The morning call., 1893-05-08

costed a man who had just entered with an
air OF bravado and recklessness that was
utterly belied by her hag gard face.
God help her," said the captain, in an
unsteady voice, as we came out. ''She is
immeasurably superior TO most of them.
1t is problem that meets US every hour.
When they are willing to reform and
unable to work hard how can we support
them? If we were only richer we
might train many of them to work, per-
haps. l have often talked TO that girl.
She losthes her life, but because she
knows by experience what starvation is
she stays with it,"
Then. smotherIng her emotion. Captain
Smith walked into a neighboring grog-
gerry calling cheerily. War Cry?"
Two middle-aged women, evidently the
managers Of the place, were sitting at the
bar waiting for customers.
No, don't want no War Cry Times
is hard, you bet you, and niekels is scarce"
said one.
well. I'm sorry about that for your
sake" replied Captain Smith, smiling.
but 1t does ME good to hear that the liquor
business is dull"
"Hum!" retorted the woman with de-
fant snort. "de peoples has got to live"
There is more than one way Of making
living"
"Oh. pshaw! dis is life in California.
When vas in New York l vas religious
more dan you. But it 10 pay to be religious
here. you bet you" aud she shrugged her
shoulders and laughed defantly.
you made living in New York"
''New York is not California. L get de
rheumatic and lose my money here-wei! |!
got to eat just de same. Me and my son
we buy dis place. We sell liquor. but we
never drink, no never"
at is easy talking" Interrupted the
other woman.
"Ihave tried to work, scrub, cook, any
thing, l could not make living for my
children TIL L came into dis business"
but you would not bring them up
to itP"
'I'd rather have dem dead 1t slckens
even me to see what some of desc young
girls has to go droo-aad 1 am pretty
tough, too," she added.
"Do you believe in a horeafter?"
Yes, do" she retorted quickly, but l
try to forget it,
"Oh! try to remember H." urged Cap
tain Smith. Remember how short this
life is, and how long eternity will be.
Come to some OF our meetings aud that will
help you.
well, perhaps I will come" replied
the woman. "l will let my children come
| anyway"
Poor mother, she believed that she was
willnlly running her own soul for the sake
Of giving her children bread.
The story reminded me OF a woman who
had crept timidly into the lifeboat, Just
before we had set out that same evening.
She was young and looked very respec;a-
bic, but her face had the vexed pinched
look that privation gives. Gould
Brother Shulz give her a little food for
her cbildren?" she had asked shyly, look
ing round to see that no one else heard
they were crying with hunger. and she had
nothing. Then she had set down quietly
with the timidity that honest poverty
often gives. while Brother Shulz had
gone to beg some food from the cook.
There are many demands upon the larder
at the Lifeboat and sometimes they wonder
where in the world the next food is TO
come from, therefore the cook occasionally
utters feeble remonstrance at Brother
Shuly's constant depredatiops. However,
he had yielded at once and the woman had
gone home with food for the moment, at
least.
1t was impossible to help shuddering as
l recalled the incident In this dive and
thought. to what lengths a mothers love
will go to save her children from want.
We saw many more sad and slckening
sights that night. Not the least pitiful
was saloon filled with boys-many of
them mere children. Although they were
ostensibly playing billiards, it was evident
that most Of them had been drinking, and
they were coDverslDg In language that
would have made their mothers weep.
1t was nearly midnight when we joined
an open-qr meeting of the Lifeboat Corps
and marched with them 10 their basement
on Sacramento street.
The place was crowded and smile of
pleasure lighted up Captain Smiths face,
as we noted several people from the dens
who had promised to be present.
The proceedings were iubiant, to say
the least, but they touched the people in
the right place.
Indeed, coming from scenes of bias
phemy and sin, the meeting seemed like a
little glimpse of peace and of heaven.