Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-12-27

me, motherp didn tknow was hurt
ing you So, Prescott said, after they
were half way home. i've had some
trials lately, and it was somebody else
l wanted to hurt 1t was foolish to act
so. I see it now, but haven't drank,
myself, and l won't go in there again
I'll promise you that, mother"
Probably Mrs. Grayson will remember
the joy of that hour when she gets
home to heavenl To find, after all her
doubts and fears that her boy was still
worthy of her love and confidence-it
was almost too muc,! She longed to be
entirely alone that she might weep for
JOY. She controlled herself enough to
tell him that she believed and truste
him again fully and they were con-
scious of new bond of confidence as
they walked up the golden path. Miss
Pike, who had been having what she
called an "upsettin' nervousness" all
the forenoon, saw them and clasped
her hands thankfully. "She's got him
all right and now she'll be satisfied
she exclaimed.
But Lucinda Pike was mistaken.
All was quiet and joyful through the
afternoon and evening, but that night
Mrs. Grayson could not sleep. Prescott
was safe, o blessed fact! But was she
to work only for her ownp Was that
the spirit of the Crusadersp The cold
December winds whistling through the
chimneys seemed to bear to her ears the
complaining tones of old age, and the
cries of little children. She heard and
understood that her work was not fin
ished; but with the element of personal
interest removed-an element which
unconsciously underlies much heroic
effort-she shrank from it's completion.
And thought was with those
brave women" she groaned. Help
me, o Load, to suffer as they suffered
for other women s sons! Make me like
Him, who, for the joy that was set be-
fore Him, endured the cross and de-
spised the shame.'''
Then, as she begged for special light
and guidance, came the inspiration of
her own birthday text in the "Woman 3
chapter" in Proverbs: "Open thy
mouth for the dumb in the cause of all
such as are appointed to destruction.
And that became her argument when
in the morning, Prescott and her hus-
band opposed another visi. to the saloon
Ryan was mad yesterday, mother and
if you go to day l dom know what he
may do. Come now it Is no place foryou, I"
said Prescott, coaxingly. 1T isn't my
chioce, " replied Mrs. Grayson, "but I
shall come under great condemnation
if refuse to go. You know the women
who suffer most from this drink busi-
ness can t speak for themselves. They
are dumb That's why the women out
West were called from their nice homes
to sing and pray in the streets, expect.
They took the burdens of their sisters
upon their shoulders. It's just year
ago since they begun, and I'm going to
celebrate the anniversary by opening
my mouth for the dumb"
There was a flushed face and fearful
eyes to enforce these tremulous words,
and Prescott could only say: "Well,
of course l don understand how you
feel, but take care of yourself.
AS for Mr.. Grayson, he came of old
time Quaker ancestry, and although he
did not follow in their footsteps, he had
great regard for the Inner light, "and
dared not question his wife's decision.
That day Mrs. Grayson took her Bible
and some newspaper clippings in her
bag, and afterward confessed that she
) gave Peter Ryan "a course of reading. ,
Some one who went to the saloon dool
but did not enter, said he heard heI
| praying, and went away on tiptoe. The
: men who ventursd in after mill hours
began to see something mysterious ir
the calm faced woman who sat ther.
with her ''everlastin knittin'" as they
said. They knew nothing of Dickens
| weird women in his Tale of Tw {
} Cities, "who was day after day knitting
in fatal stitches the Commune victims
but they were disturbed, nevertheless
by the click of those innocent needles
, Knitting work in saloon! The woman
, and all her belongings were manifestly
out of place.
. That day men and boys were at tn,
Q window behind her, looking in. Sew
Q eral women, with anxious, beseechinl
, eyes came and warmed their hands a
o the stove; and the air grew heavy will
, vague curiosity.
4 Peter Ryan looks as If he'd beel
t sick a week, "said one of the men when
! on the third morning, Mrs. Grayson en-
tered the saloon.
Its terrible wearin', entertainir
n comp'ny so long," said another. m
. woman says for to put the law on Pete
o Ryan, SO Mis- Graysou can 60 home,
e added third.
8 But the Four Corners men were yer
}. peculiar in that they looked upon lay
% as last resort, especially when a run
b seller was under consideration Henc
:, this motion was not seconded.
n That day seemed very long to th
II lone Crusader, for, although her spir
II was still strong her body was wear,
l. end Patar RYAN "a restlassnae w No m arv