National Baptist world., 1894-10-26
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
THE BONDS BROKEN.
A Life Saved from the Tolls of the Drin
Demon.

seemed deSOlate. and life appeared tC
be rObed in somber hues. We faced
the world for the first time since our
bereavement because we must, having
! duties which compelled us to go out.
Not many blocks from our own door
we met a poor, miserable, drunken
man. He might have been handsome
once, but now, with bloated face, un-
combed hair, rags, and dirt, he seemed
just fit for the gutter. We had seen
him often before, and had given
him many a bite of food, but al
though always sorry for him, we
were never so struck before with
his responsiveness. Instantly the
thought came to us, why was our good
God-fearing, useful husband taken
away and this useless, miserable sot
left to trouble people? The thought
rankled-a rebellious feeling took pos
session of our hearts, and peace and
comfort fled. Shortly after we talked
with our pastor about it. He said:
our husband was ready to 90 God
In His Infinite pity has spared this
poor man that he may have another
{
for this fallen wretch to rise to a noble
manhood, and do good service for the
Master" The minister's words COM
forted us. We knew it was well with
our beloved. Could we not do some
thing to try to rescue this drunk
ard? For many months we saw
nothing of him, but we prayed for him
(F1n I ~
pei temperance meeting. 1t was to be
addressed by reformed drunkard, and,
as he was we'll known in the city as a
hopeless sOt, the hall was packed to
hear him. When the speaker was in
troduced by the lady who occupied the
char we were sure we had seen him
before. He was tall, with fine features
and noble carriage. although his face
still bore traces Of his evil habit. Yes.
sure enough, it was the man who had
taken away our peace fer time. and
for whom we had been praying these
many months. With eager interest we
followed every look and word of
the speaker. In eloquent, refined
speech he told the story of
home, having fond parents. with tai
ents that might have fitted him for any
honorable and high position in life. he
yet became wild, grieving his parents.
AS in many other wealthy homes, wine
was used in moderation. He early i'm
bibed a taste for it, and this led him
into fast company, and finally into the
saloon. Although fond of study and
clever both at school and college, he
loved gay companions better, and by
the time he was of age he had nearly
broken his parents hearts. He gam
bled to such an extent that his father.
to save his only son from disgrace, paid
his debts so often that his own circum-
stances became straitened. They were
obliged to sell their elegant home and
move into smaller one. They hoped
that the sacrifice made for their boy
would 1teaa him h HI t
ly of his ways. The gentle mother
prayed for and pied with him to for
sake his evil companions and begin a
new and better life. He would prom
lse, but the appetite for liquor was so
strong within him that if near it he
could not resist. In a few years the
father, his brow wrinkled with care,
his head prematurely crowned with
silver, had used large part of his
means in paying fines for his son and
in rescuing him from the clutches of
the law. ''Thank God" said the speak
er, Il was always honest, and I never
broke my mothers heart by lur-
ing her daughter to destruction;
but drinking, gambling, and
low company nearly wrecked me soul
and body, | came home one night to
find my mother sitting dazed with sor-
row. My father had died suddenly
of heart disease. A few months more,
and my mother followed him. She
spoke to me lovingly before she died,
saying that God had given her the as
surance that l might yet reform and
become good man. In the agony of
remorse l begged her to forgive me,
and | would try to do better. With
her gentle hand in mine she passed
away to that land where sorrow never
enters. For a few months after her
death IsteadfaStly avoided bad cOmpan-
ions, and tried to do some honest work. I
But my former idle habits made work
terrible burden, and, thinking a holi-
day would do me good for my health
was poor on account of my intemperate
life), ! went out of town. In the cars
met an old friend who was not tenn
perance man, but still very temperate
one. When we arrived at pretty little
uburb ban town he invited me to lunch
with him. He ordered beer, of course
The odor of the beer reused the demon
within me, so that did not tell him, as
I at first intended, that had sworn off
on strong drink But | drank and
called for more, and after my tenn
perate friend went on his way drank
up every cent in my pocket, and
was the next day obliged to
walk twenty miles home. I still had
a little of the money left by my par
ents, but in a few months this was |
gone 1t would take too long to tell
you of the many times I have been |
without food and shelter-of the !
escapes from death-in rags, |
often having to beg crust to stay my
of the cheapest lodging,
or to sleep in a police station with the |
vilest tramps in the city. What a
change from my childhood. One night |
I had lain out doors behind pile of |
boards. was hungry, wretched both
in body and mind, with not
ooo+ 70 h17r what 1ynou,