The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-21
A Child's Work.

A few months ago cosy little chapel was
dedicated as the Third Lutheran Church Of
an Ohio city. Very happy were the two
older churches to welcome the young sister,
Five years before there was only one Lu-
theran Church in the town, and it seemed
like only yesterday that the parent church
had hidden "Godspeed" to a little company
as they left to form the second church. And
now there are three How God has blessed
them and multiplied their numbers! And
to think that it has all, under God, come
about by q little fve;year-old maiden coax
ing her drunken father to 60 to Sunday
school with her!
1t happened in this wise: About forty
years ago, in little mountain town in an
Eastern State, boy was led astray by evil
companions, and learned to drink and smoke,
and to become a dissipated youth. His pa
rents moved at last to Ohio, and for while
he began to grow steadier, and married
brave little woman. But, alas! evil inhu-
he became drunken sot, given up to all
kinds of evil and sim
One day when he happened to be moder-
ately sober, his little fveyear-old daughter
came in, and climbed up Oh his lap. Putting
her arms around his neck, she exclaimed:
"My dear little drunken daddy"
It seemed as though knife had cut into
ulS very SOUL. w lGu lOOh AO
turned to his wife.
mo, l did not tell her: she has heard it
somewhere else" was her answer. 1t startled
and reused him; for, wretch as he Was he
loved the innocent little child.
Francis Murphy came to the town soon
after; and one day Little Nell came dancing
up to her papa, with dozen or so little blue
temperance badges pinned all over her hat
Her father declared afterward that every
n irn1
A few days after, fellow-drinker, who
had already signed tie pledge, came and
asked him to sign it also He agreed to do
so if some others would; and as q result,
nearly thirty Of the lowest men in the town
were rescued from the power of strong drink.
A little time passed, and Nell started to
the Lutheran Sunday school, and very soon
came the pleading little voice: Papa, won't
you 20 to Sunday-school with me next
SundayY' He could not resist the little one,
and went with her. The sweet singing pleased
him, and he went again. After his second
visit, he hunted up an old associate, now
sober man, and hailed him with: "Say,
johnson, if you'll 70 to Sunday-school,
will"
johnson laughed and scoffed little, but
finally agreed to try it. He, too, was
more rough men like themselves, and formed
a Bible class. They discussed the lessons,
often with ridicule and unbelief; and by and
by the Holy Spirit began to work in the
midst, and some of them were converted,
among them little Nell'S papa. The class
began to grow-to twenty five, fifty, seventy
five, one hundred, one hundred and fifty:
all men, and all interested in the lesson
study.
In the meantime all this was having Its in
huence with the school proper, and its num-
ber increased from four hundred to nine
hundred in a very short time. The church
also caught enthusiasm, and at last grew so
in numbers that it divided and formed the
second church-and now third. Humanity
speaking, this has come from the seed sown
by little girl
All this happened about ten years ago;
Nelrs father is an honored and respected
business man, and his elegant home speaks of
his prosperity. He is an earnest Christian
worker, q devoted temperance man, and an
active prohibitionist
Is it not wonderfull With Christ multiply
ing power, q very tiny effort may become
mighty in its influence.
HBe We steadfast and unmovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord; foras-
much as ye know that your labor is not in
vain in the Lord"-Sunday School Times.