St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-16
A Touching lucide Mt.

Inc Qul6L influence OF C0lIQ mas DGeN
the means of saving parent. remem-
Der a little history related to me many
years ago by Christian abstainer He
| said he would give INC the facts that led to
his reform, and the circumstances that ar.
rested him in his career of sin.
Two maiden ladies who lived in a village
often noticed scantily clad girl passing
their house with tin pail. On one occa-
sion one of these ladies accosted her:
Little girl, what have you got in that
pail ?"
whisky, ma'am "
"Where do you liver"
down in the hollow"
'Tll 60 home with you
They soon came to wretched howell in
the hollow, just outside the village. A
pale, faded, worn-o out woman met me at
the door. Inside was q man, dirty, maudlin
and offensive. The lady, addressing the
woman, said:
lis his your little girlf'
"Yes''
docs she go to school3"
mo, she has no other clothes than what
you see."
'Does she go to Sunday school2"
'tSundsy school-in these rags Oh,
nor
If furnish her with suitable clothes,
can she goG"
SIT is of no use giving her clothes. He
would steal them, and sell them for
whisky. Better let the girl alone. There
is no hope for her or for u.s."
"But she ought to go to school"
An arrangement was entered into where
by the child should call at the lady's house
Sunday morning, be clothed for the school,
and after the school was dismissed, call
again, and change her garments for home
The little creature was very teachable,
and soon became a favorite with her
teacher, who gave her little Testament,
probably the first present the child had
ever received. She was very proud of her
Testament, exhibiting it on all occasions,
with the delighted exclamation
That's my little Testament-my own"
She would take it with her at night,
clasping it in her hands till she fell asleep
on the wretched rags called bed. The
child was taken Ill. The doctor, provided
by her benefactors, declared she would die.
Her friends furnished her with what COM
forts they could, and watched the father,
lest he should steal them and sell them for
whisky.
The gentleman then continued the mar
rative in the first person
Zone day went to her bedside. l was
mad for drink. had taken everything
could lay my hands on.
nothing left, nothing to dispose of. Yet
must have drink, / would have sold my
child; l would have sold myself for
whisky The little creature lay on the
bed, with the Testament clasped in her
hand partly dozing. Ash sat there, she
fell asleep, and the book slipped from her
fingers and lay on the coverlet of the bed.
Stealthily looking round the room, l
stretched out my shaking hand, seized the
Testament, ard hastily thrust it into my
bosom l soon sneaked out, like guilty
thing TO the grog shop. All could get
for it was half pint of whisky. 1t was
poor little book / drank the devils drink
almost st draught ard soon felt relieved
from the burning thirst. The stagna1
blood in thu diseased vessels of my stom-
ach was stimulated by the fiery fluid, and
I felt better. What took me back to my
child cannot tell but sat again by her
side. She still seemed to be sleeping, and
| sat there with the horrible craving
stayed for a time by the whisky l had
drunk. when she opened her eyes slowly
and saw me. Reaching out her hand to
touch mine, she said. Papa, listen, l am
going to die, and when die l shall 60 to
Jesus, for He told little children to come
to Him. And shall go to Heaven for
He said that little children were of the
kingdom of heaven. l learned that out of
my Testament. Papa, when l 60 to
Heaven, if Jesus should ask me what you
did with my little Testament. o, papa
oh, pspal what shall l tell Him ? 1t
struck me like lightning. sat few
moments, and then fell down on my knees
by the bedside of my child, crying, God
BE- merciful to me a sinner That half
pint of whisky was the last drop of intoxi-
eating liquor that passed my lips.
'She died in few days with her hand
in mine, and her last words to me were,
Papa, we shall both go to Jesus now ~
From John B. Coughs "Sun!ta1t and
Shndo,c"