The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-08
IKE CRUSADE AGAINST DRINK
PROGRESS MADE BY CHAMPIONS
FIGHTING TIE RUM DEMON.
Why He Signed the Pledge-A Meet
ing Disturbed, But q
Saved - Stephen Black knew
When Flo had Enough.

AS he entered the little study at the
church just before evening service
the minister found n Of his men
awaiting him.
agitated voice, pastor, my brother
in-law is in there, full Of liquor. He's
ugly. I'm afraid he's going to make
trouble. Hadn't we better get a po-
liceman to come and clear him out?"
why, no, George" said the min
lister. Il shouldn't quite like to DO
that. You know he might hear some
thing that would do him good. Don't
worry. 1t won't kill us If he does
interrupt u.s.. We've been interrupted
before now"
1t was a good congregation thai
the preacher looked down upon that
night-a company of honest, self-re-
speeding, well-dressed working peo-
pie, a large portion OF them young
folk. But there in the forefront OF
the audience sat the Objectionable
brother-in-law. Bolt upright he sat,
with a flushed face, and glared at the
minister. He certainly is about the
toughest, ugliest-looking customer !
ever undertook to preach to-" said the
young mar to himself. .
The first part of the service went
very well.
Eut when it came to the preaching,
the minister had no sooner begun
than the nan rose to his feet and
commenced speaking, What he said.
or tried to say, no Il knew, himse.r
- III II moo cNn1n Tnnmhl10.
incoherent talk. But the young peo'
pie, after their fashion, streightWay
began to giggle.
"Don't laugh, good friends" said
the minister, earnestly. Don't laugh:
This is a sight fit to make us Weep!'
A great, solemn hush fell upon the
audience. The drunkard ceased &c
speak and remained standing, the
picture of a fool.
Now there was in the audience that
evening another man who for many
years had been the victim Of the
drink habit, one whom the minister
had shortly before found drunk on
the street and had helped home to
his house. This man, going out with
the crowd after the service, had nc
sooner reached the sidewalk than ne
turned back, saying to a companion,
"I'm going to see the pars'
It was a sorry-looking Fl. re that
came to the study door-decently
dressed, but shaky and infirm, with
hair p~rematurely white, and a salloW
face marred and Scared by his vices
Good evening, Mr.. Black. Come
In, come in! I'm glad to see you
Have a chair" said the parson cor
daily. 49,,
PEARSON" said he, in a voice thai
shook like a leaf, I'm all de up
I've come to sign the pledge.
Stephen, / haven't any faith IN
that pledge. What's a pledge? 1t is
nothing but a promise, and a promise
too hard for YOU to keep. You've
signed it over and over again, and
every time you break 1t within q
week" ,,,,
II know, I know, parson! But this
time I'm a-going to do what I never
did before. I'm going to give my
heart to God before I sign that
pledge"
They prayed together. The parsor
with his arm round him, prayed fol
him; and the man prayed for himself
with a new note in his trembling
voice. Then he signed the pledge.
whats got Stephen Black" asked
the minister a few weeks later. "
haven't seen him for some time"
mo, PASTOR said one of the men!
land you will never see him round
here again."
Never see him again? What do
you mean? He hasn't gone to the
bad, has he?"
mo, but he's dead and buried"
what"
ayes, pastor. Monday he was taken
sick. They carried him off to the hos
pital. He died within twenty-foui
hours, and they buried him right
away. But" said the man, "he never
drank another drop, and he died q
Christian man" - Youths Com
panion.