Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-12-20

thing in Hillsboro II you had the same
faith, and. tnrnipg to the ministers and
temperance men who we're upon the plat.
form, added, Suppose I ask the ladies Of
this audience to signify their opinions
upon the subject !? They all bowed their
consent, and fifty or more women stood
up in token of approval. He then aaked
the gentlemen how many of them would
stand ~ hackers should the ladies mn.
dertake the work, and sixty or seventy
arose. And now, mother said my boy,
they have got you into business, for you
are on committee to do some work ct
the Presbyterian church in the morning
at nise O'Clock, and then the ladies' want
you to go out with them to the saloons
my husband, who had returned from
Adams county court that evening and
was feeling very tired, seemed asleep rs
he rested on the couch, while my son in
an undertone had given me the above
facts; but as the last sentence was utter.
ed. he raised himself up upon his elbow
and said. What tom.foolery is ali
that?" My SOD slipped out
of the room quietly. aud 1
betook myself to the task of consolinR
my husband with the promise that /
should not be led into any foolish act by
Dlo Lewis or any association of human
beings. But after he had relaxed into
milder mood, continuing to call the
whole plan, as be understood it, tom.
fooiery, ventured to remind him that
the men had been in the 'tom.foolery'
business lodg time, and suggested that
it might be Gods will that the women
should now take part. (After this be
fell asleep quietly, and resumed my
Bible readisg). Nothing further was
said upon the subject that lad created
such interest the night before until after
breakfast when we gathered in the fam
lily ROOM First, my son approached me
and gently laid his hand upon my shoul.
der, and IN a very subdued tone, said,
Mother, are you not going over to the
church this morning?' As I hesitated,
and doubtless showed in my counte-
nance the burden on my spirit, he EN-.
phatically said, But, my dear mother.
you know that you have to co. Then
my daughter, who was sitting on stool
by my side. Leaned over in . most tender
manner, and looking up in my face, said,
Don't you think you will goT All this
time my husband had been walking the
ANVIL uVSOAAA8 INV WolAs Acs0tOpUtUs
and placing his hand upon the family
Bible, that laid upon the work table, be
said emphatically. Children, you know
where your mother goes to settle ali
vexed questions. Ket us leave her alone,
Withdrawing as he spoke, and the dear
children following him. I turned the
key and Was in the act of kneel.
ing before God and his 'hoIy
word to see what would be sent me
when heard gentle tap at my door
Upon opening it, l saw my dear daughter,
with her little bible open, and the tear,
coursing down her young cheeks, as she
said, I opened to this. mother. It must
be for you She Immediately left the
room, and I sat down to read the wonder.
tui message of the great Il Am CONTAINED
in the l46th Psalm:
mo longer doubling, at once repaired
to the Presbyterian church, where quitl
. large assembly of earnest people hat
gathered.
II was at once unanimously chosen .,
the president Tor leader); Mrs. Gen. Nc
Dowell. vice-president; and Mrs. d. K
Finner. secretary of the strange worl
that was to follow.
Appeals were drawn up to druggists
saloon. keepers, and hotel proprietors
Then the Presbyterian minister iDr. Nc
Surely), who had ap to this time occu
pied the chair, called upon the chairman
elect to come forward to sthe post O
honors, but your humble servant coult
not; her limbs refused to bear her. 81
DR.. McSurely remarked, as be looket
around upon the gentlemen: Brethren
Ilsee that the ladies will do nothin,
while We remain; let Us adjourn, leavipI
this new work with God and the women
Gas the Last man closed the door afte
him, strength before unknown came t,
me, and without any hesitation or con
sultation. ! walked to the minister
table, took the large Bible, and Opening
it. explained the incidents of the morn
ing; then read and briefly las my tear
would allow commented upon its ne,
meaning to me. Ithen called upon Mr.
} Mcdowell to lead US in prayer, and suc
prayer! It seemed as though the ange
!. had brought down live Goals from o
the altar and touched her lips-she wh
, never before heard her own voice i
prayer!
"As W.T. rose from onr knees (for ther
. were none sitting on that morning),
asked Mrs. Cowden, our NJ. E. minister
} wife, to start the good old hymn "Gi,
to the winds thy fears" to familiar tun
4 aud turning to the dear woman, l sait
e AS we all JOIN III singing this hymn, !,
e US form in line, two anl two. the sma
e women in front, leaving the tall ones
i bring up the rear, and let us at GU,
D proceed to our sacred mission. trustiu
t alone in the God of Jacob It was a
e done IN half the time it takes to write i
q every heart was throbbiug, and evel
r woman's countenance betrayed her At
s emu realization of the fact that she y
r going about her fathers business
''As this band of mysterious beipe
t first encountered the outside gaze, and
: they passed from the door OF the O
p church aud reached the street beyo,
r the large churchyard they were slngi
s these prophetic words:
,. Far, far above thy thought
# His counsel shall appear,
ei When fully he the work hath wrought
70 That caused thy needless fear"
'On they marched in solemn sllen
- up Main street, first to DR.. VIM. Smit
!" drug store. after calling at all the dr.
q stores. -four in number. their pledge bel
- .igued by all sa:e one. they encounter
II saloous and hotels with varied succe
y, NJ until by continuous, daily visitatio
.. with persuasion, prayer, song and scr
" ture readings, the drinking places of ,
70 town were reduced from thirteen to {
n drug stoie, one hotel. and two saloo
&c m and they sold "very cautiously" Pra,
,s meetings were held during the ent
a. - winter and spring every morning (exc
;s Sunday, and mass meetings in the ev
y Jugs, at the NJ. Il. church one week
-, - at the Presbyterian the next. This is
-. Al