The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-10-25

Here again was this appeal for helm
coming AT n time when il seemed To
him as If the burden he was carrying
was too great for him.
He looked up at Mrs. Barton.
"Why, certainly. I'll go right out
with you" he said. every instinct of
helpfulneSS in him rising aud going out
toward the cry for help.
Just then Carver came walking by
Kirk had the letter he was going to
post in his hand.
Say, Carver, will you mail this let.
ter for me as you 20 by the Officer
Malcom asked, and Carver eagerly
took the letter, more than willing to do
Mr.. Kirk n favor.
Malcom at once got up into the waG.
on with Mrs. Barton, and they drove
out of town rapidly. Carver stood
watching them moment, then he
| turned AMI went on down the street.
At TIE first saloon he hcsitated. but
finally Went in. Before noon he had
gone into three or four different saloons
that lay between him and the postof-
fee, and the letter remained in his
pocket forgotten.
On their way to "The Forks" Nal
com learned from Mrs. Barton that
while Philip was on his back, unable
to leave his bed. one of the farmer
boys living on the next ranch had
brought out several bottles Of whisky
and smuggled them into the house.
The result was that young Barton was
having delirlum tremens while in the
terrible condition caused by his de
bauch at the time of the great fire
His mother had spent a fearful night
with him. and at last desperate and
heartbroken. dry eyed, but weeping
her blood away within. she had come
into town for Kirk.
ut is all Of the devil, this drink bust.
ness" groaned Malcom as he went in.
to the house and into the room where
Phil Barton lay.
Never in all his life had Malcolm
Kirk seen such sight. Barton knew
him as he came in. and he spoke his
name. Then he began to curse in the
most awful manner. The lower part
or his body was paralyZed, but his
arms moved necessarily, and his head
rolled back and forth on the bed
while he called on all hell to blast ev.
cry living creature on earth.
Malcolm put Mrs. Barton out of the
room and shut the door, Then for
three hours he spent the most trying
period he had ever known by the side
Of suffering and sinful human being
At the end of that time Barton lay
quiet. and Malcom was weak and
trembling, wet with perspiration and
unnerved as II he had been facing
some great peril. The doctor came Just
as Malcom went to tell Mrs. Barton
that Philip was sleeping. She had not
been able to find any physician when
she had gone in that morning and had
left word for one to come out
What is going to become OF my
boy. Mr.. Kirk" Mrs. Barton asked as
he was getting into the doctors buggy
to go back with him.
Malcom had not the heart to say
at first. In his soul pro.
found horror and divine Indignation
against the saloon greater than he had
ever known had risen.
At last he said: Mrs. Barton, | hope
to live to see the day when your boy |
VIII not be near this temptation. The |
saloon and all it represents Is an enc.
my Of mankind. We will not cease to |
work and pray and suffer until the
curse of it is removed from our life as |
a state.' For the time he had forgot. |
ten he was going away.
Promise me, Mr.. Kirk. that you will |
do what you can for Phil. There's no |
one living he thinks so much of. You /
saved his life. Save his soul too. Don't ]
give him w will you, Mr.. Kirk?'
Malcolm Il, mbled. How could he tell /
this wretched. heartbroken woman, liv-
Ing In that desolate, ruined home, that !
he had already made his plan to leave
Conrad. She clung to him as the lar
gest and only hope for her boy that !
she knew. What could he say to her?
The doctor, who had been listening
but in silence, had
gathered up his reins. and the horses
lmpatiently made movement to start.
and still Malcom Kirk said nothing.
Il know you won't give him up, Mr..
Kirk. IL you don't save him, no one
else will. Don't you think he's worth
saving"
She stood by the buggy and laid her
thin. worn hand on Malcom's arm. AS
be looked at it he thought of some old
verses he had read while In the semi.
nary about mothers hands:
Not all the ladies In all the lands,
With riches and titles and fame
Could boast Of such beautiful, shapely hands
As one that l could name.
Her hands were without jeweled ring,
And the fingers thin and old,
But baby's fingers would round them cllnR. |
More precious than solid gold.
Ny mother has passed this earth away,
To The land where death cannot be.
But I'll never forget her a. she lay,
Hands clasped In prayer for ma
They were old verses that some one
had translated hastily from a German