The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-01-12
IN HIS STEPS.
"WEsat Would Jesus Do?"
By CHARLES II. SHELDON.
fCopyrightei and published in book form 'l,y
the Advance Publishing Co. of Chicago.]
IcoNIINUEp.l

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 a 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 1t 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 a cash
in his cheek
He never uttered 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 exertion although Burns
was Il slight built man and had not
been 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 God Pray with mel Save me
Oh, save me from my helll' 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
that 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 saloon 1t stood there. and
all the others lined the street liku SO
many traps set for Burns How long
would the man be able to resist the
smell of the damnahle stuff2 The bishop
was out on the porch The air of the
whole city seemed to be impregnated
with the odor Of beer 'sHow long. O
God. how long?% the bishop prayed
Dr. Bruce came out. and the two
friends talked over Burns and his temp
tation
+! Ibid yoa esrev make any inquiries
about the ownership Of this property
| adjoining u.s. the bishop asked
emo; l have emit taken time for it.
| will now if you think it would be worth
while. But what can we do, Edward,
against the saloon in this great city? II
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 l think we have
a right to know who controls this saloon
SO near the settlement. -
III ma out, said DIR. Bruce.
Two days later he walked into the
business office of one of the members OF
Nazareth Avenue church and asked tc
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
II called to see you about that prop
erty next to the settlement. where the
bishop and myself now are, you know
am going to sneak 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 saloon?"
DIR. Bruce's question was as direc,
and uncompromising as he had meant
it to be The effect of it on his old pa
rishioner was instantaneous.
The hot blood mounted to the face OF
the man who sat there. picture Of
business activity in great city. Then
he grew pale, dropped his head on his
hands, and when'he raised it again DR..
Bruce was amazed to see a tear roll
over his parishioner's face.
doctor, did you know that tool
the pledge that morning with the 9th
ers
eyes, l remember. .
''But you never knew how I have
been tormented over my failure to kee1
it in this instance That saloon prop.
erty has been the temptation of the
devil to me 1t is the best paying in.
vestment at present that / have and
yet it was only minute before you
came in here that was in an agony Of
remorse to think how | was letting 9
little earthly gain tempt me into denial
of the very Christ / had promised tc
follow know well enough that he
would never rent property for such q
purpose There is no need, dear doctor,
for you to say a word more Clayton
held out his hand, and Dr. Bruce grasped
it and shook it hard After little he
went away, but it Was long time aft
erward that he learned all the truth
about the struggle that Clayton had
known RI