Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-25

then went and sat down on a corner
never 30 by that street without thanking
God for saving me II was a vacant lot
Ht that time. We sat down on q curb
/ ing. Across the street company Of
men and women we're playing on instru-
ments horns flutes and slide trombones
and the others were singing the gospel
hymns that ! used to hear my mother
sing back In the log cabin In Iowa and
back IN the old church where ] used 70
20 10 Sunday school.
And God painted on the canvas Of my
recollection and memory n vivid picture
Of the scenes Of other days and other
faces.
Many have long since turned to dust
J sobbed and sObbed and a young man
stepped out and said
1--WE are going down TO the Pacific
Garden mission. won't you come down to
the mission? I am sure You will enjoy H.
You can hear drunkatds tell how they
have been saved and girls tell how they
have been saved from the red light dis
trict'
~ arose and said 10 the boys:
y m through. ] am going to Jesus
Christ We've come to the parting Of the
ways and / turned my back on them.
Some Of them laughed and some Of them
Knocked me; one OF them gave me en-
cournEement, others never said word.
"Twenty-olght years ago ! turned and
left that little group on the corner OF
state and Madison streets and walked TO
the little mission and fell on my knees
and staggered out or sin and into tho
arms OF the Saviour
PLAYED NEXT DAY.
~ went over to the West Side Of Chi
cago where I was keeping company with
a girl now my wife, Nell. married
Nell She was n Presbyterian, 30 am l
a Presbyterian. If she had been Catho-
lie would have been a Catholc-because
1 was hot on the trail Of Nell.
1.-THE next day had to go out to the
ball park and practice. Every morning
at 10 o'clock VIC had to be out there and
practice. / never slept that night was
afraid of the horse-laugh that gang would
give me because 1 had taken my stand
for Jesus Christ.
81 walked down to the old ball ground.
will never forget ii. I slipped my key
into the wicket gate and the first man
to meet me after | got inside was Mike
Kelly.
UP came Mike Kelly, he said: Bill, |
I'm proud Of you. Religion is not my |
long suit but III help you all ! can. Ub |
came Anson, the best ball player that |
ever played the game; Pfeffer. ClarksOn |
Flint. Jimmy Mccormick, Burns, Will |
Iamson and Dalrymple. There wasn't a |
fellow in the gang who knocked; every |
fellow had "A word Of encouragement for
me.
THAT afternoon we played the old De-
trOit club. We were neck and neck for
the championship. That club had Thomp-
son, Richardson, Rowe, Dunlap. Hanlon
and Bennett and they could play ball.
81 was playing right field Mike Kelly
Ftg,f fgIR .y,I Tylp - 40 q
pitching, He was as fine a pitcher as
ever crawled into a uniform. There are
some pitchers today, O'Toole, Bender,
Wood, Mathcwson. johnson, Marquard.
but ] do not believe any ono Of them
stood In the class with Clarkson.
PRAYED AS HE RAN.
cigarettes put him on the bum. When
ned take n bath the water would be
stained with nicotine.
1--WE had two men out and they had
nan on second and one on third and BEN
nett, theiF old catcher was at bat.
Charley had three strikes and two balls
On him. Charley couldn't hit a high ball
don't mean a Scotch highhall, but he
Gould kill them when they went about his
knee
u hoIlered to Clarkson and said:
Zone more and we got EN-
ipu Know every plltutT puts II HOlS III |
he ground where he puts his foot when
ne is pitching. John stuck his foot In the
iqle and he went clean to the ground.
N. he could make 'em dance. He could
hroW oYerhanded and the ball would go
lown and up like that, He is the only
nan on earth / have seen do that. That
,all would go by so fast that the batter
,Ould feel the thermometer drop 2 degrees
u she whl2zed by. John went clean
own. and as he went to throw the ball
lis right foot slipped and the ball went
ow instead Of high.
~ saw Charley swing hard and heard
he bat hit the ball With a terrific boom
iennett had smashed the ball on the nose
saw the bail rise In the air and knew
hat II was going clear over my head.
II could Judge within 10 feet OF where
he ball would light. | turned my back
0 the bah and ran.
The field was crowded with people and
yelled, stand backr and that crowd |
pened like the Red Sea opened for the
cd Of Moses. / ran on, and as I ran 1
lade u prayer II wasn't theological,
ither / tell you that / said God, II
Oh ever helped mortal man, help me to |
ct that ball, and You haven't very
iuch time TO make up Your mind. either
ran and jumped over the bench and
topped
WINS HAT AND SUIT.
II thought 1 was close enough 10 catch
looked back and / saw It going
yer my head and / Jumped and showed
~ nv I.Ff hand .ud IL. "A