Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-10-20
Tho Religion That Makes One Faithful.

The railway superintendent came down
to his Office on Monday morning, sat down
at his desk and began to open his man.
The first letter was from the wife OF
discharged conductor, which said: .,
81 take this opportunity to write while
nv husband is at church. He has been
going regularly the last three Sundays:
He has been to see the minister, and
the minister gave him good advice and
drew up a pledge, and he signed it, and
every morning and night he asks God to
help him keep it. | am sure he will never
drink again. We have only seven dollars
in the house. | am doing my own work,
tiiough | am not strong enough to 90 1t,
The baby is sick and do not know how
we are to live when the little money we
now have is gone. For Gods sake, pity
lis and give my husband his train again,
and I am sure he will never drink another
drop"
The superintendent read the letter and
handed it across the desk to friend who
had entered. Read that said he, land
tell me what to do
"Nhat has been his record" asked the
friend.
"This is The third time he has been
found drunk on duty. Each time warned
him, and the second time | suspended HIM:
This time / discharged him for good
can't place human lives in the care OF a
man who cant be trusted. If take hun
back it won't be three weeks before he
is drinking a little on the sly, and within
three years he will wreck train, as sure
as the sun rises tomorrow.
"Have YOU another place where you could
Use him, some place involving less re-
sponsib3ity?' $500,
work, and there is no other kind at which
| I NJ that sort | don |
| dare Get him even W, itching crossing. In
| fact, there is no position on railroad Tor
| n man who can't be trusted to do his
duty ~
Later in the day the conductor himself
came in. The superintendent received
him kindly, but with no encouragement IN
his manner.
Il knew you would come no said,
"and | must be frank and say that l
should have thought more OF YOU had vow
STAYED at home and helped your wife with
| the homework, instead of going to church
so that she could write me about it,
"Rut," said the conductor, she wanted
me to 90. and | did not know about the
letter until she told me afterward, and
really, am sure | shall never fail again
| have asked God to help nc Trust me
| once more and have pity for my FAM N,
The superintendent shook his head ;hd,,
| ly. you want me to pity loul 'dhlN'
he said "but you didn't pity them No0r
! self. and YOU never thought about asking
/ God to help YOU. except 10 hep You out
of scrapc You have got your religion
too late so far as this oifc" Is concerned,
! 1t will help You to forgiveness to your
sins, and hope will make better man
! of You, but it is too late for job oi run
ming train That Kind Of religion that
we have to insist on in this Office Ism the
kinds that helps a mau to get a Job back;
it is the kind that makes him keep 1t. |
believe in religion, and wish every man IN
The company's employ was religious man;
but the kind Of religion this company
needs is the kind that makes men faithful
! 10 their work.
The discharged man went out and the
superintendcnt's stern face relaxed !,
am sorry for that wife and the sick bany,
he said, but can't trust human lives
| to a man who gets his religion ;" late.
The true faith is the faith which makes
! faithful IL is never too late to look to
! God for forgiveness, but pcntcnc" some
! times comes too late to restore lost up'
portunlty.-Y Youths Companion.