The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-12

could be a Christian. It was largely the
story of the happenings and incidents
which creep into the life of nearly every
man, and at times members of his audi
ence were deeply moved.
Mr.. Blodgett said in part: IT am not
in the habit of addressing public meet
ings, and it is probably only on account
OF q promise which I made to Our
Heavenly Father several years ago, that
am present to speak to you today. I
am not member of the Y. NJ c. A,
but have the interests of the associa-
IlOn at neart, and whenever 1t is posi-
BILE, 1 always say a good word for it.
There are three things which I want
to impress upon your minds. First,
mothers love. Second, the influence Of
associations. mean by associations,
those especially in whom we confide but
l do not mean that we should pass by
any one, or sheer at any one, no matter
how bad he may be. That is wrong,
and we should be ever ready to raise
the fallen. Third. the reward that
comes to us through conscientious tes-
timony, however or wherever we have
an opportunity by word or deed. to help
the fallen.
My life began in the early days of
Illinois, and when I was only a child.
for miles and miles in every direction
from our home, only a few houses could
be seen 1 had only few associates
and my mind received impressions of a
Christian mother, and I learned the
child'S prayer which was taught to me
ny neI as kneiI by ner SIDE. she lost
no opportunity to care for me and pray
for my welfare. Today, her form is
bent, her face is wrinkled, her step is
unsteady, but thank God. 1 love her just
the same.
LAS our community settled with peo-
pie, and 1 grew older, 1 took up with
the class that wanted to have a good
time. One thing led to another and
good things gave way to bad. I deter
mined to leave my former associates,
but oh. how weak are our resolutions.
/ determined to do right. I joined the
church, but there was one thing which
] did not do 1 did not entirely give UP
and forget my former associates. I
thought 1 was strong enough to get
around their influence. but I found that
] soon lost hope. and before long 1 was
home for four years, and wandered over
the country. l did not write to mother
and she thought me dead.
"One day I decided to go back to her.
and see her and the old home which I
had not seen for so long. I was glad
to see her and while there was offer
ed work which I accepted. The work
was putting up fences, and while the
ground was yet full of frost, I had
much work to do in getting out the
posts from the forest. One day as I
was cutting a large log in two I was
thinking about my old associates, the
thought came very forcibly to me, viii
you again do wrong, or will you live a
true Christian life?' The words would
not leave me, and as I thought of them.
my convictions became stronger that I
should lead a better life, and before I
left those woods. had made the prom
Use That happened nearly 27 years ago
and 1 find greater pleasure in His ser
vice every day
Next fall 1 went to work for the q
B & Q. r. r. as brakeman. was ward
master and clerk, and I determined to
become an engineer. In 1888 1 left the
railroad, and went to Tacoma. where
H0E1fn fr7r = lick.
family. On the way, my son was very
sick, but was spared. and soon we were
all located at Tacoma. When nv son
was about Ii years Of age, it was