The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-08-14

fore, but with their face ever towards
the beautiful gardens. But one slipped
and fell harder than before, when with
q horrid cry he sprang directly into the
middle Of the stream and with loud
curses and great agony went Immediate.
ly over the precipice. But wondered
road and looking more closely, I saw
some of the servants of the king of the
Dit, going back and forth between the
river and the narrow road, covering the
mud of the river with which they were
covered, and of which they smell, with
the garments of the King ofthe gardens;
and some of them had got positions as
teachers of His doctrines and officers in
His household, and / saw them take of
the outside edge Of the dark river, which
appeared ut first sight to be pure and
healthy, to drink, and, drinking 1t them
selves, they carried it to those in the
rough road, and, calling 1t by deceitful
names, they prevailed upon some to
drink It, and 30 sure as they drank they
slipped and fell, and noticed that the
smell of il caused some who had been
its votaries to slip and fall, 30 potent was
It's power. And ! saw some beautiful
ladies' among the servants of the king of
the pit, and ! saw many fall by reason
of the entreaties of the ladies', who had
never before been in the stream, and
that il was from among such that the
stream was kept full. And / saw. one
who had been sent by the King OF the
gardens TO preach of Him and His king.
dom, drink of the poison water, and
hand it to others to drink, being de-
ceived by its apparent beauty; and thus
many were made to fall. And l saw
one, who had escaped, and thought HIM
self safe, for he had been out Of the
river long time, importuned to drink
of the (so-called) healthy beverage by
the servant of the Great King, and
slipped and fell, and did not rise again.
astonished at his fall, gazed at him q
moment, then turned and went on doing
the same as before, And / saw one who
had been run to the very centre Of the
stream, but had been prevailed to leave
it, who had walked q long time without
slippingin the narrow rough road, and
had united himself with the servants OF
the Great King, and / exclaimed, HE
sure is safe" But my guide said, "Wait
look" and looked and saw a supper Of
the Servants of the Great King, and all
His servants came and sat around his
table at the feast, and saw that he who
had been 30 near the centre of the fou
stream was there with look of peace
and happiness upon his face; and they
passed to him the drink of the feast
He took It in his hand, and l saw hin
look around with an anxious troubled
gaze. And as he saw all the Kings
servants, and even the leader at the
feast, partake of the drink, with tremb
ling hand raised it to his lips, and though
he took but few drops look of intense
agony passed over his face, for the
tempter had found him even at the table
of his Lord. For there was some of thu
poison of the river in the cup, and ht
went out from the feast and fell, and ht
could not rise again, though many tried
to help him. But cast into the middle
of the stream he foated faster and fastel
on its dirty bosom, and was soon los
forever. And the shock awoke me, an(
/ thought much of the matter; and
said, "This stream is the river of Alcohol
which is sweeping multitudes continual
ly to destruction, and even the servants
I Of God ore not blameless in the matter
But as for me, will not do aught thai
will be the cause ofreenkindling or Great
ing love of it in any mind; but will d.
all in my power to fight this terrible
evil and drive it from the land"
Peabody, Mass. IT. CASINO.