Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-09-02

II uhu uCCepLCu your lnNlbhJkOIbA uiBub
now be lying az Q depth sbR misery and
degradation, the bare thought Of which
makes me shudder !" d. dlgu q IL
The gentleman stood for little while
as If stunned. VT frD-, 1r
"This is frightful to think Of" he said,
and saw him shiveE .o -T0
1t is the last time," he added, after D
pause-"the last time that any man shall
go out of my house weaker and more de-
graded than when he came in. If my
offering Of wine cause my brother to
offend, then will not offer It again while
the world stands" tr
"Ah, sirr' answered Martin, "iH many,
many more OF our good citizens would 80
resolve, hundreds of young men now
drifting out into the current of inteinper-
anoe, might be drawn back into safer
waters; and hundrt dis OF others who are
striving to make head against 1t, saved
from destruction. l speak feelingly, for l
am one of those who are struggling for
life in this fatal current" i...
The way of safety for man like Mar
tin, is very narrow and straight. If he
steps aside into any of the pleasant paths
that open on the right hand and on the
left, he is in the midst of peril. If he
grow confident in his own strength and
less dependent on that which is given
from above, the danger of falling becomes
imminent,
Martin fell again. Alas that this
should have to be told.
"Wss that Martin who passed us ?"
asked friend with whom was walking.
"No," l answered, in positive voice ;
and yet, as l said the word my heart gave
throb of fear the man was so like him.
NIt IN sDrzOr xxyratoh 10
tries hard to reform but that cursed ap-
petite is too much for him. I'm afraid
there is no help. He'll die a arunkard"
turned back quickly and without re,
sponse, following The man we had passed.
Just as came up to him, he had stopped
at the door of q drinking saloon, and was
holding brief parley with awakened ap-
petite.
"In Gods name, nop l said, laying
my hand upon him.
He started in a frightened kind of way,
turning on me haggsrd face and blood.
shot eye. drew my arm within his, and
led him away, passive as child. Not a
word was spoken by either, until we were
in hrs Office, which was not far distant,
and the door shut and locked. He drop
ped into chair, with slight grosn, his
head sinking upon his chest. He was the
picture of abject wretchedness.
He leaveth the ninety and nine that
are safely folded" said, speaking in a
low, tender voice, "and goeth out into
the wilderness to seek that which is
estray."
He did not answer.
"You have looked to the strong for
strength, you have prayed to Him for sue
cor, and he has come very near to you
and helped you. Because you again went
out of the fold, His love has not failed.
He has found you out in the wilderness
and brought you back to place of safety.
Only trust in Him and all will be well.
He is the friend that sticketh closer than a
brother. His is love that never fails"
l waited for him to reply, but he kept
silence.
1T must have been no ordinary tempta-
tion," said.
Still he was silent.
Inc enemy nusI 1iavo .---. - -
unaware" l added, after brief pause
&" The bolt must have fallen ere you saw
the warning flash"
at was taken at a disadvantage; but !
had time to know my enemy, and should
have given battle in Gods name, instead
Of yielding like q craven"
Such was his reply. 1t gave me hope.
"Tell me the whole story" l said.
He raisedIhimself to firmer attitude
and l saw swift lights beginning to fash
in his dull eyes.
"Wounded again in the house of
friend" he replied.
"What friend?" -.
"One on whom Cod has laid the spe
cial duty of saving human souls-oul
minister
"Not Mr.. l."
eyes"
/ was confounded.
al went to him for help" continued
Martin, land instead of the counsel ant
support l then so much needed, for m,
old enemy, appetite, was gathering up HI
strength, and setting his host in battl
array, was tempted and betrayed
should have gone to God, and not to mar
With his Divine Word in my though
and prayer in my heart, Il should haV
opposed the awakening enticement G
desire, as l have so often done and pre-
vailed"
"Tell me how it happened" I said.
Gas have just told you," h
replied, "I was not feeling yer
strong. That old restlessness Of whic
l have spoken, had come bac
upon me, and knew what it meant. :
said TO my wife, I think, Mary, that |
step around and see Mr.. l.. I'd Lib
to talk with him. She looked at me wit
q slight shadow of concern in her face
for she has learned to know the signs OF
coming hour of darkness, when the pov
ers of hell renew their direful assault
upon my soul. Do she answered and
went.
"I found Mr., L. in his library, b,
not alone. Mr.. E., the banker, hS
called in to have talk with the miDist
about a college for theological student
in which both felt considerable interei
Funds were wanted in order to give Il
Institution the required efficiency; al
the ways and means of getting funds we
.. earnestly discussed by Mr.. L. and II
capitalist. After an hours talk, and u
arrangement of .plan Tor securing y
object in view, Mr.. L-- rang bell. I
the servant who came in, he said som
thing in low voice, that I did not hea
: The servant retired, but came back in
few minutes, bearing to my surprise al
momentary CONSERVATION, a tray with wi
|, and glasses. l saw pleased light in 4
1 bankers ey es, as they rested on the amb(
colored wine.
4 "Some fine, old sherry said Mr.. L.
: sent me by friend aDrUau. want you
: : taste it, And he filed the three glass
= that were on the tray, handing one TO
guest and another to me. In myself-r
s poor, weak selfl-I was not stro
enough 10 refuse. If had looked
I to God, instantly, and prayed
k strength to do the right, strength would
s know, have come, But did not l to
e ne glass, not meaning to drink, but
d gain time for thought, To nave refus
II would have been, l then felt, to set II
ID self up as a rebuker OF these men; a
n that had not the courage to do, Nc
d did not mean TO taste the wine, But
g. they lifted their glasses, drank and prai
m the fruity Juice, |, In kind of mesme
lapse of rAional self control, raised
re glass also, and slipped A. wild, Afie
THIRST possessed me instantly, and
ne drained the glass to the bottomi
IN "a sudden terror and great darkn
fell upon me. / saw vhe awful gulf
n whose brink stood. will go home
at said to myself and rising, bade the
men an abrupt good night and left tn
But did not 90 directly home, alas
IN mel There were too MANY enticem6