The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-10-13
IFHEHAD LEFT HIM.
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'Doy you know Jesus ?" was question
which unaccustomed ears may seem
abrupt and irreverent.
"And who is he?"
The reply expressing as much def
ance as ignorance, was uttered by fierce
looking woman on the stairs of a dirty
tenement house at II CHERRY HilI,..'
New York City, twenty-seven years
ago.
The questioner was Mr.. Little. a WIS.,
itor from an uptown church. The
woman had placed herself in his way
and disputed his passage.
In room near by lay a drunkard
just awaking from his sodden sleep.
Through the partly open door he heard
the strangers voice, and gathering him
self up from the floor, came out to see
who it was. The apparition of the un.
shaved rough in his red shirt and
high-legged boots was so threatening
that Mr.. Little retreated down stairs;
but the man followed him.
"Say, he called, hoarsely, "what name
was it you asked that woman about ?"
Mr. Little believed he meant to make
trouble, and his surprise may be imag-
ined when the fellow added:
Il used to love that name years ago
when l was in prisOn-but | lost Him.
l wish l knew where 1 could find Him"
1t was fact that this drunkard was
one OF the cOnvicts who had been in
t1uenced by the preaching of Orville
Gardner, the converted priZe.fghter,
twelve years before, in one of the state
prisons. His reformed life and docile
behavior had shortened his sentence.
and Governor Dix before his term ex
pired pardOned him.
With no offered opening to encour.
age the 'jail-bird" in honest living,
relapse into his old ways was must in
evitable. If he had friends of the true
sort, they lost sight Of him.
Mr.. Little at once returned to the
man and took him to room in New
BoWery, listened to his story, treated
him as brother, and saw him sign the
pledge.
The next time he saw the ex-convict
three nights afterward- man
was in liquor, and making his way to
the river IN company with a Water
Street thief. The missionary begged
him to turn back and 60 to his home
with him, but he pleaded that he
'couldn't starve."
I'LL pawn the coat have on" said
Mr. Little, "before I'll see you steal" he
said.
The poor fellow looked at his friend
hot u &c
die before I'll STEAL" he said.
"'Seek first the kingdom of God-and
all the rest will be given to YOU Jerry,
that's Bible.''
''I'll take it," said Jerry; and regard
less of his profane companion's abuse.
he left him and walked off with the
missionary.
Not only once, but five times after
this the reformed" ex convict fell
and began again, for Mr.. Little would
not leave him. He followed him with
his friendly help, and the summoned
aid of his Christian allies, until he saw
him safely on his feet, and standing out
boldly as professor of Christ.
Jerry Macauley did not fall again. The
mission founded by him at 316 Water
Street, New York, and which bears his
name, celebrated It's twenty-ffth ami
versary in Carnegie Hall the 21st of
last November.
1t is health.spOt in the purlieus of
sin. 1t has brought life and blessing
to hundreds of darkened and debased
souls who else would have known no
God and no divine teacher.
Against the evil he once did, a CRATE
full community will set the gracious
later influence of the sometime thief
and outcast, Jerry Macauley.
But what if Mr.. Little had left him?
In the divine habit of mercy there are
years of patience, and seventy times
seven" forgivings to one repulse. Only
after such love is wasted, can come the
terrible sentence: "Ephraim is joined
to his idols; let him alone."- Youths
Companion.