Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-07-22
At the Bethel.

tor her trip to Detroit ana the north,
while the handsome steamer Pearl
came slowly churning up the narrow
river with her decks covered with ex-
cursionists from Put-in-Bay. Graft of
all kinds lay along the wharfs, but
the strangest looking one of all was
the mastless boat that was moored
alongside with inclined plane leading
down to the door, and over the door
were the inviting words "Come in"
Impelled by the same motive that
caused the accommodating man at
midnight to pull the bell at the doc
tors residence because the word
ring" was illuminated over it, went
in. The cabin of the boat consisted
of long room, seated like a school
house. There were pictures on the
walls and mettoes of irreproachable
intent. Some papers and magazines
lay on the table, and at the farther
end was desk and organ. A man
that looked as if he had been sailor,
and, perhaps, is yet, sat at the desk,
and two or three were gathered
around him. When l had slowly
sauntered up the aisle, looking at the
pictures and being improved by the
notices, he arose and extended his
hand.
Brother" he said, "you are in
good season. You come to our meet
ing tonight of course"
"Well, not intentionally" l said.
Didn't know you were going to have
a meeting. I'm going to Detroit to-
night"
"Then," he said solemnly, 81 hope
you have salvation"
"Well, l haven't it with me. Does
one especially need it in going to De-
troit ?"
"You need it everywhere, my
friend. l am afraid you do not know
your own awful state"
"Oh yes | do, it's Michigan, and
awful, as you say"
81 would like to talk with you seri-
ously. Have you given thought to
the affairs Of another world ?"
"Well, to be frank with you, /
haven't. I've been pretty busy in
this world. I'm reporter"
"Don't you know that you will
have to report above"
"My present salary is here below,
and I'm trying to attend to that to
the best of my ability"
"But don't you know" he replied,
"that you will have to report above,
no matter what your work here below
is"
81 expect to go there for rest. l
don't want to do any reporting then"
"But you will not get there at all
if you don't change your ways"
81 don't believe that"
"Do you expect to go to Heaven in
your present state of mind ?"
Certainly. Don't your"
"Now, my friend, l want to labor
with you and show you your lost con-
dition."
That's drawing it too strong.
Cleveland's very nice city, but it's
not big enough for man to get lost
in who is familiar with Kalamazoo
and Oshkosh and places like that"
81 have led very wicked life"
ooh; see here. You can't brag
over me with your wickedness. You
invite man to come in and then
gloat over him on your superiority in
crime. l don't think such egotism is
fair. fatter myself l am as wicked
as you were any day. Have you
ever committed robbery or burglary
or things like thatf"
"No, but I've gambled and lied and
got drunk and swore."
"Oh, you were just commencing.
Now if you had kept on what credit
you would have been to Cleveland"
1--WE have some very wicked men
in Cleveland"
1--WE have just as exemplary bad
men in Detroit as ever you had in
Cleveland"
81 know that. l know some of
them. Say, do you know Jim Scott ?"
"Seen him."
"Well, you ask Jim Scott if he
knows Charlie Payne. You ask him
that when you see him. He'll tell
you that many night he and have
gambled till daylight"
"What! Jim Scott? Our Jim :?
Him? Never. No, sir, you can't
get me to believe that Mr.. Scott ever
gambled. You mustn't think you
can come it over stranger from De-
troit in that style"
"I guess you don't know Jim as
we'll as / did. You just ask him what
/ said"
mo, Mr.. Payne, Iwouldn't pain a
worthy citizen by insinuating such
uniust suspicions."