The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-04-17
a Lay of the Crusade.

Well, Amos, I've been to the meetin', we held
it at Barker's tonight;
tell you the Lord is q comm in all of his
power an might.
The glad songs o. Zion are ringin', in places
Where our boys have been wastin their even
ms, in drinkin' an loafin' around.
All over the land that we live in, in country
and town. everywhere,
We're goin' to give Mr. Tyndall a test o. the
power O. prayer.
I've been to the meetin' at Barkers, we give
him sudden surprise;
When he looked up an seen a COMM tell
you he opened his eyes.
He stared at us over the counter, each eye
looked as big as the moon,
But we want to be frightened in that way, we
walked right into the saloon.
He didn't attempt to oppose us, he was will
lin to give us fair play;
III looked all around him an chuckled, but
never word did he say.
There were lots of young men there a loafin',
reckon a dozen or more;
When some on 'em a comm, they slid
out the little back door.
Some stood by the counter drinkin' they
hadn't atom o. shame.
An those who were playin' at billiards went
on with their prottless game.
The rest on 'em sot there sippin their whis-
key, their brandy an gin,
A lookin' a leerin' "a winkin' AN waitin for us
to begin.
1 gazed at the bright Iookin bottles behind
the tall counter displayed;
I thought o. the lives they had wasted; l
thought O. graves they had made
leadin' 'em widely astray;
o. the wrongs they had wrought on the help
less, by stealin' their livin' away
An all o. the power that was in me swept
over my soul like a storm,
An liftin' my hands up to heaven, | prayed
for q speedy reform.
While out o. the mouths o. the sisters, who
solemnly knelt by me there,
A hundred impressive responses Jincd in
with my passionate prayer.
Then we sung that glad hymn O salyation,"O
turn ye, tor why will ye die"
An it seemed to my soul in that moment
Gods glory comm so nigh
We sang o. the IOwly Redeemer,an those that
he persisted to save,
An when the last stanza was ended,the room
was as still as the grave.
Bill Barker looked over the counter, the pros
poet he didn't enjoy;
Twas plain to be seen he was thinkin' O.
those he had helped to destroy.
He glanced at the row of bright bottles before
his broad mirror arrayed,
Like one who is proud O his power nor cares
for the wrecks he has made.
But soon DER his hard lOOkin' features IL kind
an softer look stole;
Perhaps some good angel was tryin' to soften
his sin-burdened soul.
He looked sort o. troubled an worried an
still he had nothin to say;
He seemed to be quietly wishin' we women
We're out o. the way.
Ali was stiIl!tiIl a wild loollin' woman, with a
face jest as white shrOud,
Crept stealthily out o. a corner, an stood in
the midst o. the crowd.
Her hOllcr cheeks spoke o. starvation, her
sunken eyes told o. DISTRESS
Her quivern' lips o. mute anguish no Ian
guage o. mine can express.
She lifted her talOn-like fingers high over her
head in despair,
An, walkin' straight up to the counter, she
gazed at the Tumseller there.
He looked at her pale, haggard features, an
turned with shudder away;
He spoke not a word, but he listened to hear
what the woman would say
"Look !Look ION your work here Bill Barker"
she cried with passionate wall;
"You have ruined my home an my husband
and sent my two young boys tojail
They say l am mad,do you wonder? Your LID
uor has brought all my woe;
tell you your time is comm, Gods judg
ment is certain but slow"
Then turnin' away from the counter, she ST
lently passed from the place.
The rum sellers Conscience was troubled, he
showed it all over his face
His mind seemed to be all unsettled, his feel
ms he couldn't control;
I knew that powerful struggle was then go
in on his soul.
An, Amos, reckon, no language picter
the way that he felt;
He looked kind o. sorry an tumble, like one
jest beginning to melt.
An when, in IA few moments after, we knelt
in a season OF prayer,
He silently came round the corner an noise
lessly knelt with us there.
The men had all finished their playin' an
drinkin' an stood by the wall,
An over their rough lookin' faces, the tears
were beginin to fall.
seemed more pure and serene;
An all on US felt in that moment, the presence
o OngelS unseen.
AS soon as we finished our prayin', Bill Bar
ker rose up from the floor,
An, while we stood wonderin an gain, he
started an opened the door.
Then takin' a Darrell O liquor, he rolled it
along with his feet;
He knocked in the head with a Ratchet an
split it out into the street.
Then all on us turned in an helped him to
finish what he had begun!
He emptied his bright lookin' bottles, nor
paused till the good work was
done,
Then turnin, he said, "Im goin' to close up
my business tonight.
I've made up my mind to be honest, | mean
to try hard an do right.
I've sent more young men to destruction than
any man llvin' in town,
But Pm goin to put up my shutters, an tear
my old liquor sign down.
Pm going to work an, God willin, I'll be
respectable man. w
help you as much as can"
Then when he was through with his speakln {,
we all commenced singln' again,
An "Nearer my God to Thee, nearer TO Ihee,
was our joyful refrain.
An those who had been dl1nkn' seemed
moved by the power OF prayer,
An sang with the deepest o. feelin' the words
o. that heavenly air.
An Amos, / can't help believin' that music
To be cha Men a an 70 echood in Heaven, by
beautiful angels on high.
Yes, Amos, I've been to the meetin' you needn't
look smilin' nor queer,
That we are goin' to conquer, l haven't q
doubt nor fear.
You may laugh an may say that we women
are crazy an out O. our heads;
That we'd better be darnin' our stockin's,
sweepin' or maxim the beds.
But we're goin' right into the battle, nor will
give up in despair;
If we only go at it in earnest, there's won
derful power in prayer.
-[Eugene ]. Hall.