The Progress., 1894-01-06
THE RATTLE FoR A BIBLE
How Home Was Na@o uappy and
liquor saloon Lost n Customer.


liquor SALOON Lost n Customer.
Within sound of tho chimes Of ol!
Trinity thoro stands we'll known lipum
saloon, whose grmy walls are sc caycrct
with cobwcbs as tp give them the ap
pvarauCe Of being fo5;oouod with black
drapory. Here gather night after night
the SONS Of toll 10 spend their hard earn
ings i'm riotous living. A few evenings
since the place was crowded. the usua
number of FOUNDERS being supplcRoutcd
hy n largo outside contingent, dravt
ththcr by the rather anomalous an.
nouuCemeut of bible RafIlo."
Tho book was handsome one. anG
bad been placed there by a person who
said he had no use for il and would
rather have the money. As each Of the
blear eyed, dissipatcd dcuizons went for
ward TO shake tho dice box there was y
roar of laughter, followed by any
amount of ChaT and blasphomous jost.
ing. AS the contest waved hotter ?
man, u little better dressed than the
rest of them. was awakened from his
slumbors and told 90 take hand, rs he
was always lucky. He staggered up to
the couutor. tool, the dice box and throw
the highest number. A shout went ur
from the hoislCrous crowd that gathered
around him. each with jest and q
query as tu what ho was going to dd
with H. Where would he keep IT? How
much would he talo for il? Would he
stand trraD2otc.
Tho man seemed 10 become sober in,
inmate. and without noticing their jibcs
tool, the holy book i'm his hands "a ten.
jorly a~ hr would have lifted an infant
and said 10 the bartender, please wrap
this in the Cloancst piece of paper you
have. jim. but don't let it. have the smell
the amazed group, who watched with
open mouthcd astoushmcnt, he said
Good evening, gentlemen. It's the
last time we'll meet hero I'm going
home to make one of the best wives in
tho world the happiest woman in New
York tonight" and placing the Bible
under his arm no passed out Ot the
crowd, jcered by some, but Justify cheer.
cd by others.
He walked rapidly in the direction Of
his sgualid quarters, where. from the
flicker OF dim light no knew that his
faithful wife awaited him, mounted the
rickety stairs, and entering the room
walked straight mp to where she sat
sewing by few expiring Goals and laid
the heavy parcel on her lap. She start
ed, and looking up with faint scmb
lance of the old and almost forgotten
smile said, Why, you are early tonight,
John" She saw that n change had come
over him and quietly opened the pack
age, while he stood watching her.
As the blessed book was revealed tc
her she burst into tears. and taking him
by tho hand said, "John, Tve beer
thinking about you all day, and wonder
ing if you would ever bo your own, old
self again. when | could feel proud Of
YOU as | used to-and while was think
ing little Agnes came up and putting
her arms about my next said, Mamma,
why don't my papa have prayers and
read his Bible as grandpapa does when
we go to sec him. | could not answer
her. John, but now you can"
"Yes, Ill answer her, wife; get me a
pen and some ink"
The wife rose as in q trance, for il
was the first time in weeks that he had
come home sober; then he opened the
hyleaf and wrote upon it:
To my faithful wife, whom | shall never
again voluntarily cause n sorrow or a blush u
shame. JOBN.
As she read it their tears mingled and
the bright lights of her faraway home
seemed TO glimmer in the distance. The
present was forgotten and they were
once more respected citizens, and his
name was again n synonym for all that
was honorable and loyal. II was almost
morning when he retired, but new re.
solves had been taken. vows replighted,
hopes revived and ambition stimulated
81 firmly believe. Nellie" said he, that
it was my Fathers hand that guided
mine when | shook that dice box. He
who had made the Bible his guidebook
knew the chord in my heart to touch.
/ and that chord shall make the melody
Of my future life, and l shall never
cease to bless the man who raffled that
Bible. Mrs. f. q. De Fontaine in Unio,
Signal.