The broad ax., 1897-03-13
The SHOEMlEER'S REFORM.

a drunkard's wife came to my door.
She carried In her arms q baby SIX
weeks old. Her pale, pinched face was
sad to see, and she told me this STORY
Ny husband Is drinking himself 10
death; he is lost to all human feeling;
our rent Is unpaid, and we are liable TO
be put out into the street; and there
is no food in the house for me and the
children. He has a good trade, but his
earnings all go to the saloon on the
corner near US; he Ia becoming more
and more brutal and abusive. We seem
to be on the verge OF ruin. How can
I, feeble as I am, with a babe In my
arms, earn bread for myself and chill
dren?
Quick as thought the question
came to me, and / asked 1t: Why
not have this husband Of yours con-
verted?'
But she answered hopelessly:
oh, there's no hope Of such thing;
he cares for nothing but strong drink.
I'm come and see him this after
noon,' said !.
Hell insult you,' she replied.
"'No matter said I, my Savior was
insulted, and the servant is not above
his Lord
THAT very afternoon called at the
little tenement house. The husband
was at work at his trade in a back
room, and his little girl was sent to
tell him that a lady wished to see him.
The child, however, soon returned with
the message: My pa says he won't
see anyone
But sent him a message proving
that I was indeed in earnest. said:
Go back and tell your pa that a lady
wishes to see him on very important
business, and she must see him, II she
has to stay until after supper
81 knew very well that there was
nothing in the house to eat. A moment
afterward a poor, bloated, besotted
wreck of a man stood before me.
What do you want? he demanded,
as he came shuffiing into the room
"'Please be seated and look at this
paper 1 answered, pointing to va
can't chair at the other end Of the table
where / was sitting and handing a
printed pledge 10 nlm-
He read it slowly. and then throw
ing it down upon the table. broke out
violently:
fDo you think I'm a fool? l drink
when 1 please, and let it alone when
please. I'm not going to sign away my
personal liberty
"Do you think you can stop drink
ing?'
Ives, could if 1 wanted
ION the contrary, think you're a
slave to the rum shop down on the
corner
mo, l amt any such thing
"T think, too. that you love the
saloon-keeper's daughter better than
you do your own little girl
mo, don't either
well, let us see about that. When
passed the saloon-keeper's house
saw his little girl coming down the
steps. and she had on white shoes, and
a white dress, and blue sash. YouI
money helped to buy them. / came
here. and your little girl, more beauti'
full than she, has on a faded, ragged
dress, and her feet are bare
That's so. madam
land you love the saloon-keeper'i
? wife better than your own wife
, Never, no, never!'
= when passed the saloon-keeperi
house, / saw his wife come out will
? the little girl, and she was dressed IL
I silks and Iaces, and carriage waiteC
J. for her. Your money helped to Blu!
: the silks and laces, and the horses ant
D the carriage. came here and find you
wife in a faded calico gown, doing he
5 work. II she goes anywhere she mus
: walk
5 "'You speak the truth, madam
4 "'You love the saloon-keeper bette
: than you love yourself You say yo
: can keep from drinking IL you choose
e but you helped the saloon-keeper t
build himself a fine brick house, an
you live in this poor. tumble-down oil
house yourself
"T never saw II in that light before
v Then, holding out his hand, that shoe
, like an aspen leaf, he continued: 'Yo
j. speak the truth, madam; am a slave
g Do you see that hand? I've got a piec
4 of work to finish, and / must have
IS mug of beer to steady my nerves, or
- cannot do 1t, but tomorrow, IL you cal
,s I will sign the pledge.
N That's a temptation OF the devi
n I did not ask you to sign the pledg
10 You are a slave and cannot help
., But / do want to tell you this: Thel
q is One who can break your chains an
. set you free
"T want to be free
" "'Well, Christ can set you free,
- you'll submit to Him and let Him brea
- the chains Of sin and appetite thi
=. bind you
- It's been many q long year SIM
,s I prayed
"'No matter; the sooner you beg
the better for you ~
He threw himself at once upon b
FIsN ~