The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-05
CROWD At TABERNACLE IS IN
TEARS AS CARD TELLS STORY

dear to me today, stepped out in a
manly way from the group.
lie came over and placed his little
hand under my bleeding head. He
looked me full in the face and then
leaped back. You're my own. own
papa! he screamed. You're nv
papa!'
He dragged me over to vacant
lou where lay until nearly morning.
lie left and the next morning I went
ON my way. | had decided to throw
nyself IN old Lake Michigan and say
mere goes nothing 1t was all there
was left for me to do, it seemed.
But staggered up to Monroe
street. I reached Willard Hall. Thank
COO for the noble women who main
tain places like that.
Asked to Pray.
dragged my poor old cold,
wrecked, besodden carcass into the
hall, and threw it over a heater to get
what warmth could. A little woman
came back to me-Dear old Auntie
Cook-I found out she was, later. She
put her hand in mine and asked me to
go forward. l went The next thing
| rem ember was that she was saying
to me, now you pray
Pray I cried. Pray! Why
don't know how to pray!'
You know you're sinner, don't
your she asked.
All know is I answered grimly,
that If something don't change, I'll be
In hell tomorrow night, and If you can
help me, want you to help me-
know someone who can help
you,' she said,
"'Where is hep 1 asked eagerly
Take me to him.
Christ Will Help.
She says, He is Jesus Christ. He
will cleanse you of your iniquities.'
heard them singing the old gospel
songs that my dear old mother had
sung in the little Methodist church
down home for thirty-five years l
prayed.
Jesus Christ reached down His nail
pierced hand to me that night and for
nineteen years, friends, He has been
my constant companion. He saved
me! He will save you.
THE old gang said, oh, you just
watch him. He's trying a religious
dodge now, but he'll be back with us.
Thank God, nineteen years have pass
ed and l haven't gone back yet. One
evening, at the close Of a beautiful
summers day, 1 walked down by the
old hell holes. 7 was happy-singing
The bunch says, well,
the old boys gone clear bug-house.
They'll have to put him in the lunatic
asylum. Nineteen years have passed,
friends, and I'm not in the lunatic
asylum yet. I passed up those old
holes like a pay car would a tramp,
too!
Goes Back to His Family.
Then 1 went back to the place
where my family lived-on a certain
street. I climbed three flights Of
stairs to reach what was left of my
home. My little girl, eight years old,
whose little feet had toddled away
from me whenever their mistress
heard me coming. was taking Off her
shoes and stockings, getting ready for
bed. 1 walked up to her and smiled
She hadn't seen me smile before
many times, at least. And that night
suppose l used different tone than
she had ever heard me use before.
won't you kiss your old dad,
Honey, before you go to bed?' asked
softly. She looked at me minute
and threw her little arms around my
neck. You're not my old dad she
cried, you're my new papa! That
little girl is settled down tonight.
Married and settled down. She lives
down in the Ozarks. God bless her.
ooh young men Of Keokuk. Give
your whole lives to Jesus Christie
the church. r love Christ tonight bet
ter than all else. He took my place
on Calvary, He has guided and guard
ed me for nineteen years. There is
glory in my soul! I recommend Him
to you tonight as the greatest bless
ing that can come to a lonely, aching,
desert hearth"