Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-09-25

life by an angel VINO prayed to God
five minutes ago to help me live bet
ter life. She brought me back to my
innocent boyhood days when knelt
at my mothers knee. My mother
died with her hand on my head, pray
ing to Goo to keep me from sin and
help me meet her in heaven. When
the parsons wife put her hand on
my head and prayed for me,
she used almost the very
words my mother uttered with her
dying breath. My heart went all to
pieces. Boys, 1 have done with all
this wickedness.
Turning to the man who had so
cruelty abused him, he said:
"Tom, old chum, / want to ask
your pardon before all the boys. I
was in the wrong. 1 began the fight
without any cause. 1 deserved more
than received. You know, old fell
low, my long ife-friend, if I had not
been crazy-drunk 1 would not have
struck you. I have always loved you
as brother. Give me your hand,
Tom, and say you forgive me. I'm
going home to begin new life.'
'"The two men clasped hands for an
instant as the tears poured down
their bearded cheeks like rain. They
were boyhood playmates from the
same neighborhood in the East. They
left the saloon together and went
home the same day.
'The parsonage was named the
hospital the first week the parsons
wife came to town. These two Incl
dents did more to preserve the peace
than a dozen policemen could have
done. The moment two men began
handy words which threatened to end
in blows some bystander would shout.
"'Boys, here's another fellow who
has engaged cot at the hospital!'
'The good-natured jeer was taken
up by the crowd and others would re-
ply:
"'Run and tell the parsons wife
to send her stretcher for her next
patientp
'"lhe fight was off at once. Street
brawls almost wholly ceased. Even
the rude, profane and obscene Ian
guage, which before the parsons wife
came polluted the very air in every
part of the town, was almost COM
pletely banished. The plucky little
woman had the habit of appearing un.
expectedly wherever a crowd of men
had gathered. She accepted with
sweet smile and gracious bow the
Difference of the rough, coarse men,
who always said as she approached:
Hats of, boys, the parsons
wifeI'
"She came to US like an angel to a
mob of demons. We had forgotten
God; we had lost our manhood; we
had almost lost our respect for the
womanhood Of our mothers and sis
ters. This little woman, scarcely
more than girl in size or years, was
as fearless as if she felt that she was
surrounded by legion of angels.
She rebuked sin with words that
stung and burned like living fire.
The sinner could not get angry. He
knew that If he were to get sick or be
injured, the first person to minister
to him would be the little woman.
Many poor wretch was taken to her
best room and as tenderly nursed as
if he had been of royal blood. She
was as skillful in dressing q
wound as the best trained surgeon.
She knew more about medicine than
any doctor in town. She was never
excelled as a nurse. No disease had
any terrors for her. You can imagine
that it did not take long for her to
become the idol of such God-forsaken
ruffians as we were. In one month
she had but one title. 1t was be-
slowed upon her by unanimous vote.
Everybody called her the chief of
police. New York Independent.
f'ff t-Ip ~.