Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-13

ligent workman, drenched with rain
Mr.. Phillips. sirg" Eyes. / an Mr..
Phillips. What can / do for your"
Il want you to come to my house.
sir: l am in trouble. and want your
advice. sir"
Out in the rain and wind: OF from
the fash OF the lights and the buzz
OF the cars; down a darhs-dreary
street we tramped silently together.
Suddenly the man stopped outside an
unlighted house. pushed open the
door, and said: Just a minute. sir.
Willie. bring a light Come in. sir.
Mind how you come" And there.
lying like a heap OF rags in the pas
sage. was a woman. AS knelt down
close to smell her breath the man
said: Yes. that's 1t. sir; drunk
dead drunk, l heard you speak on
Social Problems That's my prob
lem. want to know how you would
deal with that? II that woman was
your wife, how would you deal with
II, sir?"
And there, in the back room. were
two little mites in their night clothes.
shivering and sobbing. Il left those
children in bed, and left that woman
you see In the passage two dollars for
the days food, and I come here ard
, find this That's what makes men
murderers. What's your answer. sirf
II It was your wife. what would you
DOR
well" I said. "frst OF all send the
big boy for some supper. get these
two little mites to bed. and then we
can discuss the social problem" Hav-
ing done this, we closed the door on
the children. and still the woman lay
out there in the passage. We'll.
Scott" / said, I'VE had better get her
up and bring her in here You knew
she is not always like this-was not
like this when you married her-and
we must just bring her back to what
che was"
what she was, sir. She was house
maid at the vicarage when I married
her and I was groom at the hall.
No couple in all Gods world started
better than we did ten years ago. sir.
and now look at her-and she's not
30 yet"
"well. let US bring her in" and to-
gether we brought her In and laid
her on the couch. Now, Scott, my
man; this a case for an expert. We
are powerless. I can't solve this prob
lem alone. Let US pray" Uncon-
sciously he dropped on his knees by
my side and we placed that drunken
woman in the presence chamber OF the
living Christ. and asked for His ad-
feet we felt the power OF hope and
confidence come into our hearts. We
| felt somehow the crisis was passed.
''Now. Scott. if that was my wife.
what should I do? First, prayer; sec
/ ond, get her out of the street and
away from those women who are drag
/ ging her down-at all costs out OF the
street: lastly feed her on apples at
every meal-appIes. fruit. milk Good
night. old chap; be patient with her;
no kicking. you know. and / will get
my wife TO come round and see her
| tomorrow"
Three months had passed by.
was going through the market when a
hand was laid on my shoulder. and
voice greeted me: "Hullo, Mr..
Phillips. when are you coming round
20 see us? No. 10, just OF Newman
ket road. She's going on grand. sir;
haven't got a care in the world.
It's heaven now. But talk about APP
pies: what Il costs me for apples!
! shall want TO grow an orchard soon
out in the backyard. All, guv'nor.
that was the best days temperance
work you ever did in your life when
you came round that night and stud
fed my social problem. Don't forget
it-any time you or the missus is pass
ing. call in, and II we know you are
coming we will have apple dumplings
for supper. Good night. sir; here's
my car."-Harry Phillips.