Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-06-15
How Little Oracle closed q
e. Saloon.

praise her beauty, she would say, NO,
papa. no, no; make the naughty men
90 away, and then I'll Gomez
There was a children's temperance
society in town, in charge ofthe 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.
Everything was new and strange to
Gracic. Size 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 into the most
solemn reverence.
After the meeting she asked the
lteacher what it meant, and if she would
teach her and her little brother how to
lpray. The teacher took the little
hands in her own, aud told the two
children about Jesus, and how be loved
little children and wanted them to be
good, and would help them, if they ask
ed him.
| Months passed; Oracle had learned
to pray, and often talked to her father
about the Christ child, and wanted him
10 pray; but he only laughed, aud call
ed her bis little saint.
One day Oracle was taken very i'll;
the doctor was sent for, and when he
saw her, he said she was very sick.
will die doctor?'
Il hope not
| You need't be afraid to tell me,
cause I'm ready; 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 leaye papa, do your
Yes, 1 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 hl, dear Gracle was On her little bed
painting her life away. What cared he
fer money now, the light OF his life was
going out! One day on his coming up
out Of the saloon, Oracle opened her
eyes, and turning upon him an implor-
ing Look, said, 'Oh papa IS the raloon
open and are men there drinkingp
Yes, darling
DO close 1t, papa. l know l'llteel
better if you will
'I'll do it darlIRg-anythlng 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,
bending over her a few minutes later.
Thank you, papa. 1t makes me
happy and better already;' and glad
smile came into her suffering tace.
Every few hours Oracle would ask, rs
the saloon closed nowi
Yes, darllng.'
Are the shutters up?'
Yes, dear, they are up
The leader Of the children's temper
ance meeting had been sent for at
Gracie's request, and had been with her
almost constantly from the first, and
now sat chafing the hands that were
growing so cold in death.
oh, papa, wish you'd never open
the saloon again. Mamma, can't you
get papa to promise me never to oper
the saloon again!'
oh, George, do promise your dying
child sobbed the mother, who had
lneyer favored her husbands business.
The strong man shook like reed.
He could not speak for moment
then coming aud bending oyer her as
she tossed restlesslY he said, in a
strange and husky voice:
MY darling Gracle, papa will never
open the saloon again.
'Oh, papa, ll'm 80 glad. I'll tell
Jesus when 1 get to heaven that you
have closed the saloon. Aud now,
papa, you must be good, and He'll let
you come 10 that beautiful place, too;
aud mamma and Alice can come
There was a glad smile on the dying
child's face that soon faded cut into
lines of pain but all at once, just at
the last, her face frightened up with a
strange. unearthly brightness, and she
cried out joyfully:
'Oh, mamma, look, look! the room
lis full Of angels. Papa, don t you see
theme They are all about you!
There was a hush IN the room, for
the gates Of heaven were thrown open
to let the pure, bright spirit pass
through. Only the body Of the little
Oracle was leit-the real Oracle had
gene 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 ihs pledge, but has be-
come a Christian, and expects to follow
| his Oracle to heaven afLer awhile.
CHANGING TIE SUBJKoT.--Col. Sam
Iclt.kooo a nolorad citizen al HOugtafl,