Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
THE PITY OF IT.


ing, visiting every haunt of the gang
whore he hoped to meet some of his
pals who could lend him a few cents
for nights lodging. Bill Wyler ran
across the little Front Street Mission.
1t was mainly to escape the chilly,
drizzhng rain and to warm himself be-
side the bright fire that glowed in the
stove within that caused him to saun-
ter into such an unfamiliar place.
a gray-haired man with a weak
voice led the singing, and pleasant
faced young woman, whom he after
ward learned was Miss Mary McVay,
played the accompaniment to the
hymus on the organ. She seeing that
he was q stranger handed him hymn
book and gave MIN the number Of the
mex hymn. She did everything to
make him feel at home, and presently
he loined in the singing with a lusty
voice
AfUer the services were over Miss
McFay came over and took a seat be-
side him. She began talking to bin
about God. She exhorted and pleaded
with him SO fervently, SO earnestly
and so sweetly to be Christian that
he promised her he would then and
there.
Bill Wyler had not been a criminal
by choice Unfortunate circums ances
and environments had made h!ul one,
and the barrier taat separated him
from the other walks Of life seemed so
strong and powerful that he never
gave q thought to breaking it down.
Miss McVay broke it for him and
showed him the way by which he
and wash the black stigma of crime
from his heart
She was delighted beyond express
sion by her success in bringing him on
the right road. Mr.. Almer. who lead
the singing at the mission, was old
and weak, and after few months Bill
WYE had made sUoh progress that he
was fully able to relieve him and take
his place.
In the meantime, through the in flu
ence OF the church people VINO had
charge Of the mission, he secured a
good position as porter IN dowI- town
store and everything went well.
A year passed in this way and a
strong friendship sprang up between
Bill Wyler and Miss McVay, which
eventually ripened into love. 1t was
simply the natural sequence of the
juxtaposition Of two natures with the
same sympathies, hopes and aspira-
tions In their work. Both being or
pnane, their desire for home was
uppermost and not many weeks
passed before they were living as man
and wife in modest little rooms in Gold
street not far from the field of their
missionary work.
Soon after their marriage an old
aunt, the only living relative that
Mary had, died, and being DESTROYS of
giving her decent burial, the young
couple used all their spare funds.
Soon after Bill Wyler lost his position
in the store through dissolution of the
firm. and he and his wife were left in
sorry plight, and but for the church
peop.e they would have been unable
to rel ain their apartments over one
month.
Misfortune never shows mercy. Not
content with that, it struck Mary
down with illness, and Bill nearly
went mad in thinking how he could
raise the money to pay the doctors
bills. lie tried every possible means
to get some work, and though all the
friends of his wife assisted him he
met with no success.
On his way home from the mission
late one night Bill was accosted by
Jim Co.en, Mike Lem and George
Bunter three OF his old pas. Say,
Bill, yer hard up now, amt yer?''
said Jim, gently tapping him on the
shou Ger.
''We.l. what that to you?" replied
Bill, cody. "A good deal, old boy"
said George Bunter, sympathetically.
I'VE never forget our old friends, and
when they're in hard luck we never go
back on them.
"And how can you help me?" said
Bill, in a more friendly tone. Easy,
me boy" retorted Jim. If you'll
only let us talk to yer few minutes
we'll fix yer up straight"
~ es, Bill, come with us to Bratt's
on the corner and We'll show yer" said
Mike. mo, no, cried Bill. Il tell
you am done with saloons and all
that
''Oh, come Bill don't be foolish, "
said Mike. "A drink of something
will do yer good, and we can go in the
back way and nobody will see yer.
We mean we'll for yer"
Bill felt weak and worn out there
was no use denying that and he felt
that little drink of some kind would
do much to reinvigorate his shattered
nerves. Besides. the hour was late
and no one would recognize him in
saloon. Several times he was on the
point of turning back. and when they
reached the old haunt in Water street
the three men fairly had to drag Bill
in.
The tough looking waiter brought
whisky for them and the smell of il
aroused Bills old thirst. He gulpe(
1t down in one breath. Its effect wa:
so soothing that he was tempted tt
take another, and his pals were only
too glad to have him do so. Then af.
ter a few more drinks Jim thought i
time to tell Bill how they had deter
mined to help him. I'VE got a job OF
tonight and we want yer Eelp," hs
said. There's plenty of rocks in i
for yer"
The whisky had already shown it
effect in Bills eyes and manner blu
when he heard Jim's words he straight
oYaad if with fart nd ctu ,,1,1