The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-05-24
"Raise the Fallen.


Cicero says: Men resemble the gods in
nothing 50 much as in doing good to their
fellow creatures" And J, Hagen beauti-
fully remarks:
Words of kindness we have spoken,
May, when we:have passed away
Heal perhaps spirit broken,
Guide "A brother led astray."
It may be thought by some Of your read
ers that the one who from time TO time
pens to you few lines on prohibition, has
no sympathy for the poor inebriate. If so
1t is u mistake. ! pity him. or her, from
the bottom of my soul | would do any
thing reasonable TO drag him from the gut
ter, to elevate him to a happier, safer, pur-
er plane of life A very dear friend said
to me once, when recovering from an attack
of delirium tremens, "Friend Pussy, | state
simple fact when say to you that up to
the day ! met you at the court room had
not drawn a sober breath for 25 years"
"Well," said I, John, you will come up
TO our meeting on Sunday afternoon and
sign the pledge?" eyes, | will. | have
promised my mother who has been so kind
to me in my illness, and by the help Of God
| will keep my promise" He came, he
signed the pledge, he made a good speech.
He was faithful for years But the demon
drink overlook him in an unguarded mo-
ment and he fell. John b. Cough says
that he fell Z times but arose again, ard
| by the help Of God was enabled to stand
and become "A true strong man. SO my
friend may take courage again, make IA
new resolve, resign the pledge renounce
old companions, turn his back upon the
devil, shun the wine cup as he would the
very mouth of hell, and be a man again.
of his true friends that he may stand again.
But as | have said again and again, it is
useless or almost useless for us TO try to
save our fellow men when pitfalls are all
about them and dens of infamy. Oh! if
| could sweep them all, with one fell
swoop, from the face of the earth, how
gladly would do it, if ii was the last and
only remaining act ofmy life. But as long
as professed Christians tamper with liquor
and vote for license, what hope is there Of
doing anything? And, yet as Mr.. Kidder
tells us, it is
Better to weave in the web Of life,
A bright and golden filling,
And to do Gods will with a ready heart,
And hands that are swift and willing,
Than to snap the delicate, slender threads
OF our curious lives asunder,
And then blame God for the tangled ends
And sit and grieve and wonder"
We must work while we have the OPP
portunity,
Raise the fallen, cheer the dying
Learn to labor, and to wait"
Our Temperance Union Of La Sale, Put
nam, and Grundy counties will have met
at Millington before this sees the light in
the clear type of the FREE TRADER.
nope lIlut Illutl BOp'i VIII nave Dttu ubllt'
see that the National Woman's Christian
Temperance Union has issued circular
suggesting that Wednesday May 2Sth, be
devoted to prayer for the temperance cause
in relation to National politics. The sub
iects of prayer are, christian pastors and
editors, party platforms, presidential can
didates and Christian voters" They are
good subjects for prayer. Ladies who
pray, and all ought to, don't forget ii.
Through the medium Of Chicago weekly
| learn that Francis Murphy has been
preaching temperance in Park Avenue NJ.
L. church, since May 4th.
RESULTS.
Between 1000 and 800 persons have
signed the pledge and put on the blue rib
bon. A good many fallen men have been
4 reclaimed and given their hearts to God, "A
good way to do. He is still at work in
Chicago, which has 5000 saloons, big
field. And now, good friends, allow me to
say in parting in the words of the sweet
singer of the Quakers, j. g. Whittier.
at NAV not be our lot TO WELD
| The sickle In the ripened field,
Nor ours To hear on summer ewes
The reaper's song among the sheaves
Yet where our duty's task Is wrought,
| In unison with Gods great thought,
The near and future blend in one
And whatsoever Is willed is done"
Very truly yours,
JOSHUA PUsEY