, 1873-06-29
LOST AND SAVED.


feared there WAS danger. l knew that b.
went there daily. But be plead all those OF.
cuses with which men de1ude themselves ant
those who love them. His confidence in hi
safety quieted my fears for time But, viii
vision sharpened by love and fear, penetrated
walls, and saw what more should sec.
Driven by an impulse which oyercame fesr,
entered the outer door, whose worn threshold
attestod to the multitude "who walk to
gether there" and, passing that respectable
show OF cigar-bo1es, reached the inne1
room. I paused, and SAW its garnishing
OF bottles, g1Assos, and cards. and around 8 table
group Of men, who, with unnatural voices
laughed and talked with the naudlin Stiffness Of
into1ication.
| Above the din OF conVoreation there was an
other sonnd, "a clanking sound, and saw that
| each man had heavy CHAINS hanging from his
wrists and ankles but thoir sight was so giddy
| that they could not see them, and their senses sc
| dr1led that they could not feal theu.~ And, 81
they tossed the cards and geBtured in their wild
| excitement, the chains clanked and ratified.
! The game is finished. Another bottle is open
ed the glasses are filed and emptied; and,
with keener zest and wilder hilarity, new game
! is commenced.
In strange glow of light, IN tbs corner Of the
| room, a terrible sight festens my gaze. shape
too frightful to describe.-R dreadful coun-
tenance, gleeful with helliHh triumph watch
ing tho group around the table. In his hands is
pair Of fetters, from which hang ponderous
cnAlnB.
At the table, see, now, one man who is not
nAnacled. But his time has come; his dclusion
is complete his blindness is such that the red
hot irons can be fastened to his wrists, and he
will not know it.
/ see the chains now hanging from the wrists
of the man loye-the father OF my children
the Light Of my home, the godike man wor-
ship.
Tho agony is too great! With cry awoke
to find myself in the seclusioa OF my chamber.
and to hear the heavy, unnatural breathing OF
my husband, who is sleeping at my side.
But it WAS not dream. 1t is dreadful re-
atty Tho saloon is there, tho inner room, the
table, the cards, the liquor, the glasses the men
monster, with the ted-hot irons, ready for tho
poor victim when he shall be sufficiently blinded
and helpless.
God Of Heaven! have mercy On them in their
6 wives and mothers who love those men, is
there no power to break those chains and set
them free !? Prayer and fasting are good, but
they must be joined with works.
Let come effort be made that ahan prevent
their terrible doom.
O men that keep these gates OF He'll raise
your hands !; do you not see tho fetters Move
your feet do you not see that you are chained7
Turn away from the glare that blinds you; do
you not see the legions that swarm around you
singing, shouting, in. he11iah e1ultation
There are no better men than many OF those
whose danger Is 30 fearful. OF ali Gods no.
blest works, they are the crowning effort. With
hearts SO full Of love and kindness as to be al
most divine, they are tho sun and centre OF q
universe all their own and, In their terrible
fall, they bring with dreadful sor1ow, the hearts
Of those who love them to the grave.
o ye whose feet are in the alppe1y places
Raise your fettered hands, and grasp the hand
OF the Almighty. He alone can save you. He
alone can mako You free. He alone can
clothe you IN an armor IF against e1 which
Do you not SEQ that hideous shape bringing the
fetters red-hot from the forge God Of Heaven
have mercy on you when all that ia mortal shall
pass away from you when, With cleared vision,
yoq shall see IN long procession, IN s5e t;n ter
Jour doora when, with hearing eharpened to
terrible acutenoss, You shall hear the CRY Of the
orphans you have made when you ahall see, in
ali their desolation, tho homes you have de-
hearts you haye broken, shall appear against
Can You console yourself then with the thought
that, If you had not gathered toll on this dread
ful highway to Hell, some one else would have
done so? scribes, Pharisees, hypocrites when
tho Almighty Judge shall ask you, Whore is
7our brother7" what will you answer7 You
have seen him carried away by the torrent OF cir
cumstances, associations, habits. appetltos, de-
lusivs temptations. and laTo turned away on the
other men. You have seen him struggling
on the slippery banks OF the fearful
whirlpool, weak, dizzy, helpless, praying for
help, and have put forth no hand to save; I