The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-03-13

| crowd thronged in after Us, and with
those already there. filled the place com
! pletely
/ Mrs. Elliott advanced AT once 10 the
bar. and we grouped ourselves around
! her, and such a group as had never been
seen in our city before.
Where is Mr.. Hill.~ asked our leader.
/ in a firm voice.
The bartender stared at her moment
| in blank dismay, and then called OUT
Mr.. Hill, here, quick, for Gods
! Saker
Yes. tell him TO come for Gods sake
and humanity's' said Mrs. Elliott, Civ
ing deep meaning to the fellows profhn-
! ity.
'.What the devil does this mean" ask
ed Mr.. Hill, appearing from an inner
room, with face ON which surpriserand
anger contended for the mastery +IIe
was fiorid. low-browed. thick-set man.
| showily dressed. and with hard sinister
| eye. After one glance at him. hoped
] little from Mrs. Elliotts appeal turn.
| ed 10 look at the crowd for n moment in
order TO see on whose side their synlpa-
| thy would assert itself, but the expires
sion at this time was mainly one of
eager curiosity and excitement. But
4 NllelF L
saw side door open and Vinton Elliott
appeared overlooking the scene, with
! white, appalled, face But all were too
intent on the scene before them TO note
his entrance, for with voice that
trembled, and yet with dignity, Mrs.
| Elliott had commenced speaking.
s'Mr Hill. you have the form and
semblance of man, and We give YOU
Of rI,s,I
You can not realize the results of. your
traffic as We poor women can whose
| homes YOU are destroying. whose hearts
you are breaking What is life TO us, if
our fathers, our brothers, our sons, our
husbands (oh how her voice thrilled at
that world go down into the darkness
and infamy of drunkard's gravel Can
| you not see that such life would be to us
but living death and prolonged agony?
| And yet, not for ourselves are we plead
ing, but for those whom you are des-
troying. Perhaps we may find heaven
hereafter, but they can not You poison
body and soul at once. We are desper-
ate in view of the peril of those we love.
Yesterday there was not, in all the city.
a more proud and happy women than /.
happy in my home! happy in my lIus-
band! happy in my hopes for the future :
proud of his rich promise and good name,
But now my heart is breaking: oh how
it has ached since You sent him Stagger-
ing 70 me long past midnight, What but
hell-broth could have 50 changed my
noble husband. Yesterday, all hOnored
him. To-day, the finger of the town
will be pointed at him oh, believe me.
sir. few dollars can not pax you for
infiicting all this shame and misery |
beSeech you, sir, promise me that you
will never sell another drop of the ae-
cursed poison"
There was n momentary and death
like silence. and then HILL with difficult
~, found his brazen voice.
Now look here madam he began.
1--WE got my rights as well as you and
other people This is my, business.
You've no right here Interfering with it.
These are my premises. You've no right
here without my consent. You all make
yourselves liable to Indictment for tress-
pass Besides, it amt the right thing
for ladies to go tramping through the
streets followed by a Fabble. and med
ding with things that don't concern
them. 1t isn't lady-like. It's fanat -
"Hush! in a word. answer mem cried
Mrs. Elliott in a voice that went to every
heart like an arrow. will You not
promise me never TO sell my husband
another glass of 7liquorl'
MOI" shouted Hill, nor anv other
wOman's husband | will promise % sell
to all who'll pay" .....
There was sudden hoarSe murmuring
on the part of the crowd, but in q mo-
ment it was hushed, for the insulted
wife had knelt on the floor before the
bar We all dropped on our knees
around her.
30 God, she pleaded, in a tone that
must have thrilled the very soul Of the
most hardened present, ''shali human
love and human anguish plead before
thee in vainl Art thou not a God of
mercy, and yet cruelty is crushing usl
Art thou not a God of justice. and vet
we are being robbed of all that makes
life endurable! Thou didst stop the
mouth of lions. Here in our Christian
land are human hearts more saFage.
Thou didst preserve in the furnace seven
times heated Beneath our Church
| spires burns the more remorseles9 and
destructive passion of avarice. wit
thou not break the stony heart before
us and bend his stubborn will TO thinel
Thou knowest that because of Ous love
VIC NOuIi OlAA ut-ttEl Nlt-Ns .fDtl We
believe that thou dost love themieven
more. Wilt thou not in mercy change
| their deStroyers into men! Wilt Thou
not take this awful soul-killing t4mpt-
alton out of their path. We plehd in
the name of thy dear Son, who gave his
life for us all. Amen"
Strange to say, there was a responsive
''Amen" from the rough crowd that
would have done honor TO a Methodist
''class meeting" and as looked around
on rising, | saw many eyes wet with
| tears where had expected only Looks of
seorn. did not dare meet Mr. Ellott's
| eye. though he remained standing spell
bound in the doorway still i
But the tragedy went forward without
a moments pause Mrs Elliott tbOk- a i
| step nearer the rumSeller. pointed up
with an impressive gesture, and bent
upon him a look such as I.never Sdw on
a wOman's face before, for mirror in
| the bar opposite revealed her form and
| features perfectly, and gave her bdck. to !
| the audience as n startling picture.
| Hill tried TO meet her eye. but could not,
| for she sank guiltily and confuseAly 70
| the floor
Mr. Hill" she said in a low. GENTLE -.
voice, and yet it reminded me Sf the
still small voice of God, " it. was u pen
etrating and awe-inspiring, 'rOncel lmore
| | ask you, / beseech you, answer lne as
you will wish you had answered lwhen
we stand before His judgment seat. will
| YOU not cease this dreadful busineEs.
\ death-like hush followed H3l was
| evidently cowed and overcome, and after
! n moment mumbled out:
| sIt's not in man TO resist you. madam.
| | promise | will not sell any more TO
| your husband, though he will get il else
where if lie wants it. | think it's D pity
he can't stand up for himself, without
sending his wife around praying and
beseeching for him.
Give way there" cried Vinton Eli
/ otis voice, and he sprang down fro pn the
| raised doorstep and struggled toward his
wife. There were InurInurs and jhcula-
| tiOns of intense excitement on the part
of the crowd as this new element entered
into the drama, and all gave way before
him. Mrs Elliott started and trenbIed
violently at his voice. and the moment
lie reached her, clung TO his arm and hid
her face sObbingly on his shoulder All
/ her wonderful nerve and selfcontrOl
seemed gone. In n clear, ringing tone.
Elliott said :
''Mr. Hill. YOU have spoken some trlle
words this morning This is no place
this Is no action for ladies like my wife
and other honored women that | see
here: and believe ne. they would pot be
here If you and /. and our Ike. hid not
! driven them 10 desperation. God knows
/ YOU. have enough TO answer for. bat you
only are not to blame. You can't force