The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-03-13
WILL He COME TO-NIGHT?"
A TRUE STORY.

Wesley Braxton was happy man.
He had won the hand Of the most
beautiful girl in the village, a little,
golden-haired daughter had been sent
by Heaven to bless their union, and
home was the dearest place to him on
earth. His business prospered, but
all through the cares Of the day, the
golden moments Of the evening would
appear, keeping his found heart up
lifted in bright anticipation Of the
happy evening to be spent with his
loved ones
And it was with boundless pleasure
that Mary Braxton, the loving wife,
heard little Mile each evening, near
tea time, lisp the question: "Will pa
pa come home soon?" And it was
with joyful heart that the young wife
replied, on each occasion: pretty
soon, dear"
Once within the neat cottage, as
neat and tidy as only thorough
house-keeper could make it, and the
fond husband and father would not
exchange his habitation for the pal
ace Of king, nor his happiness for a
throne. This snug little home, with
its atmosphere Of love, was more than
all the outside world to him. Could
he ever forget, or neglect these joy
full moments?
Wesley Braxton was fastening
homeward one cold evening, when a
friend hailed him with:
"Hello, Yves! Where away so fast?
Come right in here, I want to talk to
you a moment" This was a place
which had been Stunned by the young
business man as he would shun pes
thence, and he hesitated about enter
ing. Angels seemed struggling to
hold him back, and for a time
there was dreadful struggle within
his breast, but just as he was waver-
ing in the balance, Satan appeared
upon the scene. He was arrayed in a
lop-eared cap, pea-iacket, and slippers,
and as he waddled to the door did not
present lovely appearance, by any
means. Yet there seemed to be fas-
cination in his very hideousness, as he
addressed the young business man:
"Oh, yes, goom in by der wire, und
dalk your peesness. Dish ish pees-
ness house
| The young man at last accompan
led his friend into the den, and as he
passed through the horrid door, the
angels repeated the sound borne on
the night wind, Of little Miles voice
asking "Will papa come home soon?"
Within the den, all the Satanic arts
were brought to bear to get the poor,
weak man, to taste the horrid stuff
for sale there He was man who
had money, and Satan had use for
money. After two or three libations,
the young man hurried homeward,
finding the same joyful picture, as be-
fore, but it did not look the same.
The kisses Of wife and child seemed
to burn into his very soul. He felt
that a serpent was in the house, yet
he was at loss for means for putting
it to death.
During the long busy hours Of the
next day, the horrid lashing Of con-
science remained with him. AS he
started for home on that evening, the
horrors so took possession of his mind
that mechanically he walked into the
den of Satan in the hope Of find
ing relief. Again the angels heard
the cry: "Will Papa come soon?"
The story of one day is the
story of many days with those who
go into Satan's den. Never was there
so appropriate place for the inscrip-
ton He Who Enters Here Leaves
Hope Behind" as over the door of
the den Of Satan-the Saloon. And
we lose sight OF our young friend, as
he enters, and we feel that our hopes
are buried behind the filthy screen
that hides the work of Satan from the
public gaze.
= X
But two short years have passed
since the experiences referred to in
the preceding chapter, and our atten-
ton is again directed to the home of
Wesley Braxton-if it can be called
home. A pale-faced woman, worn
out with watching by the bedside of
sick child, sits within the now squal-
id room. Sorrow and suffering have