The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-03-09
IF HE HAD LEFT H1Mp
nut me- Little Stayed BY Jerry Mae
auley and the Sot became
I>ower for rRighteOusness.

DO you know Jesus?" was the Ques-
ton which to unaccustomed ears may
seem abrupt and irreverent.
"And who is Hep"
The reply, expressing as much de-
fance as ignorance. was uttered by n
fierce-looking woman on the stairs of
dirty tenement-house at II Cherry
Hill," New York city, % years ago.
The questioner was Mr.. Little. a
visitor from an uptown church. The
woman had placed herself in his way
and disputed his passage.
In room near by lay a drunkard just
awaling from his sodden sleep.
Through the partly-open door he
heard the strangers voice, and gather
ing himself up from the floor, came out
to see who it was. The apparition of
the unshaven rough" in his red shirt
and high-legged boots was so threaten
ing that Mr.. Little retreated down
stairs; but the man followed him.
Say" he called, hoarscly. what
name was 1t you asked that woman
about?"
Mr.. Little believed he meant to make
trouble. ard his surprise may be imas-
ined when the fellow added:
II used to love that name years ago
when was in prison-but lost Him.
wish I knew where could find Him. u
1t was fact that the drunkard was
one Of the convicts who had been in
fluenced by the preaching of Orville
Gardner, the converted prize-fghter,
I2 years before, in one of the state pris-
ons. His reformed life and docle be-
havior had shortened his sentence and
Gov. Dix before his term had expired
pardoned him.
With no o@1crcd opening to encourage
the "jailbird" in honest living. his re-
lapse into his old ways was almost 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 n room in New
Bowery, listened to his story, treated
him as brother, and saw him sign the
pledge.
The next time he met the eX-convict
three nights afterward-the man was
in liquor, and making his way to the
river in company with Water street
thief. The mis- siorary begged him to
turn back are 20 . his home with him,
but he r:,a~,l that he couldn't
starve."
"Ill pawn the coat have on" said
Mr.. Little, before I'll see you steal"
The poor fellow looked at his friend.
"If you are that kind of friend III
die before III 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 companions abuse,
he left him and walked Off with the mis-.
sionary.
Not only once, but Ave 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 he summoned aid
of his Christian allies, until he saw
him safely on his feet, and standing out
boldly az professed follower of Christ.
Jerry Macauley did not fall again
The mission founded by him at 316 Wa.
ter street, New York. and which bears
lis name, celebrated its twenty-ffth
anniversary in Carnegie hall the slst
~ Inst Noyemher
1t is health-spot in the purlieus OF
sin. 1t has brought life and blessings
TO hundreds of darkenea and debased
souls who else would have known no
God and no divine teacher.
Against the evil he once did, 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 como the
terrible sentences: "Ephraim is Joined
to his idols; let him alone."-Youth's