The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-01-04

morning WHICH DUTNS wis luSluutu III
his new position as assistant janitor
that he was cleaning off the front steps
of the settlement when he paused a
moment and stood up to look about him,
The first thing he noticed was beer
sign Just across the alley. He could al
most touch it with his broom from
where he stood. Over the street imme-
diately opposite were two large saloons,
and little farther down were three
more.
Suddenly the door of the nearest sa-
loon opened, and man came out. AT
the same time two more went in. "A
strong oder Of beer fioated mp to Burns
as he stood on the steps of the settle
ment. He clutched his broom handle
/ tight and began to sweep again. lie
had one foot on the porch and another
on the step Just below. He took another
step down, still sweeping The sweat
stood out on his forehead. although the
day was frosty and the air chill. The
saloon door opened again, and three or
/ four men came ont. A child went in
with pail and came out n moment
later with quart of beer. The child
went by on the sidewalk just below him.
and the odor of the beer came up TO
him. lie took another step down. still
sweeping desperately His fingers We're
purple rs he clutched the handle Of the
broom.
Then suddenly he pulled himself up
one step and swept over the spot he had
/ Just cleaned. He then dragged himself
by tremendous effort back to the floor
of the porch and went over into the cor
ner of it farthest from the saloon and
began to sweep there. 80 God, he
cried, .'if the bishop would only come
backN' The bishop had gone out with
DR.. Bruce somewhere, and there was
no one about the settlement that he
knew.
He swept in the corner for two or
three minutes. His face was drawn
with the agony of the conflict. Gradu-
ally he edged out again toward the steps
and began to 90 down them, He looked
toward the sidewalk and saw that he
had left one step unswept. The sight
seemed to give him reasonable excuse
| for going down there to finish his sweep
ing. He was on the sidewalk now,
sweeping the last step with his face
toward the settlement and his back
turned partly on the saloon across the
alley. He swept the step dozen times.
The sweat rolled over his face and drop
ped down ut his feet. BY degrees he felt
that he was drawn over toward that
end of the step nearest the saloon. He
could smell the beer and rum now as
the fumes rose around him. 1t was like
the internal sulphur of the lowest hell,
and yet it dragged him, as by giants
hand, nearer its source.
He was down in the middle Of the
sidewalk now, still sweeping He clear
ed the space in front of the settlement
and even went out into the gutter and
! sweptH Het.vs,I.cf his hat and rub
bed his sleeve over his Zee. His lips
were paid, and his teotn chattered. He
trembled an over like palsied man
and staggered back and forth, as if he
were already drunk. His soul shook
within him.
He had crossed over the little piece Of
stone tagging that measured the width
of the alley, and now he stood in front
of the saloon, looking at the sign and
staring into the window at the pile OF
whisky and beer bottles arranged in q
great pyramid inside. He moistened his
lips with his tongue and took steT
forward, looking around him stealthily.
The door suddenly opened again, and
some one came out. Again the hot,
penetrating smell of the liquor swept
out into the cold air, and he took an
other step toward the saloon door,
which had shut behind the customer.
As he laid his fingers on the door handle
a tall figure came around the corner. II
was the bishop.
He seized Burns by the arm and drag.
ged him back upon the sidewalk. The
frenzied man, now mad for drink,
shrieked out curse and struck at the
bishop savagely. 1t is doubtful if he
really knew at first who was snatchine
him away from his ruin. The blow fell
upon the bishops face and cut gasf
in his cheek.
He never uttered word, but ovel
his face look of majestic sorrow swept
He picked Burns up as if he had been 9
child and actually carried him up the
steps into the settlement He placed
him down in the hall and then shut the
door and put his back against it.
Burns fell on his knees, sobbing and
praying. The bishop stood there, pant
ing with his exertion, although Burn.
was slight built man and had moi
been a great weight for one of the
bishops strength to carry. The bishop
was moved with unspeakable pity.
pray, Burns-pray as You never
prayed beforel Nothing else will save
you"
so Godl Pray with mel Save me
Oh, save me from my hell" cried
Burns, and the bishop kneeled by hin
in the hall and prayed as only he could