Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-04-21
Jim Greyson's Lucky Find
The Colorado Miner and the
Salvation Grny

{.
IT WAS a cold winter evening in a
lively town which had sprung and
grown into the proportions of a proud
young city. just under the shadow Of
he Rockies. Electric lights hared
blue and pale against the dark and
rugged background of foothills, while
down through the canyons whispered
the evening wind, in that low threat
eniug voice which is often tie pre-
cursor Of blow. II was mild as yet.
hough, and the streets were thronucd
With people. All the shop windows
we're ablaze with Christmas cheer. and
merry groups were gathered here and
here in front of them. discussing the
-arious decorations, which, lit up with
lncandescent lights, made the interior
OF jewolry, drug and novelty stores
glitter like fairy palaces.
In the window Of fine shoe shop on
Broad street was displayed a snowy
landscape, with the old-time brick
chimney and redoubtable santa Claus
just disappearing. with Lis pack on
back, down It's capacious fue. Gazing
at this was a knot Of miners who had
come in from the mountains ~ pass
the gay holiday week. and have a
lark There were a half-dozeu or more
of them, all good-lookiug young fell
lows, showing signs Of the recent re-
suits of bath and barber and with that
unmistakable air about them which. at
once, TO an accustomed eye marks the
"men of t. mountains"
Jim Greysou, the tallest Of the
group, presently spoke in huehed
voice, breaking silence which EVIDENT
~ had been filled with thoughts Of
long ago and the New England fire
sides Of their fathers; for three. at
least, of the "boys" had hailed from
the east years ago.
sam Hunt. Jim's chum. sad "Not
quite; the old folks don't show M"
Ills voice wae a Mrs ,,r,s}se tia st.-.-r
want the poys 20 notice IT. Let's 20
on up the street" he continued.
whats that music? I hear a drum"
THE Salvation Army" said Ned
Riley. Funny. ain't It? How they
keep up their religion in the midst Of
all this fun! Let's 90 and see them
can we? Are they out of doors? ."
YES" said Jim, II see where they
are; right on the corner Of the big
dancing hall Come on. I've heard so
much about that Salvation Army. but
never have happened TO see any Of their
performances.
All this time the boys had been draw
ing nearer 10 the crowd on the cor
ner Of Broad and Tenth streets. The
music sounded little less queer and
little more musical on approach. It
gradually grew apparent that there
were voices and a tune, as well as the
monotonous rub-dub Of the big bass
drum. together with an indeScribably
festive jingle. The actors were three
young women ami one mantle drum
mer. The women. standing az equal
distances apart. formed a half-circle
The man stood directly in front Of
them. The audience was not large-2O
or 30 perhaps. and all were men
Stepping among them, just as our boys
appeared on the scene. il seemed TO me
one Of the mostpeculiar situations that
I had ever accidentally come upon
The three solemn-looking young wom-
en- in dark blue uniform and large
coal-hod shaped bonnets; the music
such strange union Of piety and rev
elryl One young woman played a
ambourine, and the jolly jingle Of a
low Of little bells. together with the
military roll Of the big drum, accom-
panied the words
o, yes, there's salvation for you.
q. yes there's salvation for me:
Salvation for all who on Jesus will call,
Accept Of II now. and be free
No woman in all the passing throng
stopped to listen. Indeed, the crowd Of
Christmas purchasers seemed to hurry
past that dimly-lighted street corner
for the army detachment had modestly
stationed itself Just round the corner
of Tenth, and out Of the way of busy
Broad street.
I studied the faces Of the men in the
group. Not a ghost Of anything like