The Press., 1897-08-05
w. C. T. U.
If the white ribbon were always where the white-ribboner is,it would be power in the land.
My Husbands Conversion.
BY MARIE IRISH, LOS ANGELES, CAL.


 shouldn't, my husban' is jest as good as any man-jest as good He's lovin' an kind--'ceptin' when he ain't feelin' jest right, an though my folks has said I might a-done better, yet I took my own choice, an hain't sorry neither.
 But must say, though I'm his lovin' wife, that Nathan has had some very un- seemin' views on one subject namely, the W. 0. T. U. He's never liked it since jined lem five years ago, an he's allus been pickin' on me about 1t. He said W. c. T. U. stood fer "Wimmin's Chatterin' Tattlin' Union," an all we did to meetin's wac gossip bout them that didn't belong. tried my best to con- vince him of his sin an errer, but 1t want no use-he seemed to grow more sot. An while our union was workin' hard to set people ag'in the saloon and interest them in temp'rance, Nathan, he'd jest keep a. jeerin.' I told him the W. c. T. U. would soon set things right when all the wimmen could vote, an that made him madder than ever. So things went on, me a-tryin' to soften my husbands feelings an him a-growin' more sot. But Ia, I didn't give up a-goin' to meetin's- I was allus regler as clock-work.
 One day las' fall the W. c. T. U. was goin' to have woman come to lecture on temp'rance, an was crazy to go, but it was a-going to be in the even, an didn't sec how was to git Nathan to go. Finally thought of plan. Nathan had been bound to take my jersey COW to the county fair, but I'd sot my foot down, "No."; wasn't goin' to have her toted of ten miles, an mebbe injured somehow but now told Nathan he might take the COW to the fair if he'd take me down to the meetin'. He said was ''peskJ botheration," but finally he promised to go.
 Oh, what a good lecture that wasl It made me rejoice inwardly to think I be- longed to the W. o. T. U. when I heer- ed that woman talk about their work. But Nathan, he jest sot there as indifrrent as a gravestone, an he'd turn up his nose ina seornful way whenever I'd glance to- wards him. When meetin' was out and we was drivin' home-we live out about two miles from town-I tried to talk with him, but he was dreadful snappish. He said he'd ruther hear the horses hoofs g. beatin' on the ground than me a-chatterin bout the w. O. T. U., so after that we went along in silence.
 we were, zlTy@s,}. an havin' a cup of hot tea after we'd got home, we grew more talkative, an we was settin' there real sociable when suddenly we heard some one in the cellar.
 "It's burglers," whispered I, feeling as If was a-goin' to faint-for no one had m olested us before.
 They're after the money I brought home today" said Nathan, most scart to death.
 Then before we could move, the cellar a revolver that looked most yard long. He p'inted it toward us an said in awful blood-curdlin' tones, "Move, an yel dead! l"
 Nathan begun to shake an he says "Oh, please mister, don't hurt us. Take all you want but spare us."
 "Stop yer noise," the man said, an takin' rope from his pocket he perceed, ed to tie Nathan in his chair. He got him: fixed so he couldn't move muscle an' then he came fer me. He was jest a-goin' ter lay hands on me to tie me up when his eyes fell on the white-ribbor badge I'd wore to meetin'. He looked al it kinder scart an his hands fell down by his side; then he dropped down on alchail still keepin' his eyes on that ribben Finally he covered his face with his hands an give kind of a groan. was SC effected fergot he was a tramp a-tryin to rob an mebbe murder us, so pourin out some tea went up to him an says, "Poor feller, Pm afraid you're sick, and won't you have cup of hot tea p He swallered 1t down an then pointin at my badge he said in kind of tremblin way, "Its that white ribben has done m' up. My mother allus wears one an she'' told me many times to reverence ever. women who did" We'll, jest took his hand an shook an says, "That's right an I knov you're goin' to mind what your ma' taught you. An you hain't goin' to ro1 us neither, but if you're in trouble, Nath an is goin' to help you, in the name o this white ribben."
 Nathan had been settin' there as if h, was struck dunn, but at that he spoke uE an says, "Yes, yes, we love that white | ribben; it's great power for good love to have my wife wear one an hav' her attend the meetin's. tell you that temp'rance work is mighty power fe good"
 declare, you could a-knocked m, down with 8 broom-splint, was tha surprised to hear my husban' talkin' tha wayl But didn't pertend to notice. united him an we all drew upt the table to have the rest of our lunch. My, how that burgler did eat! He said he'd lost his job an couldn't find an. 1. work until he was jest discouraged. He'e never done dishonest thing before, but he saw Nathan git his money that day an he made up his mind to have some O it.
 Ev'ry once in while Nathan would nod his head an say, "Yes, the whit, ribben did it. How we love that little bow, don't we, wife, an what a good meetin' that was tonight" and secf things.
 We kept our burgler over night an the next day Nathan found him work in our town He's doin' real we'll, am as for me feel as if owe him a good deal for con vertin,, my husban'; an ever since tha night when the white ribbon saved us, nc man could praise the w. c. T. U. to equa