The Republican., 1889-01-05
mo Saloons up There"

strength, the ripeness of his manly
beauty. and we who loyed were glad.
His coffin rested on his draped
piano, his banjo and his flute beside
it. And as we looked on his brown
curls thrown up from the cold. white
brow, on his skilled hands folded on
his breast, on his sealed lips, of which
wit and melody had been the very
breathings, the silence was an awe, a
weight upon us. yet our vOkeless
THANKS rose up to God that he was
dead.
Always courteous in manner, kind
in word. obliging in act. everybody
liked Med" the handsome, bril-
liant Ned.
Three generations of ancestors.
sslonosable gentlemen all. had taken
the social glass as gentlemen. but
their combined appetite they had
given as an heirloom to Ned, and
from his infancy he saw wine offered
to guests at the dinner partIes, and,
when he had been "a perfect little
gentleman" was given by his father
one little SIP.
He grew and the tase grew. and
when his father was taken all re-
stralnt but a mothers love was
taken.
AS the only child of praying
mother, now the church would hold
him up, now the saloon would draw
him down now his rich voice would
join his mothers to swell the an
thems of the church, now make her
night hideous with his ribald songs.
So all along the years he was her idol
and her woe.
When her last sickness was upon
her the mother said to a friend:
"They tell me when l am gone
Eddie will go down unchecked, that
in some wild spree or mad delirium
he will die. But he will not. His
fathers created the appetite they gave
my poor hoy. His disgrace is their
sin and D1y sin too. He saw it on our
table, tasted it in our ice-creams, jel-
lies and sauces. For this my punish
ment is greater than l could bear but
for the sure faith that God has for
given me and will answer my daily
nightly prayers, and Eddie will die
an humble penitent. 1t is just that
/ be forbidden to enjoy here the
promised land. but l know whom l
believe. and my boy will be carried
safely over"
AS death drew nigh, every breath
was prayer for "Eddie," and. as he
chafed her death cold hands, the
paid lips formed the words no ear
could catch, Observation-Disclosures.
en-" And his voice. rich and full,
responded, II will. naother-I aOiU !"
And as from her mountain height
of faith and love she caught sight of
that "promised land" with ser.
aph's smile she whispered, "I-thank
-thee-O Father" and was gone.
And his uncomfortable grief made
one say to another, "His mothers
death will be his salvation"
He covered the new. made grave
with flowers, and when Others had
left the cemetery he went back and
sat beside it until nightfall, and then
went to his lone home, and the Op.
pressiye sslence drove him out to
walk. He passed saloon; some of
his old associates came out and said
kind words of sympathy. His soul
was dark and sad, and from the open
door came light and cheerful voices.
and he went in.
Before the long spree was over he
babe crony "Take that old book
out of my sight"
That old book the Bible he had
seen his sainted mother reading
morning. night, and often midday.
and from which he had read to her
those suffering. dying days.
Then a friend of his mother took
him to her home and brought him
back to soberness, remorse and hor.
ror of himself. For months he did
nobly and became active in Christian
work. and refused all the urging "to
just step in and see your old friends, u
and we felt there was joy in heaven,
Then he was asked to bring his
banjo and sing at an oyster supper al
the most respectable saloon in town
where mo one is ever asked tc
drink"
A wild spree was the result, and
his robe was so mired he doubted i
it had ever been white. And WI
doubted. too. lost hope, lost faith II
himself. and. worse. lost faith II
God.
Kind arms were thrown abou
him. and again he was placed upor