Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-10

BARRIERS here. Il was a barber myself,
have been for seventeen years. re-
member my first quarter earned in a
shop. You ask am I saved? Sure.
How do | know? ] was there when
it happened | was examined and or
dained In just seven minutes. I'd rath-
err be mission preacher than
president of the United States. / love
the slums. l know the game. I know
their slang and ! used to use 1t, but
cut 1t all out. The chances to work in
the slums are great. was born in
Illinois. Don't blame Illinois for that.
My father and brother were both bar.
bers. and it wasn't long before we
were all drunkards. got my first
drink in an American home. There
are lot of Christians who are con-
verified drunkards who claim they got
their first drink in a home. We teach
them how to drink at home and the sa-
looms keep them at it, started out
pretty good sort of a kid. could get
chuck full at night and 60 to work the
next day o. k.
I boosted of the fact that never
lost a day in two years. Finally the
habit got a hold on me and the first
thing knew the town drunkard told
me l was the worst whiskey drinker
in town. I got to figuring I had a
good job. Lost it. Had horses, lost
them. Kept slipping and slipping. A
man gave me horse and buggy TO
sell insurance. I drank the outfit up
i'll one night.
When baby was born my wife beg
ged me to quit drink and I promised,
but didn't keep my promise. / took
nine drinks before breakfast. ] said:
This is awful I'll quit''-but I
couldn't quit. had a hog in me
calling for swill. My wife said:
don't want our boy to grow up and
see you drunkard,' so | stayed away
at time.
The Dead Child.
One day when the. child was two
years and a half old. went home,
and saw my wife with the child in
her arms-and it was dead!
told her again would never
drink again. My old chums to con
sole me, sent their words Of condo
lence and a, casket for the babe. and
also bottles of whiskey, until had
eleven TASKS.
DR. McCord, of Davenport came
and conducted the funeral, and took
Tor his text. Suffer the little chill
dren TO come unto me, and forbid
them not for such is the kingdom of
heaven" -: A
On the way back from the GENE.
~ - 4 .,I
Take a drink. and ! did and was
drunk again. I went to Chicago and
| lived All awful life in the levee; was
kicked out of saloon after saloon.
They don't want you when you are
busted, I was all in. resolved to
{ kill myself The viaduct was the
place where men and women went
by short cut out of the world Over
1000 men and women have gone out
ION the end of the pier. and plunged
| in. THE viaduct way was we'll
| known. tfr . ~ sTi#
As J sllambled dowr Van Buren,
street--ragged. dirty and bloated
| ] had on q coat too large for me-
In fact, didn't wait TO be measured
| for it. 7 was in too big a hurry.
| .IuSt tOOh ~. No SOShS vi lily lcEb
no underwear. that cold winter day
| met Tom Mackey.
Tom was a great character He
was AS handy with his fists as he
was with his tongue. He stood at
| 100 East Van Buren, street. inviting
men to the Pacific Garden Mission
He boosted me. telling me it was
the brightest spot in Chicago
got near the stove. and soon fell
asleep, but was awakened when the
| singing was going on, and then men
began to tell how God saved them
| from stealing, from drinking, from
all that was mean and then Boz
Thoreau spoke to me. 1t was strange
to hear word of hope. Then Harry
Monroe said: BLESS the Lord, I've
| got a Christ you need!" IF Christ
| comes in drink goes out" l knock
ed over four or five chairs trying tc
| get forward. Then and there / pray
! ed. took out handful of cigar stubs
and threw them away, and Harry
Monroe took me to a room and to a
bath, and slept between clean sheets
and when I awoke he was standing
over and | began the day with new
life.
The New Life.
Il know whom have believed anC
am persuaded he is able to keep thai
which have committed against thai
day" Thank God, we can know.
got chair in barber shop. Ny
first customer was Ed. Casey, a Ger
man, real estate millionaire. He
said: you are shaking like leaf
I went back in an adjoining room anc
prayed. When ! returned he let me
shave him and it was soon 1 O'CLOCK
and hadn't thought about having &
drink. The longing had all gone.
I l had a little Bible. Mrs. Col
Clarke had given me. It was in my
! pocket, where used to keep my to
bacco. began then to learn verse
a day and kept it up. Soon aftel
this my wife came to me- She said
II love you; I'm your Wife" and We
went to housekeeping in room about
Itbo ci1 of fhis MIA form NV INCOME