The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-12-18


the other slept on some straw up
stairs and had a piece Of old rag car
pet for cover. 1t was often very
cold in there winter nights and in the
morning | often shook off the snow
that had sfted into the cabin. We
often had little or nothing to eat,
water ard biscuit made out of shorts
making a meal. But | had sainted
i0other who even when we had Moth
ing more to eat would look up to God
and thank him for what he had given
u.s."
Through economic necessity Hill had
TO leave the old home place when on
~ eleven years old. He went out in
the world to shift for himself. He got
II job in a shop where a number of
men worked.
every boy wants to be a man."
said the speaker. Every boy pat
terms after the men he associates with
and there is nothing in this world
worse for a boy than to associate with
the foul language and the sin of men.
He will initiate them every time" Il
Descent Started Becomes Rapid.
Hill got among this crowd and II
was not long until he had become like
the rest They knew Of nothing to do
but to cuss and chew and talk lewdly.
. he father Of the man who backed
Jack Johnsons recent fight gave him
his first drink. From then on the
fall was rapid. In a few years. still
n boy. he was discharged by his em-
ployer because he was n confirmed
dvunkard and spoiled more goods than
he made. because drink had made him
bunglng and inefficient.
at was a blot on the flag Of Amer
ioa." said Hill to put one saloon back
into any town in this country. II
voted to put the saloons back I would
expect God to damn my soul. There
is not man under the domination
Of drink who wouldn't give MS soul
To- get out of it,"
when Hill was fired out into the
street there was no place for him to
60 but the saloons ana he went there
until his money was gone and then
| they kicked him out Would To Goa
there had been ". NJ. C. A. to go
tc then" he calculated. Not man
n ct him and told him Of the saving
power Of Christ.
lie bummed over the country and
finally made up his mind TO 60 back
home and see his mother. If she
treated him like the rest he decided
he would end It all in the river But
when he got back he found her the
same mother MS In the days Of his
Loyhood. She took him in and fed
and clothed him and then one day
some of his friends got him into q
saloon In the town and that night
they carried him home and left him on
the doorstep unconscious. His moth
er took him in OF course but in the
morning he started out into the world
again disgraced.
It was the old story over again.
Again he took up his sinful, character
less existence going over the country
IN rags and poverty. Finally he de-
ciGed TO go back home once more.
All else he'd failed but even In his
moments of despair the prayer Of his
mother came to him. BY having a
friend save his salary for him he ac-
cumulated enough money to Euy a
complete new outfit of clothes but as
lie was going down to the station he
had to pass four saloons He got by
two Of them but the third got him.
AS fast as It could be poured out the
bartender fed him whiskey until he
fell unconscious to the floor.
When he awoke he was in a city
miles away, most OF his new clothes
gone, his money gone, the side of his
face skinned up. What had happened
lie never knew. He managed to reach
home In this condition and his mother
took her wandering boy to her heart
again. A little revival was being held
across the street and at her soiclta-
tlon he accompanied her to the meet
, ing the next night She was called
: upon 10 lead in prayer and she prayed
: for the redemption of her son. HC
: walked down to the altar In response
to that prayer and became n man from
Z that moment For 27 years not d
drop OF liquor has passed the lips o
= Dave Hill. What he struggled in vain
= for months to accomplish by the powe
Z Of his own viii was done in few
minutes by the power Of Christ.
Such was the story Of Dave Hi
0 yesterday, II fired the hearts of man,
I of those present not only TO live bet
q ter lives but TO work for the redemp
: tion of others who are in the pligh
{ today that Hill was years ago. /
0 takes story Of more than ordnarl
] heart interest TO rain tears from tn
: leyes Of hundreds OF strong men. l
vas story Of epic largeness.