The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-10-05
GREAT DAY,
DIVINE SERVICES
THE EMMA SALOON,
By
EEy. JAMES FORSYTH, d. D.
AL are invited to attend Evening
Service Mt 8 p. III.
Please leave your Guns with tho
UsHERS.
GREAT DAY

USHERS.
.'''s'.'.''''. .'.'s...........s.. ....'
When the stage reached the Gulch,
the parson, who had come on from
Devils Delight, was in IL, but he
stopped Mt the tavern until il was time
to go to meeting. 1t meant nothing
tO him that he was taking his life in
his hands to preach the Gospel to
these men. What was his poor miser-
cradle gift of dying life, compared
with these lost souls? Besides-then
he coughed terribly, closed his eyes,
and wiped the cold sweat of mortal ILL
ness from his face. All, specious hui
man nature Sophistries that keep il
from the debasement of fover-righteous
ness IL was of one precious sin-sick
soul he was thinking, and that he
hoped to reach, through this zeal for
the brotherhood.
Poor SCARED Emma! She had given
her influence and / have shown that
it was great-she had given her saloon.
which was also her throne, and now
she was shut up in n miserable, tawdry
room, partitioned or from the rest,
dressed in her Sunday fnery, waiting
until all the gang had assembled, when
she would walk i'll boldly and take her
seat with the rest Well she knew that
no woman would be there. No other
woman would sit under the same roof
with her, and then she looked down on
her diamond-bedecked hands. 81 can
buy and sell them all. am TO mans
slave and my word is law, but"
And then q whole food of tears came.
But soon she dashed them away and
dried her eyes. Another touch of
rouge TO repair the ravage, and she
was ready "to go to church" as she
phrased it to herself. A determined,
aggressive figure, dressed in a smart,
black satin, wearing a. bow of pink
ribbon at the throat. II seemed as il
the incongruity of her attire struck
her Mt the last moment, for on the
threshold of her room she stopped,
went back, and threw lace shawl
around her shoulders. Then she made
her way to the front room, just as the
noise of Gathering boots and grating
chairs was hushed, and the minister
bowed his head in prayer.
A dozen men made room for her.
Their faces frightened as she entered,
but she did not look at one of them.
Like one walking in sleep she moved,
and never took her eyes from the thin
meager form of the man who stood in
the impromptu pulpit, pouring out his
soul in prayer.
1t was not until the petition was
ended, and the oppressed listeners had
relaxed with n sigh, that she sat down
among the men, where she could see
without being seen.
The minister then chose n hymn and
lined it ont.
81 heard the voice of Jesus say"
He was interrupted by Deputy Bill.
"We cant sing that, pard-I mean
pnrson. Give us something we know"
They compromised on "a Land
That is Fairer Than Day." The par
son heard the sweet treble of
woman's voice, and wondered much
whence it came. He looked troubled,
and the cough that shook him with its
paroxysm brought out bottles and
glasses, but he put aside al offers with
Il shaking hand.
"Hearken to me, my friends" he
began solemnly, "and know that you
are listening 10 n dying man"
He had not time TO announce the
text, the words of life wero lowering
upon his lips, when there rung through
the room woman's frenzied cry:
"Oh, Jimmy, jimmy"
"Who spoke, who called ?" asked
the parson with white lips, clinging to
the table before him.
"Oh, Jimmy, you're too lnte-and
you're killing yourself, and it's for me,
and I'm not worth tim not worth
it,"
She was making her way 10 him now,
and as his eyes lit up his death-pnle
features he prayed:
"At last, he murmured, Eat last,
and now I'm willing to diet Lord,
thank Thee"
His head fell forward. A dozen stall
wart men jumped to his side, but when
he was laid on the nearest bench il was
Scared Emma" who held his dying
head on her arm, and il was into her
face he looked when no opened his
eyes for brief coming back to life.
Don't cry" he said tenderly, don't
cry, Moliy-at least not for me-but
promise me-quick, I'm going soon
promise me to quit this place
forever"
"Oh, Jimmy, / can't. You've seen
them all-tell me. Jimmy, are they
well-do they ever speak Of meY"
'They are well, dear and safe over
therel The dear old mother and the