The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-06-25
Prohibition and temperance.


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grip Of very death. The boy feebly
demonstrated. And then the brute lift
ed his heavy foot in order to kick him.
That was the limit as far as was con.
cerned. I stormed out of the door. In
how many jumps l went down the
stairway l do not know, and 1 did not
care at that time ] went like a fury
out on the street, turned the corner at
the alley, went straight to the brute in
human disguise and knocked him
down. That Is the only time l have
voluntarily and most willingly as
ssulted 9 man in my life. But have
never regretted it, and do not think
l ever shall. helped the boy up OH
his feet. Poor little fellow, he was
bleeding from many ugly bruises in:
his wan, lean face, and he shook like
All aspen leaf in the wind. l asked him
| to follow me. l was half in q daze my
self; the whole thing had worked upon
mynerves, so felt unstrung. took the
boy to restaurant; ordered hot milk,
eggs and butter and toasted bread.
After he had eaten I ordered half q
cup of good strong coffee for him. He
enjoyed that, too. "And now my little
man." said, II want you to tell me
your story
.Oh, must 60 home TO mother!
I must! l must! She has nothing to
warm herself with in this cold weather.
/ And she is so sick, so sick"
| SWELL" l said, "come then, | will
follow you."
We went out. The sleigh with the
coal was gone. The man brute had
followed us without my knowledge
aud as soon as we were inside the
. doors at the restaurant he had taken
lit, to sell it aud barter away the hard
found pieces of coal for what he could
1get in money, and then spent that
. money for intoxicating drink. The boy
t started to weep again, but l managed
, to console him by few promises
made. 1 took him back to the nous,
> where l roomed, had quiet talk will
two of my school-friends, and the!
: willingly parted with some of thei
! money as they were good-hearted ant
! sympatheti: boys. l then went to
: store, bought the little fellow sleigl
i and good supply of groceries, tool
q along a pail of sweet milk mixed witt
:. cream and some other good things AM
n went along guided by the boy. IL
. stopped several times and looked ca
!. gerly into my face. Then there woul
n come rolling great big tears like heav
jdewdrop down his cheeks, and he woul
II turn away from me and pull OIL tn
= sleigh rope. 1t was long tramp, bu
o we finally came to house on the out
II skirts of the city where poverty an
IS crime had their poor dwellings.
g Well, have seen some things i
is my travels in about thirty-five state
Is of this country, but never have see
4 sight that made an impression on nj
u; mind, nay heart. my iunermost sol
70 as the sight saw in one of the room
10 in that so-called house. Never have
Ie heard story more bitterly tray
L and soHi-stirring than the one I Ii
tened to in that room, where form'
w beauty and belle lay in the clutches
IS; death-death from starvation, cruel
in and despair caused by drink. At th
30 bedside got my baptism of fire as 4
OF as the drink question is concerned, ar
IL l swore to myself and the, God wi
has created man in his own likenes
a that as life would last, would fig
ed against this cruel and most heartle
RI of enemies the human race and q
ar individual ever had to contend wit
i'd My first public lecture was Q tempe
n't ance lecture. / was then ninete
IN years old. The first article l wrote t
of the public press was an essay on tel
ne perance. And now will go on 81
quote from authorities, that as far
ds you know them, you viii be willing
pc listen to and sRpteciste, and faTth'
! . more ssree With me that their Nor'