Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-05-07
White Shoes and White Dresses.

One morning during the crusade in Gin.
cinnati, drunkard's wife called on Mrs.
Leavitt. She carried babe in her arms
only six weeks old, and was pale and weak
from sickness and fasting, and this was her
pitiful story
any husband is drinking himself to
death he is lost to all humane feeling
our rent is unpaid, and we are liable to be
put out into the street, and there is no food
in the house for me and the children. lie
has a good trade, but his earnings all go into
the saloon on the corner near us he is be-
coming more and more brutal and abusive.
We seem to be on the verge of ruin. How
can I, feeble as | am, with babe in my
arms, earn bread for myself and children p
"Why not have your husband converted ?"
questioned Mrs. Leavitt, as the drunkard's
wife continued her sad story.
sob There's no hope of such thing.
lie cares for nothing but rum"
"I'll come and see him this afternoon"
He'll insult you."
"No matter; my Saviour was insulted,
and the servant is not above his Lord"
That very afternoon Mrs. Leavitt called
at the tenement house. The husband was
at work at his trade in little back room,
and one of the children was sent to tell him
JDdJ u lduN WlSntu W see MIN. lie CDllu,
however, soon returned with the message
" My pa says he won't see any one"
"You go back and tell your pa" said Mrs.
Leavitt, in her energetic way, that lady
wishes to see him on very important bust
ness, and she must see him if she has to stay
till after supper"
She knew there was nothing in the house
to eat. A moment afterward poor, bloated,
besotted wreck of a man stood before her.
"What do you want ?" he demanded, as
he came shufiling into the room.
"Please be seated and look at this paper"
she answered, pointing to vacant chair at
! the other end of .he table at which she was
sitting, and handing printed pledge to him.
lie read it slowly, and then throwing it
| down upon the table, broke out violently:
"Do you think I'm fool -? III drink
when | please, and let it alone when
please. I'm not going to sign away my per-
sonal liberty"
"Do you think you can stop drinking :"
| Yes | could if | wanted to-
al think you're slave to the rumshop
down on the corner"
| "Nol"
"Then you love the saloon-keeper's daugh-
ter better than you do your own little girl.
| "No, don't either"
| "When came by the saloon-keeper's house,
| saw his little girl coming down the steps,
and she had on white shoes, and a white
dress, and blue sash. Your money helped
to buy them. ! come here, and your little
girl, more beautiful than she, has on a faded,
ragged dress, and her feet are bare
"That's so, madam"
"And you love the on-keeper's wife
better than you love your own wife"
Never; no, never"
"When | came by the saloon-keeper's
house, saw his wife come out with the
little girl, and she was dressed in silks and
laces, and a carriage awaited her. Your
money helped to buy the silks and laces
and the horses and the carriage. | come
here, and find your wife in faded calico
gown, doing her own work if she goes any.
where, she must walk"
"You speak the truth, madam"
You love the saloon-keeper better than
you love yourself You say you can keeI
from drinking if you choose; but you helped
the saloon-keeper to build himself fine
brick house, and you live in this poor
tumble-down old house yourself"
al never saw it in that light before.
Then, holding out his hand that shook like
an aspen leaf, he continued: You speak
the truth, madam am slave Do you
see that hand ? have a piece of work tc
finish, and ] must have a mug of beer tC
steady my nerves or | cannot do it but to
morrow, if you'll call, III sign the pledge"
"That's a temptation of the devil | die
not ask you to sign the pledge. You are q
slave and cannot keep it. But do want to
tell you this There is One ,cho can break
your chains and set you free"
g want to be free"
"Well, Christ can set you free if you'll
submit to him, and let him break the chains
of sin and appetite that bind you.'
ats been many long year since
prayed"
"No matter; the sooner you begin the
better for you"
lie threw himself at once on his knees
and while Mrs Leavitt prayed, she heard
him sobbing out the cry of his soul to God
The wife followed Mrs. Leavitt in an ear
nest prayer. The words were simple and
broken with sobs, but somehow they went
straight up from her crushed heart TO God
and the poor man began to cry in earnest
for mercy.
90 God, break these chains that are burn
ing into my soul Pity me, and pity my
wife and children, and break these chain,
that are dragging me down to hell. o God
be merciful to me, sinner !" And thus ou
of the depths he cried TO God, and he hearc
him and had compassion upon him, anC
broke every chain and lifted every burden
and he arose free, redeemed man.
When he arose from his knees, he said
Now will sign the pledge and keep it.
And he did. A family altar was built, tn,
comforts of life were soon secured-for h,
had good trade-and two weeks after thii