The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-03-01
SUNDAY READING.
How Little Oracle Closed Saloon.

OhaCic Whn very lltIic girl, uHly Blk
years old, but beautiful and loving
She was a modest, thoughtful child, and
when her father, who loved her very
much, wanted her to come into the sa-
loon, that he might Introduce her to the
men loungiDg there, and hear them
praise her beauty, she would say, "No,
papa, no, no make the naughty men
go away, and then I'll come"
There was children's temperance
society In town, in charge of the Wo-
mans Temperance Union, and little
Oracle and her brother, still younger,
were invited to attend. The father
gladly consented, for he liked much to
see Oracle dressed up and have people
notice her.
Every thing was new and strange to
Oracle. She had never seen any one
pray before, and when the leader talked
about the great God, and asked them all
to bow their heads while he prayed,
Oracle bowed, awed in to the most SOL
emn reverence.
After the meeting she asked the teach
er what it meant, and If she would teach
her and her little brother how to pray.
The teacher took the little hands in her
own, and told the two children about
Jesus, and how He loved little children
and wanted them to be good, and would
help them, If they asked him.
Months passed Oracle had learned to
pray, and often talked to her father
about the Christ-child, and wanted him
to pray but he only laughed, and called
her his little saint.
One day Oracle was taken very ILL;
the doctor was sent for, and when he
saw her, he said she was very sick.
"Will die, doctor 20
"I hope not"
"You needn't be afraid to tell me,
cause Pm all ready L asked Jesus to
take me If He wanted me-"
The father who stood at the foot of
the bed, sobbed out, "Oh, Oracle you
don't want to leave papa, do you 7"
"Yes do, if Jesus wants me to come,
cause he has the best right to me-"
The customers came and went but
the saloon keeper needed them not for
his dear Oracle was on her little bed
painting her life away. What cared he
for money now, the light of his life was
going outp One day on his coming up
out of his saloon, Oracle opened her
eyes, and turning upon him an implor-
ing look, said, Oh papa is the saloon
open and are the men there drinking ?'
Yes, darling"
"Do close it, papa. 1 know I'll feel
better if you will"
"I'll do it darling-anything to make
you feel better" The saloon keepers
heart was almost breaking. The bar
keeper was ordered to clear the saloon
and close the doors.
" Darling, the saloon is closed" he
said q few minutes later.
Thank you, papa. 1t makes me
happy and better already !" and glad
smile came into her suffering face
Every few hours Oracle would ask, Ills
the saloon closed now?"
"Yes, darling"
care the shutters up z"
=" Yes, dear, they are up"
"Oh, papa, 1 wish you'd never open
that saloon again. Mamma can't you
get papa to promise me never to open
the saloon again 7"
"Oh, George, do promise your dying
child" sobbed the mother who had
never favored her husbands business.
The strong man shook like reed.--
He could not speak for a moment then
coming and bending over her as she
tossed restlessly he said in a strange
husky voice:
my darling Oracle, papa will never
open the saloon again"
"Oh, papa, Pm so glad. I'll tell Je-
sus when get to heaven, that you have
closed the saloon. And now, papa you
must be good, and He'll let you come to
that beautiful place, too; and mamma
and Alice can come"
There was glad smile on the dying
child's face that soon faded out into lines
of pain but all at once, just at the last,
her face frightened up with strange,
unearthly brightness, and she cried out
joyfully:
''Oh, mamma, look, look the room
is full of angels. Papa, don't you see
them They are all about you'll"
III re was hush in the room, for the
gates of heaven were thrown open to let
the pure, bright spirit pass through
Only the the body of little Garcie was
left--the real Oracle had gone TO live
with Jesus and the angels.
The father never opened the saloon
the bar-room shutters have never been
taken down. The saloon keeper has
not only signed the pledge, but has be-
come Christian, and expects to follow