The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-12
Sign the Pledge.
BY REV. E. W. JACKSON.


BY REV. E. W. JACKSON
When John Blake died, it was said
that George Rand was sure to get a
large sun, as twas known that Blake was
rich and Raid was theone of all his friends
to whom he was sure to give it by his
will. But when the will was read, il was
found that not one word was said of
Rand but this: "And to my dear friend
George Rand l give my Cold-water
Pledge which has hung so long in my
room and has done me so much good
but for it / should have died drunk
long ago. To that pledge owe all own
and since it has done so much for me,
it is my wish that my friend George
Rand sign and keep this pledge. 1t will
make you rich, and in short do as much
for him as it has for me-" George Rand
was mad at this will, and put it out of
sight as he said, s'My drains l will not
give up" So great was his rage that he
meant not to see or touch it. The old
pledge lay for long years out of sight
and out of mind In the meantime,
George Rand went from bad to worse.
He drank so hard that he could not do
much else John Blake had now been
dead six years, when George Rand came
home one night, and told his poor wife
that "not one cent of all he had was
left, and that esquire Grip" would, the
next day, take all they had, and turn
them out in the cold world, with no
house or home.
80 Georgew cried the poor wife, in
tone that would well-nigh break ones
heart, what shall we do? Where can
we go?'
II do not know" he said with sad
heart. "To the poor house, fear.
ooh don't say that, George" said the
wife. You still have two hands left and,
if.
81 cannot get work /" he said. II have
been to all the men where l have had
work, and they shake their heads, and
say the times are SO hard they CANNOT
give me work | shall have to give it
up"
But you must not give it up. There
must be work some where"
"But cannot find it."
His wife stood in deep thought for
time, than said: ''If | will tell you how
you can find work, will you do just as |
say, that you may get it?'
l.
''3ut will you do it?'
II want to know what it is, first, and
then if it is not wrong, | will try"
What you must do is to stop the use
of strong drinks, and sign the pledge~
George Rand was in a rage.
'sDo you mean to say that spree once
in a while is why | do not get work%'
''That is Just what ] mean, George"
Il - her II
have heard one of them say as much. "
''Who was it%'
"Mr. Field
''What did he say?'
'sYou know the time, not more than
three weeks ago, when you-were-'
"Drunk?'
"Yes, when you were drunk; you were
at work for him then, and when | told
him you could not go, he knew why it
was; and heard him say to his clerk
who was with him as they drove of,
We'll, this is not the first time George
Rand has been on spree when | have
come for him to work for me; but he
may be sure this Will be the last time
And that, my dear, is the source of all
our woes, which lie so hard on Us. This
YOU must know when you think of it. /"
1t was now Georges time to think,
and this he did for a short time.
BY all that is dear to me, you are
right, he said 'sbut what can do now?
Our home is gone, all is gone, and | can
not get work. The pledge would not
help me now
Yes it would help you great deal, 2
his wife said. 1T would bring you
back to where you once were, your old
friends would give you work, and thus
save US from want"
George Rand's heart was too full for
him to speak for time, but at length
he said, Il viii sign the pledge, and
may God help me TO keep itr'
"Why not sign the old one your friend
John Bake left your saw it, the other
day. If you will. viii bring it. =
ITO be sure Then We shall not have
to make new one"
The old pledge was brought and
George took it out of the frame and
laid it en- the stand. As he did so. q
small roll fell ont at his feet on the floor
which he did not see. With firm hand
and his trust in God, he wrote his name
By the side of the name of his old friend
John Blake, who had long been dead.
As he put the pledge back in the frame,
his eye fell on the roll which lay on the
floor. He took it up, and found large
sum--so large that he was q rich man,
and could have all he or his wife could
wish. On the back Of the frame, where
| it could not be seen till be took out the
pIedge TO sign, he saw these words, left
| there by his old friend when he made
his will and left the roll of bills: Is not
| the Pledge sure road to wealth 7''