Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-11
Appreciates a Candid Confession.

HEN read the candid state
N.Y. ment Of Mr.. Sam w. Small in
wv a Georgia paper concerning
w the misfortune which befel
him in the north a few days ago. said
20 myself, II can find a place to print
Il. I am going to stand by him in this day
OF trial. God helping me!
As a prelude 10 what / am going TO
write, which 1 hope viii be received by
him and others (for he knows nothing OF
my intention) in the same spirit Of love
and kindness by and through which this
is written, let me quote verse or two
that will place my idea fairly before you
as hope:
'sIf we knew the. silent story
Ouivering in a heart OF pain
Would we crowd II by our GOODNESS
Back TO haunts of sin again?
Life hath many a tangled crossing
Joy hath many a break in woe;
Cheeks tear-washed are always whitest,
Loving hearts viii outweigh gold
Let us seek within our bosoms
For the key to others lives
And with love for erring natures,
Cherish good that still survives,
So that when our deathless spirits
Soar to realms of light above.
We may say, Dear Father. love US,
Even as we have shown our love-
A good many years ago was sitting In
a church that was crowded TO overflow
ing and the audience was listening to
various recitals, experiences, confessions,
so to speak. of believers in Gods pard-
oning mercy, and their relief from the
temptations which beset them, when Mr..
Small and his splendid wife came In
quietly and sat down in the pew behind
me.
1 turned about to shake hands and pass
the compliments of the day, in whisper,
so as not to disturb others, and asked the
usual question: How are you, Mr..
Small?'
with quivering lips and tear-flled eyes.
he answered, holding his dear wife's hand,
ing well. Mrs. FELTON,. All day the drink
demon has been after me. When we got
of the cars an hour ego II seemed as If
I must have a drink or go wild.
This good woman went with me TO the
hotel and together have been praying 10
the good Lord 10 keep me safe and help
me to walk erect among my fellow-men."
At that minute the resolve came into
my own soul that I should, II ever the
time came to stand by that suffering
heart in a day Of grief and calamity when
assaulted by the drink demon. then God
helping me. / should stand by him.
intend to make good that pledge that
I silently made to my Heavenly Father,
and I want further to say, trials OF all
sorts are coming to US. all of US. in divers
shapes and various forms. and this is Mr..
Small's trouble and the Bible says; Bear
ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the
law OF Christi
feel satisfied that nobody who knows
me mistakes my attitude on the temper
-,
say that ] am crank and a fanatic.
Doubtless I make mistakes sometimes
land who does not make mistakes), but
when I know that a poor soul is strug-
Cling up into the light. II he should fall
seventy times seven times. beg God to
help me to give him a word of cheer and
supporting hand in his grief and de-
spair.
It was manly confession that Mr..
Small made. when he told the truth about
the stimulants he took and the overcom-
ing. Nobody was more grieved than he.
God be praised for truth speakingl
This country needs people who can tell
the truth even to their own hurt, and II
needs 20 be delivered from those who will
stab poor struggling soul that is wrest-
ling with an infirmity. which may nave
been handed down from those that
brought the child into being and infected
II with hereditary craving.
l would as soon think Of cracking
Jokes at the communion table or dancing
the polka at a funeral as to make merry
or jibe Mr.. Small when ne suffers as I
have long known he does suffer from that
craving for intoxicants
Without his knowledge or permission I
have taken the liberty at this time to do
my own duty. regardless Of public com
ment or criticism.
Mr.. Small has great gifts as a writer
l admire his genius. feel anxious to have
him give the reading public his really
bright writings and may God bless and
keep him.