Middletown transcript., 1900-02-17

+ St6p QOWu, SILL SWCcpAh5.#-A AAo DFtO GO
stood out ON his forehead, although th'
day was frosty and the air chill Th'
saloon door opened again, and three o.
four men came ont, A child went Ii
with o pail and came ont momen
later with quart Of beer. The chilt
went by on the sidewalk just below him
and the odor of the beer came up Il
| him. He took another step down, still
sweeping desperately. His fingers wer'
purple as he clutched the handle Of th,
| broom.
Then suddenly he pulled himself nj
one step and swept over the spot he haG
just cleaned. He then dragged himself
by tremendous effort back to the fool
Of the porch and went over into the cor
ner Of it farthest from the saloon and
began to sweep there. 80 God, ht
cried, ''if the bishop would only come
backI" The bishop had gone out with
DR.. Bruce somewhere, and there wal
no one about the settlement that hs
knew.
He swept in the corner for two o.
three minutes. His face was drawn
with the agony Of the conflict. Gradu
ally he edged out again toward the stepl
and began to go down them. He looked
toward the sidewalk and saw that hi
had left one step unswept. The sigh
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 bach
turned partly on the saloon across the
alley. He swept the step dozen times.
The sweat rolled over his face and drop.
ped down at his feet. By degrees he fell
that he was drawn over toward that
end Of the step nearest the saloon. He
could smell the beer and rum now az
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
swept that. He took of his hat and rub
bed his sleeve over his face. His lips
were paid, and his teeth chartered. He
trembled all over like a 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 a
great pyramid inside. He moistened his
lips with his tongue and took step
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
tall figure came around the corner. 1t
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. It is doubtful if he
really knew at first who was snatching
him away from his ruin. The blow fell
upon the bishops face and cut cash
in his cheek.
He never uttered a word, but over
his face look Of majestic sorrow swept.
He picked Burns up as if he had been a
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 e1ertion, although Burns
was slight built man and had not
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 before Nothing else will save
you'll"
20 Godl Pray with mel Save mel
Oh, save me from my hell" cried
Burns, and the bishop kneeled by him
in the hall and prayed as only he could.
After that they arose, and Burns
went into his room. He came out Of it
thai. evening like humble child, and
the bishop went his way, older from
that experience, bearing on his body
the marks of the Lord Jesus. Truly he
was learning something Of what it
means to walk in his steps
But the saloonl 1t stood there, and
all the others lined the street like SO
many traps set for Burns. How long
would the man be able to resist the
smell Of the damnable stuff The bishop
was out on the porch. The air Of the
whole city seemed to be impreguated
with the odor of beer. Glow lcng, o
God, how longf" the bishop prayed.
DR.. Bruce came out, and the two
friends talked over Burns and his temp
tation.
''Did you ever make any inquiries
about the ownership of this property
ldioining usl" the bishop asked.
4NV1 A0EOA tdACA GA1l0 1OI 1ks i
will now if You think it would be worth
while. But what can we do, Edward,
against the saloon in this great city3 It
is as firmly established as the churches
or politics. What power can ever re-
move it?'
"God will do it in time, as he re-
moved slavery" replied the bishop
gravely. Meanwhile I think we have
right to know who controls this saloon
so near the settlement. 2
''I'll find out, said DR.. Bruce.
Two days later he walked into the
business office Of one of the members of
Nazareth Avenue church and asked to
see him few moments He was cor
daily received by his old parishioner,
who welcomed him into his room and
urged him to take all the time he
wanted
81 called to see you about that prop
erty next to the settlement, where the
bishop and myself now are, you know.
/ am going to speak plainly, because
life is too short and too serious for us
both to have any foolish hesitation
about this matter. Clayton, do you
think it is right to rent that property
for saloonf''
Dr.. Bruce's question was as direct
and 6uncnmT11.oY1,ic;nap &C IL LrS .nocr&