People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1900-03-08

Yes; l begin 10 recall now, muir
INJURED the bishop. The other man
seemed to be interested He ceased dig
ging his stake in the ground and stood
still, listening
do you remember how you took me
into your own house that night and
spent all the next day trying to find me
JOB and how. when you succeeded in
getting me place in a warehouse as
foreman, promised 10 quit drinking
because You asked me to-"
Il remember it now, the bishop re-
piled gently II hope you have kept
your promise. "
The man laughed savagely. Then he
struck his hand against the fence with
such sudden passion that he drew blood.
kept It'll | was drunk inside of
week. I've been drinking ever since.
but I've never forgotten you or your
prayer. Do you remember, the morning
after came to your house and after
breakfast, you had prayers and asked
me to come in and sit with the rest!
That got me. But my mother used to
pray. | can see her now kneeling down
by my bed when | was a lad Father
came in one night drunk and kicked
her while she was kneeling there by
me, but never forgot that prayer of
yours that morning You prayed for
me just as mother used to, and you did
not seem to take count Of the fact that
! was ragged and tough looking and
more than half drunk when rung your
doorbell My God, what a life I've
lived The saloon has housed me and
homed me and made hell on earth for
me. But that prayer stuck to me all the
time. My promise not to drink was
broken in thousand pieces inside of
Two Sundays, and l lost the job you
found for me and landed in police sta
ton two days afterward, but | never
forgot you or your prayer | don't
know what good it's done me, but l
hever forgot it. and | won't do any
harm to you nor let any one else So
you're free to go. That's why"
The bishop did not stir. Somewhere
church clock struck l. The man had
put on his hat and gone back to his seat
on the stone The bishop was thinking
hard
How long is it since you had work.
he asked, and the man standing up
answered for the other
"More'n six months since either of
rs did anything to tell of, unless you
count holding up work call it pretty
wearing kind of job myself, especially
when we put in night like this one
and don't make nothing"
Suppose | found good jobs for both
of you. Would you quit this and begin
all overH"
What's the useH" The man on the
rtone spoke sullenly. I've reformed a
hundred times Every time go down
deeper The devils begun to forcelose
on me already. It's too late.
mol" said the bishop. and never be-
fore the most entranced audience had
he felt the desire for souls burn up in
him so strongly All the time he sat
there during the remarkable scene he
prayed 20 Lord Jesus, give me the
souls Of these two for thee am hun
cry for them Give them to mel
mol" the bishop repeated. "What
does God want Of you two menH It
doesn't so much matter what l want,
but he wants just what ! do In this
case You two men are of infinite value
to him " And then the bishops Won
derful memory came to his aid in an
appeal such as no one else on earth
among men could make under such cir
cumstances He had remembered the
man s name in spite Of the wonderfully
busy years that lay between his coming
to the house and the present moment
Burns he said. and he yearned
over the men with an unspeakable long
ing for them both, IF you and your
friend here will go home with me to-
night ! will find you both places of
honorable employment will believe
in you and trust you You are both
comparatively young men Why should
God lose your 1t is a great thing to
win the love Of the great Father 1t is
small thing that l should love you,
but if you need to feel again that there
is love In the world you will believe
me when | say, my brothers. that | love
you. and in the name Of him who was
crucified for our sins / cannot bear to
see you miss the glory Of the human
life Gomez Be menl Make another try
for it, God helping you No one but
God and you and myself need ever
know anything Of this tonight He has
forgiven it The minute you ask him to
you will find that true Comel Well
fight it out together, you two and l
It's worth fighting for Everlasting life
is 1t was the sinner that Christ came
to help. I'll Go what ! can for you o
God, give me the souls Of these two
mem"
The bishop broke into a prayer to
God that was a continuation of his APP
peal to the men His pent up feeling
had no other outlet Before he had
prayed many moments Burns was sit
ting with his face buried in his hands.
sobbing Where were his mothers
prayers nowf They were adding to the
power of the bishops And the other
man harder leSs moved without q