The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-09-03
Prohibition Department.
M BY
Ia InNES
HOW Little oracle CLOSED saloon.
j. B.JONES.

&.
How Little Oracle Closed Saloon
Grace was only six years old, but
beautiful and loving When her ia
Their wanted her to come into his sa-
loon, that lac might introduce her to
the men lounging there, and hear
them praise her beauty, she would say, !
mo, papa make the naughty men go
away, and then I'll come in" There
was childrens temperance society in
the town, in charge Of the Womens
Temperance Union, and little Oracle
and her brother, still younger, we're
invited to attend. The father con-
sented, for he liked to see Oracle dress |
ed, and have people notice her, Ora.
Gle had never seen any one pray be-
lore; and when the leader talked
about God, and asked them to bow
their heads while he prayed, Oracle
bowed, awed into the most solemn rev.
crence.
Months passed. Oracle had learn
ed to pray, and often talked to her
iAther about the Christ child, and
wanted him to pray; but he only
laughed and called her his little saint.
One day Oracle was taken very iii;
the doctor Was sent for, and when he
saw her he said she was very SICK.
evil I der Z q Us s
II hope not,
"You needn't be afraid to tell me
3 cause I'm ready; l asked Jesus to
take me il he wanted me-"
The father, who stood at the foot OF
hebed; sobbed out, ooh, Oracle! you
a don't want to leave your papa, do
your"
eyes, do, ii 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 ;
3tfdf bis little Gracie was ON herAlittls
bed painting her life away. What
cared he for money. now that the
light Of life was going outi
One day on his coming up out Of
the, saloon Oracle opened her eyes,
9pd, turning upon him an implorihg
hook, said, ooh, papa, is the saloon
openl Are the man drinkingY Do
,cIoseits papa I know I win feel bet
y,terif you will.p
sraIll.sdo it, darling-anything tc
make you feel better" e
\ n The saloon<keeper's heart was al
most breaking The bartender wal
ordered to clear the saloon and clos,
the doors
Darling, the saloon is closed" h,
said, bending over hera few minute
latter.
THANK you, papa: IL makes m,
happy and better already and a glac
smile came over her suffering face
Every few hours Oracle would ask:
SIS the saloon closed now" ,
"Yes, darling" EE88
Are the shutters up9"
ayes, dear, they are up
ION, papa, wish you'd never opel
the saloon again. Mamma, can't yo
get papa to promise me never to epe
the saloon again."
ooh, George, do promise your dyin
child, sobbed the mother, who ha
never favored her husbands bushes
The strong man shook like a reet
He could not speak for moment
then coming and bending over her, b
said in strange and husky voice:
my darling Oracle, papa will nevt
open the saloon again"
"0h, papa, I'm so glad! I'll tell ],
rus when I get to heaven that yo
have closed the saloon. And no,
dear papa, you must be good and He
let you come to the beautiful HON
too; and mamma and Alice ca
come" ~
There was aglad smile on the d
ing child's face, that soon faded o.
into lines of pain; but all at ono
just at the last, her face brightent
up with strange unearthly brigh
ness, and she cried out joyfully:
ooh, mamma, look, look the roo
is full of angels. Papa, don't you 8
them? They are all about your
There was hush in the room, (
the gates of heaven were thrown op,
to lot the pure spirit pass throug
Only the body Of little Oracle was Il
the real Oracle had gone to live wi
Jesus and the angels. The faith
never opened the saloon. The salot
keeper has not only signed the pledt
but has become christian, and {
poets to follow his Oracle to heav
after awhile.--Vermont Christian R,
lister.
Boys and Girls. Nice and Naughty
Col. Geo. w. Balm, Of Louisville, X
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