looked Mt her boys with mother )
love beaming from her eyes; and those
poor creatures in the corner even, were
moved nj the illusions to home for
them In the future.
When little Joe, In Bleak House. was
dying upon his mattraSs ut General
Georges, Allan Woodcourt put his mouth
very near his ear, and said TO him, In
low, distinct voice.
Joe, did you ever know prayerT
Never knOwd nothink, slrr
Not so much rs one short prayery
No, sir. Nothink ut all. MIR, Chad
bands he was n prayin' wunst at Mr..
Snagsby's and l heerd him, but he sound
ed as II he was speakin' to hlsself, and
not 10 me. lie prayed n lot. but couldn't
make out nothink on Ii. Different times
there was other genl'mcn come down to
Tom-all-alone's n prayin,' but they all
mostly sed rs tother ones prayed wrong,
and all mostly sounded TO be talk
ing to themselves, or passin' blame
on the tothers, and not talkin. to US:
We never knowd nothink. inever knowd
what Il was all about
Now, | would not utter one word de-
rogatory of the good work going on, OF
those good Christian ministers, who are
daily striving TO reclaim those poor fall
len creatures 10 better and purer lives.
God speed the work, and God speed the
workers. MAY the seed they sow, spring
up aud bear glorious fruit.
But Water Street Is Tom-all-alone's !;
aud the intellect Of its miserable denizens
Il not above that Of poor Joe, who new
er knowd nothink and the good men
who 90 down the sinks of Water Street to
do good, should take care lest In their
most earnest efforts they may appear to be
'talkin 10 themselves