The Monitor., 1884-11-07
A Bit Of RetrOsDect.

Among the stories that have dellShted
childhood in many ages, is one of fores-
ter whose greenwood mate, for some
bold outlawry, had been imprisoned i'll
strong castle tower, and for whose deliver
ancc the wit and energy of this faithful
friend were severely taxed. At lengh the
helpful impulse took practical shape, aud
tying long silken thread to an arrow, he
bent his bow and shot both arrow and
thread high up into the narrow window
of the tower One end of the sillSen thread
trailed upon the ground, the other was i'll
the hand of his friend. He fastened the
trailing thread to hempen cord the cord to
slender rope, and the rope to a heavy coil
of stout cable. The prisoner in the tower
drew gently on the thread till the cord wasin
his hand; then a little stronger pull brought
up the rope, the coil, and at last the cable
with which he soon set himself free.
Ten years ago when the organization of
crusaders and their sympathizcrs took
place in Cleveland, Ohio, their effort was i'll
manner, at least, like that of the ingenious
forester The prisoner in the castle of in
TEN pcrance was to be reached somehow.
Organization was simple to the end of his
deliverancc. The loving impulse was sup
plemcnted by woman's ingenuity and the
slkcn thread was soon made fast to the
arrow of gospel temperance. 1t reached
the narrow window of the prison n-towerand
found hand outstretched to receive it.
The strands of silken fibre seemed spun out
of the hearts that waited SO prayerfully
for the answering pulsation of heprisoner's
hand as he held fast the hope of deliverance.
Steadily and bravely he drew upon its slcn-
der strength while down below, the
workers grown bravcr with this success
were braiding the strong fibers of awakened
and enlightened public sentiment into a
cord that should III its turn bear upward
the stouter rope, wound together from the
strands Of prevention, educationand organ
ization. The prisoners courage grew as
he drew drew in one after another, these
sure prophecies of escape. But the rope i'll
his hands is not yet strong enough to bear
sclfto its sslcnderpossibiitics Ashe waits,
hesitant, a cheer from below reaches him.
The busy workers have found new ally.
They are twisting in with the threc-fold
line he holds tractilc wire. They are
giving the triple strength of local, state
and national prohibition to the heavy coil
at their feet His qlickcncd energies lay
hold upon its heavy weight and with
mighty purpose born of a heavenly hope,
he slowly drags upward the means of his
dclivcrance
Ten busy, fateful years are they which
have wrought in this fashion the heavy
cable which had its fral beginning in the
silkcn thread of woman's ingenuity. Our
eyes look back not to our small beginnings,
but to the heaven sent impulse, large as
humanity, tenderas mother love, and de
termincd as eternal right. Looking for
ward we see only the fulfilment of promise.
"Thy shoes shall be iron and brass, and as
thy day so shall thy strength be
''tAll thy children shall be taught of the
Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy
children
"Whosoever shall against
thee, shall fall for thy sake"
'No weapon that is formed against thee
shall prosper and every tongue that shall
rise against thee in Judgment, thou shalt
condemn
"And the work of righteousness shall be
peace: and effect of righteousness quietness
and assurance forever And my people
shall dwell in a peaccable habitation and in
sure dwellings and in quiet resting places"
Trust ye in the Lord forever for in the
Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. y
Lui0n Sinnnl