The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-03
Flashlights On The
Temperance Question
No. -.


IN
The vounS man dragged himself YEARLY down
Rroad street That prettily lighted fhorous'',afe
of the States handsome capital CITY, nc nau
been on a protraeted spree and was now SUI,
frr,nr o,n.the terrible after ehects=--~Nitn
money gone position gone faith in himsen gone
he was mechanically following q couple el i -,
old companions who less broken than ne
raa who wanted what he did not now -eafttcu+
tariy crave fer--p4ere- liquor.-1he trfo we're
passing by the salvation Armys represen'a :,
tives who were holding a street SERVICE az -
their nightly wont. The sweet voice 81 d
woman singer attracted the ear OF the DOWN
east young man and he paused ana hs.ehea'
His companions nudged him and insisted upon
his coming and getting bracer on thsm EN-.
but he moved up closer towards the singer ne
refrain OF the solo sung by the salvation
lists chorus to the accompaniment of cornet.
guitar, tambourine and bass drum was the
words:
Lord I've wandered far from thee,
But now I'm coming home!
Open wide thine of love,
Lord I'm coming home"
The song reached the heart OF the Maynard
youth. When prayer was offered by the ad)u-
tant he uncovered and tears conrsed down ms
cheeks His companions waited IN rtspeea, ,s
silence and presently one went up to MIN ana
catching him by the arm babe MIN come on.
He went half square so as not to interrupt
the services by the conversation, ana thus ao-
dressed his old chums:
Boys I'm coming home'' That song has
saved me-! ,,.,.
But he was obdurate. Continuing. he SAID.
until heard th!lt song was III the neplES Oh
, despair. / didn't think it worth while to live
any longer. | was in desperate mood and
had planned desperate things. But now I'm
coming home, That song carried me back TO
mothers knee and my little trundle bed and
to Now / law down to sleep. and
mothers prayers for me to be kept from the
wicked wiles of the city! She has gone home
and I going head that way from now
on! Tomorrow | going to try to make my
way to my old earthly home where father and
sister live. and am going to be the prodigal.
They will welcome and help nae, and when
l get on my feet again / will come back and
try to make start here. But, boys, l am
never going into another bar-room or baudy
house dance hall or throw another card. It's
no use talking know what I'm saying. That
mothers spirit suggested that song just
passing-aye. passing. passing to where.
/ I shudder to think Boys, won't you, too. join
me in the purpose expressed In the song I'm
! going home.'"
The two young men ceased their jeering when
they found their going home companion
earnest. He went to his room. took out tht
Bible mother had gvon him. read 1t. sobneo
prayed. went to his fathers house in few
days. saved and Is still headed Tor the home
In the skes' And he still says joyously that
he saved by n. song
An honor to the Salvation Army, the W. c. T.
u, and the mission workers generally. They
pluck many brand from the burning. But why
should their work be made the harder, and
why should young be tempted to go to the
bad by licensed institution of the State and
municipality 1t Is the most unnatural thing
In the world Every consideration OF re-
ligious. social. patriotic. phianthropc. civic and
economic nature demands that the licensed
not now and never can it he successfully de-
Tended. Wipe II out and give the boys fairer
tchance- come home 1rhea-they- wuftier
away. and to stay at home and not wander away.