Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-01
ayES WORD SHALL PIERCE THROUGH
rxr% OWN SOIL, AI.St.'

Eyes WORD SHALL PIERCE THkoUGh
THY OWN SOUL ALSO"
The following letter was written to
Frances E. Willard, by the mother OF
Roderick Dhu Gambrel:
DEAR SISTER: Enclosed you will
find a photograph of my murdered boy,
which ] know you will accept as gift
from his Borrowing mother as festi-
moniaI of her love for you "for your
works sake.n Ny boy met you in
New Orleans at the great temperance
meeting there. From that time until
his ewes closed in death, he was the
strong advocate, the fearless defender
and the unfaltering champion of the
w. u. In vain did prudent poll
ticians ''cautinnh him against commit
ting himself to this 'fanatical female
craze.u and tell him that his talents
and industry, and integrity OF moral
character, would lift him to eminence
in his State if he would not spoil it all
by assocIating himself with these
cranky, well meaning, but mistaken
women" His reply was: "1'd rather
lift NV State up, up to the heights of
pure reform Temperance politics. than
tn lift myself into the Presidents chair"
From his babyhood / had taught him
that total abstinence was the only safe
rule of faith and practice. Tall, like
his father, strong and stalwart in
young manhood that had never been
deteriorated by the taste of liquor or
tobacco, do you wonder that /, his
"Iittle mamma" looked up to his six
feet stature with all of fond mothers
pride; that felt secure in the promise
of his future because he so beautifully
honored his father ami mother, and so
faithfully and legally obeyed and serv-
ed US? Only God knows now dear and
precious he was to every inmate OF his
now darkened home; but God does
know and God does comfort and sus-
tain US i'm our bitter cup of sorrow,
which we drink to its very dregs. Some
months ago our Attorney General said
to me, while discussing w. G.. Il. U.
work and workers.: 81 admire your
course with your sons; honor you for
the prudent care which fitted them for
life by teaching them temperate
which shielded them from temptation;
by giving up society, and going into
the printing office along with them,
and il all mothers would do as you
have done, whisKey could never reach
their hearts through their SONS" l
have not seen him since the assassina-
ton of my first-born, but sent query
III II llhC
ASK General Miller if he remembers
a conversation he had with him on w.
G.. T. u. work? If he says Yes ask
him if he does not think whiskev
reached my heart through my boy?"
Thank God, not many women are cali
ed on to bear what I have borne, and
yet I'd rather have the sweet memory
of my pure temperance boy to cherish !
than to have living sou who would
touch intoxieants or advocate their use.
My sorrow cannot be half so bitter as
! the ,rrow of a ,irunkard's mother. L
thank God for sparing me such sor-
row. / have two other SONS, aged
eighteen anu twenty, and far rather
would have them shot down in STAIN
less, blameless manhood for defending
the right and truth, than to have them
drink or advocate drinking. even
though they might have what the
world calls honors and emoluments,
along with such advocacy. But must
not trespass further on your time. May
God bless you and all white ribboners.
is the prayer of your sorrowful sister,
MARY II. GAMBRELL.
Jackson, Miss, June 1887.